Sharp-shinned Hawk in Regina backyard

Sharp-shinned Hawk, on a very windy day! © SB

A young Sharp-shinned Hawk blew in to feed in our Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard this week.

From the feathers and feet, its prey was a smaller bird, likely a House Sparrow, as that's all we've had on offer lately.

The hawk devoured it on top of our trellis.

The colour of this Sharpie's feathers and eyes will change as it matures. I wonder if it will drop by for sparrows again next year?

Sharp-shinned Hawk
in my backyard. © SB

Gore alert! ...  Too late.
The Sharp-shinned Hawk
devours its meal. © SB

Immature Sharp-shinned Hawk. © SB

What is this? A young Sharp-shinned Hawk - Épervier brun

Location: In my backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan

Photo dates: January 11, 2014. 

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Saskatchewan Sun Dogs, Solar Halos

Extreme cold and high winds over the past few days have created wonderful displays of sundogs and solar halos in Saskatchewan skies. (Yes, cold! Below -35C, with wind chills as low as -51C!)

But the sundogs — glowing mini rainbows/suns at the sides of shining rings around the sun. And the halos — some days, one; others, the more rare sight of two huge circles in the sky, with the arc of an upside-down rainbow tipped above. So beautiful!

Sun dogs, solar halos, and solar arcs. Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, January 4, 2014. © Shelley Banks

This image was taken looking south, across the street from my house. What an amazing sight!

This display was so vast that I couldn't take it in at one glance; I had to scan the sky, looking for more beyond the inner halo, and then, with delight, seeing the outer halo and then, at the top of the sky, the upper arc. (The camera did slightly better with the lens set at 11mm, a much wider angle than the normal human field of view.)

What is? A series of solar halo - with sundogsoptics

Location: Seen across the road from my house, Regina, Saskatchewan
Photo dates: January 4, 2014. 

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