Arboretum Main Trail – Interactive map (Winter)
We have created an interactive trail map for visitors following the Main (Orange) Trail in the Morgan Arboretum. This map is full of interesting information for walkers taking the trail during the winter months – a spring/summer version will be published around Easter time. Use the map on this page to plan you walk – and then [...]
Snowshoe Day
18 January, and after a weekend of heavy snowfall we went out to enjoy the countryside on the West Island. Considering this in Montreal, it's very pleasing to have such places within a very short distance from home. Lovely deep snow with a thin and crisp topping to wade through - thank goodness for snowshoes. There were [...]
“Naturally Speaking” – A Really Big Woodpecker
Even the woodpecker owes its success to the fact that he used his head. —Author Unknown Continuing with the theme of occasional “Naturally Speaking” accounts of species you can encounter on the West Island of Montreal I am going to introduce a another bird. Botanists and entomologist friends of mine need not fret - there will [...]
“Naturally Speaking” – Snow Buntings
Species Accounts Richard Gregson PhD MPhil CBiol FRSB - West Island Wildlife - Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) Introduction: I have been sharing a few photographs and some very basic information daily for almost a year now about assorted species of wildlife and plants that can be found in the leafy western suburbs of Montreal. There's a [...]
Garden Bird List for 2020
If you are not a keen birder this will perhaps not be of great interest - unless you have decided to really take up birding with the start of a new year and wan a target to aim for. Anyway, assuming you plan to read on ... here is what we saw in the garden during 2020. [...]
On the Naming of Birds
Tits or Chickadees?Not sure how I had missed this after a lifetime looking at creatures but I recently came across a photograph of a small bird and thought "funny looking Chickadee". This was the bird: It didn't take me long to work out that it was similar but different - here is the Black-capped Chickadee we [...]
“West Island Wildlife #2” – FREE
Do you know just how varied is the wildlife on the West Island in Winter? West Island Wildlife is an occasional webzine. It is FREE and fully illustrated, and has the intention of introducing readers to the surprisingly varied wildlife and native plants to be found on the West Island of Montreal. Following the good reception (thanks everyone) which [...]
The Dark Morris and Climate Change
Terry Pratchett wrote a wonderful book under the title of “Wintersmith” that mentioned the essential role of the annual silent performance of the Dark Morris in ensuring that winter arrives as it should. I was reminded today, the winter solstice, of this tradition and, as a former morris dancer/musician myself felt the need to reacquaint myself with the [...]