Good day Today was another day that I had to beat the bushes and kick out the birds to see them but the Chat didn't take any effort at all. It was sitting in plain view in a Pine Tree scolding me like He (oops) Heck. This was on Hanlans Point about 500 yards or 450m from the ferry dock in some ornamental Pine Trees along the airfield fence.
Some of the other birds present in small numbers (except Yellow Warblers, Warbling Vireos, and A. Goldfinches) were 8 Canvasback, Great Egret, Great Crested Flycatchers, Blue-headed Vireos, Swainson's Thrush, 23 Gray Catbirds, Brown Thrashers, 14 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, all 6 Swallows, Carolina, Winter and House Wrens, 15 Warbler species including N. Parulas, Cape Mays, Bay-breasteds, Ovenbirds and Yellow-breasted Chat, E. Towhees, 77 Baltimore Orioles and Bobolink. Worth the trip to Acton. DIRECTIONS TORONTO ISLANDS (Wards Island to Hanlans Point - without side trips is 5 km) To get to the Toronto Islands from Queen and Yonge Streets on the TTC. If your on the subway southbound stay on it and get off at Union Station, walk south about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queens Quay and you are there. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queens Quay, there are lots of parking lots nearby (fee). There is a fee for using the island ferries ($6.00 adult / $3.50 for seniors & students) and to find out the sailing times you can phone (416) 392-8193. There are washrooms on the islands as well as the city side at the ferry docks and you can pick up a schedule at the docks or check on line. The 1st boat to Wards Island (my preferred starting point) is 6:35 am and the 2nd is 7:00 am Monday to Friday. The 1st is at 6:35 am and the 2nd boat is at 7:15 am on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. The 1st boat to Hanlans Point is 8:00 am and the 2nd boat is at 8:30 am Monday to Friday. The 1st is at 8:15 am and the 2nd boat is at 9:15 am on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. If arriving in early am you must obtain your ticket from a machine just inside the gate so be sure to have $1.00 and $2.00 and/or 25 cent coins before you arrive at the docks as there is no place to get change and the machine does not make change. (There is a change machine there if you want to chance it). There are coffee shops across from the ferry docks in the building on the northwest corner and they are open early. food and beverages on The Islands when open are very expensive i.e. soft drink $3.00 plus. For a detailed ferry schedule check the following web site. http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/springschedule.htm PS There is a map of the Islands at each of the Island side ferry docks and the City side. The water fountains are now turned on but the washrooms are only still at the ferry docks until the 24th of May holiday. Another PS If you have access to PDF then I can send an Island map if you contact me in private. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Eliminate annoying spam! My mailbox is protected by iHateSpam, the #1-rated spam buster." http://www.ihatespam.net
