<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0cm; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; text-decoration:underline;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only;} @page WordSection1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} -->Yesterday Bob Tyler, Jenny Bull and I birded Ward’s, Algonquin and Snake Islands for the Eastern Gap to the Centre Island Pier and following are some of the 65 species we found.

Common Loon, Gadwall, White-winged Scoter, Red-breasted and Common Mergansers, Turkey Vultures, Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s and Red-tailed Hawks, Spotted Sandpiper, Many Chimney Swifts, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, many Northern Flickers, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, many Tree Swallows, Barn Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House and Winter Wrens, Golden-crowned Kinglets, many Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Veery, Hermit Thrush, 2 Northern Mockingbirds together, probably a pair, May be 4 of them on The Islands, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Blue-headed Vireo, Yellow, and lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Pine and Palm Warblers, Eastern Towhee, Field and Swamp Sparrow, tons of White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and House Finch.

Spring Ferry and Islands Information.

Masked wearing is mandatory on the ferries and should be kept on in the city side dock area as well.

Note:- There is a washroom on the city side of the docks but the washrooms on the ferries are closed due to Corvid. There is one washroom on Ward's - straight out from the ferry dock, another one at the Fire Station west of the Algonquin Island bridge and another one on Centre Island west of the bridge to the Centre Island ferry dock, this dock is closed until April 15th. There is another one at the Hanlan's Point ferry dock if you want to walk that far (5 km from Ward's ferry dock), this ferry dock is also closed until April 15th.

Note: Most washrooms should be opened in the near future.

There are no washrooms or fountains on Algonquin Island and no washrooms on Snake Island.

The Riviera Café just east of the bridge onto Algonquin Island (west of the ferry dock) is occasionally open for takeout on the weekend. IT IS NOW OPENED FRIDAY TO AT LEAST SUNDAY.

Be aware that there is a Frisbee Course on Ward's Island, west of the Island Fire Station so be alert when in the course area.

Another Note:- All ferries are now operating to Ward’s, Centre and Hanaln’s

FYI - The first boats to Ward's Island Monday to Sunday are 6:30 am, 7:00 am and 7:30 nd the first boats to Hanlan’s Monday to Sunday are 8:00 am, 8:30 am and 9:00 am. Toronto Island ferry information and schedule

Also, be aware that the Island School has a daycare centre operating during the week, so please do not approach too close when the children are out and about around the school. There is also a daycare centre on Algonquin Island during the week so do not approach too close there as well. The School is also open during the week, so the same close approach must be avoided.

If anyone is interested I have revised my Toronto Island Site and Bird Guide and it can be found on the OFO Website (http://www.ofo.ca/ofo-docs/Toronto_Islands_Birding_and_Site_Guide.pdf)

There is also an unofficial Checklist of Birds of The Islands at that site.

This is a Spring/Summer/Fall Guide but may be useful in Winter as I bird most of those same areas all Winter and there are always some interesting Winter bird residents and visitors.

Norm Murr

Richmond Hill, ON