Parc Angrignon
Park Angrignon is an extensive urban park consisting of natural areas, a deciduous forest, in spring partially flooded, a large pond, two smaller ponds and an urban park area. What makes this park so attractive for Nature and Wildlife photographer is the convenient accessibility and the unique combination of urban park areas vs. relatively natural kept areas such as the forest along the larger pond.
How to Get Here
The park is located at the end station of green metro line, Angrignon. Leave the station on the opposite site of the bus terminals and cross the large parking lot to get to the entrance near the large pond. In winter you can cross the large pond to get to the forest.
Photos
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What to See Here
The park is extensive with different type of habitats and thanks to this characteristics, there are opportunities to see a variety of different species during the different seasons of the year.
Small pond left of metro station and bus terminal: The usual shorebirds and waterfowl species like Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis). Occasionally, Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Large pond: Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), rarely Great Egret (Ardea alba); Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta), rarely Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
Extended forest area adjacent to ponds. Popular place among birdwatchers to see Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) in winter. Both Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter striatus) and Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) are nesting in this park.
Observed Animals by Season
"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from our park visit journals.
Observed Flowering Plants by Season
| Species | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird's-Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) | - | x | - | - |
| Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) | x | - | - | - |
| Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) | - | x | - | - |
| Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) | x | - | - | - |
| Common Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) | - | x | - | - |
| Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) | x | x | - | - |
| Large White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) | x | - | - | - |
| New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) | - | x | - | - |
| Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) | - | x | - | - |
| Red Trillium (Trillium erectum) | x | - | - | - |
| Woolly Blue Violet (Viola sororia) | x | - | - | - |
| Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) | x | - | - | - |
"x" indicates that the species was observed flowering, while "-" indicates no observation. The absence of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species was not flowering. Data is derived from our park visit journals.
Photography Tips
If you are out to take photos of birds, you will need definitively a long lens, 400mm, as birds of prey and waterfowl will be on distance. You are able to get down to water surface level at both ponds. The park also has spots for landscape photography along the large pond.
If you are interested in finding the Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio), I recommend connecting with fellow photographers in the area. They often set up tripods and cameras nearby, as these owls can be challenging to spot due to their excellent camouflage. There are several spots in the forest located to the south of the large pond where you may have a chance to locate them.
The upper portion of the large pond offers an excellent vantage point for observing and photographing the Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) as it hunts. To ensure successful results, I recommend using a lens of at least 400mm and a fast focus.