Today I only birded Ward’s and Snake Islands and there were some nice birds over there for the Winter Birders that are mainly interested in the Toronto area or can not get out of the city to bird some of the good or better areas being posted.
Following are some of the birds that may not be easy for the above birders to find. Pied-billed Grebes, Lesser Scaups, Hooded Mergansers (easy in other GTA areas as well), Sharp-shinned Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, American Coots, Red-bellied Woodpecker, multiple Hairy Woodpeckers, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren Golden-crowned Kinglets and Common Redpolls. Most of the waterfowl were on the harbour off Snake Island and the area between Snake Island and Snug Harbour was very productive for passerines. I missed the following birds but these are residents or winter visitors and should be looked for – Cooper’s Hawk, Carolina Wren, Song Sparrow or White-throated Sparrow and if you are a lot younger than me you should bird to Hanlan’s Point as there usually are some good birds from Snake Island to there. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - WINTER SCHEDULE NOTE :- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands ( between March and November ) you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/webapp/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands Another Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus or streetcar. When running there is a street car (#509 Harbourfront) that goes from inside the TTC’s Union Subway Station to Queen’s Quay (no transfer required). For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are lots of parking lots nearby (fee). These parking lots are located just a block north of the ferry docks with more a block or so west of the ferry docks. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THERE ARE NO FERRIES TO CENTRE ISLAND OR HANLANS POINT IN THE WINTER From October 9th, 2012 to April 12th, 2013 Norm Murr 303-48 Laverock Ave. Richmond Hill, Ontario L4C 4J5 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
