Good Evening It is hard to believe this late in October that we would have back to back shirt sleeve birding days but today on the Islands was a beautiful day with lots of people enjoying them but not many birds.
The subject birds were the exception and enjoyable. We also observed 6 Red-breasted Nuthatches, absent in migration for a couple of weeks, migrating Cedar Waxwings, A. Goldfinch, A. Crows and of course the Black-capped Chickadees continue to pass through. We also found both Kinglets, some White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows, only one Fox Sparrow, 21 Bufflehead, new this season, Hooded Mergansers, N. Shovelers and a few of the usual suspects. All in all not too many birds but with the cold front passing through tonight and tomorrow it just may produce a mini fallout as it pushes procrastinating birds out of their northern haunts. It certainly should produce many Raptor migrants. Directions:- TORONTO ISLANDS - WINTER SCHEDULE (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 9:00 am - Monday to Friday only. There are no boats to Centre Island in the Winter Note:- If you start at Wards Island then be aware that the only ferries from Hanlans Point are at 9:15 am, 11:15 am, 1:15 pm and the last one at 3:45 pm. If you miss this one you will have to walk all the way back to the Wards Island ferry dock. 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 are not available during the winter and the water fountains are turned off until at least April. For a detailed ferry schedule check the following web site. http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/springschedule.htm Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON "Sils mordent, mords les" _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
