Good evening folks Today Ian Cannell, Margaret Liubavicius and I again birded Hanlans Point and again we had great weather and pretty nice birds.
We started birding right away beside the ferry dock and there we re-found the previously reported White-eyed Vireo, 30+ Pine Siskins along with numerous Hermit Thrushes and 2 Carolina Wrens. We then started our walk along the fence and Margaret looked up to watch the local Red-tailed Hawk as it soared overhead and then called out that the speck in the sky looked like a Raptor. We put our binoculars up to try and find this dot in the sky and when we did it slowly made it's way closer to reveal an adult Golden Eagle. Other good birds seen today were - Northern Pintail, Canvasbacks, Turkey Vultures, Cooper's Hawks, Wilson's Snipe, Eastern Phoebes, Brown Creeper, 7 Winter Wrens, good numbers of both Kinglets still, 100+ Hermit Thrushes, American Pipit, Orange-crowned, Nashville and Palm Warblers, 10 Sparrow species including 6 Eastern Towhees, Chipping, Field, Sharp-tailed ( again ), 9 Fox, and Lincoln's. Another great day not to be in an office, etc. and again with stellar company. Those two make my day a hell of lot nicer than just my own company. 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 ($6.50 adult / $4.00 for seniors and students) and to find out the sailing times you can phone (416) 392-8193. There are only 3 washrooms open on the islands ( opposite the Wards dock, Centre Island and beside the Hanlans dock ) 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 or to Hanlans on the weekend. 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 is coffee shop ( Treat’s Café ) across from the ferry docks in the building on the northwest corner ( opens before 6:30 am on week days but only opens at 9 am on the Saturdays that it doesn’t rain ). You may also purchase do-nuts, etc. here. Also just a little east on Queen’s Quay ( less than a block ) there is the "Kitchen Table" and they are open at 6 am - 7 days per week. Besides coffee you may also buy food and beverages at the Kitchen Table if you forget a lunch. There are no concession stands open on The Islands but if you are birding from or on Ward’s the soft drink machine beside the fire station sells Coke-Cola, juice, iced tea, etc. for $1.25 and up and there are drinking fountains through out. Washrooms are also located at the fire station. For a detailed ferry schedule check the following web site or see below. 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. 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/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
