Meh Island

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus

Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps

Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps

Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus

Eastern Screech-Owl Megascops asio

Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus

Eastern Comma Polygonia comma

Compton Tortoiseshell Nymphalis vaualbum

Domaine St-Paul, Nun’s Island, April 14, 2021

  I’m not a huge fan of the vibe on Nun’s Island. Just a pitiful sliver of highly degraded greenery remains of what used to be one of the premiere birding locations in the Montreal area. Kinda reminded me of parts of Korea in that way. Condos and McMansions loom on all sides of the dying grey forest. Trying to bird while yuppies eyeball you from their swimming pool patios…way to harsh my mellow dude.

  What else sucked? Competing for space on narrow trails with snooty local perambulators, clots of screaming school kids, and bizarre drifter types. And don’t you dare wander to the spa side of the swamp, where the hot-tubs work overtime at boiling the chubby rich. Maybe I was just cranky that day, who knows.

  A bright spot was meeting local birder Marcia Mason, a recently returned Montreal expat…a real character.

  Ended up with 38 species on the day. We didn’t run into the Carolina Wren or Tufted Titmouse, but did encounter the other site celebrities: Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Eastern Screech-Owl. The big-headed Pied-billed Grebes entertained with their goofy calls and water-running.

  My bird of the day was a butterfly — a lifer — Compton Tortoiseshell. Sweet.

  That’s it.