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Welcome to our Guide to Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies

Last modified on 2023-04-14. This page is dedicated to nature lovers and wildlife photographers who are looking to plan their visit to Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies. Our aim is to provide you with comprehensive information about the park's wildlife and help you make the most out of your trip.

Introduction

Park Pointe-aux-Prairies is a large, remote park area with forests, ponds and forest clearings located near the Northern tip of Island of Montreal accessible by public transportation. This park is one of the top three in Montreal area and a mandatory stop for us every year, every season.

How to Get Here

To visit middle and east section, take metro line green until to the end station Honoré-Beaugrand and then bus line 186. The western part of the park area has been accessible in winter from the central part. Recently, this connection has been closed. You still can walk around the golf course on the left side of the highway but it is a long walk. Thus, access to the western part is limited because of lack of public transportation. Nevertheless, it is an astonishing location for photography and you should find a way to get there.

Map Location of Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies

Based on © OpenStreetMap

Photography Tips

In this park area, we identified four spots of special interest.

Pond near Entrance: Close to the entrance in the central park area, there is a pond with a bridge. In early April, this pond is populated with hundreds of Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus). You will be able to hear them from a distance.

Forest along Highway: All year long you will be able to see White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) which are a great opportunity for photos specially during winter months.

Pond Eastern Area: There is a large pond in the Eastern area with ducks and frogs and a pathway through the forest until down to the river. There is no guarantee to spot a specific species but opportunities for to spot and photograph waterfowl and forest birds. You need a large lens though (400mm +)

Crossing Two Ponds: There is a pathway between two ponds in the middle of the Western area of the park. At this spot you have a good view on each side. With a decent camera and tele objective you are able to take photos of waterfowl and other birds living in this habitat.

What to See Here

In winter, you can see White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) besides birds like different woodpeckers and hawks. During spring thanks to the different ponds, you can see and hear different frog species. Finally, in summer this park with the different ecosystems like prairies, forest, swamps, ponds and rivers is a place abundant of different species habituating these ecosystems.

Recent Photos of Species

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Species and Seasonality

SpringSummerFallWinter
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 1 0 0 0
American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) 3 0 0 1
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) 1 0 0 0
American Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) 1 0 0 0
Bitter Wintercress (Barbara vulgaris) 1 0 0 0
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 4 0 0 1
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) 1 0 0 0
Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) 1 0 0 0
Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis) 1 0 0 0
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 1 0 0 0
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 1 0 0 0
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1 0 0 0
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) 1 0 0 0
Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) 1 0 0 0
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 1 0 0 0
DeKays Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi) 1 0 0 0
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) 3 0 0 0
Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) 2 0 0 0
Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) 1 0 0 0
Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) 2 0 0 1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1 0 0 0
European Peacock (Aglais io) 1 0 0 0
Gadwall (Anas strepera) 2 0 0 0
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) 1 0 0 0
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 1 0 0 0
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) 0 1 0 0
Green Winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) 0 0 1 0
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) 3 0 0 1
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 2 0 0 0
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) 1 0 0 0
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 2 0 0 1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 1 0 0 0
Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) 2 0 0 0
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 1 0 0 0
Raccoon (Procyon lotor) 1 0 0 0
Red-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum) 0 1 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) 1 0 0 0
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 2 0 0 0
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 1 0 0 0
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2 0 0 0
Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) 1 0 0 0
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2 0 0 1
White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) 1 0 0 2
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 2 0 0 0
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) 0 0 0 1
Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) 3 0 0 0
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 1 0 0 0

Times a species has been spotted, identified and logged while visiting this park. A species is reported only once / park visit. Consult the page animal tracking about how we log observations in field. Only species shown which we have logged at least 5 times in the Montreal area.

Videos Recorded in Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies

Videos are hosted on Muuuh's YouTube Channel.

Landscape Photos Taken in Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies

Prairie near the entrance of Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies

Taken on a sunny day near end of winter

2023-03-11

NIKON Z6; NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8; Focal Length 51mm; Exposure 1/8000; Aperture f2.8; Iso 110;

Park Pointe aux Pariries

2020-06-07

iPhone 11 Pro; iPhone 11 Pro back triple camera 1.54mm f/2.4; Focal Length 4mm; Exposure 1/3984; Aperture f1.8; Iso 32;

Autumn in Park Pointe aux Prairies

2017-10-28

iPhone 7; iPhone 7 back camera 3.99mm f/1.8; Focal Length 4mm; Exposure 1/214; Aperture f1.8; Iso 20;

Prairie

2016-03-22

XT1058; Mobile; Focal Length 4mm; Exposure 1/4800; Aperture f2.4; Iso 160;

Rolling Hills at Pointe aux Prairies

Actually, these are hills along the golf course covered with snow at this time of the year.

2015-01-25

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS; 4.3-215mm; Focal Length 33mm; Exposure 1/400; Aperture f5.6; Iso 80;

Park Pointe aux Prairies North Section

2014-08-09

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS; 4.3-215mm; Focal Length 4mm; Exposure 1/200; Aperture f4.0; Iso 80;

For high quality, free available photos visit our profile on Unsplash.

Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies.

All photos, videos, and text on this page are protected by copyright and are the exclusive property of Karl-Heinz Müller. Reproduction, distribution, or use of any content without permission is strictly prohibited. © Karl-Heinz Müller.