YQR Glory: Atmospheric Optics Picture of the Day

In January, I flew from Regina to Vancouver and back, and was awed in both directions by the strange circles of light traced across the clouds beneath the plane. 

These were glories — rainbow rings that travellers by plane may see, if their plane and seat position is directly opposite that of the sun. 

Even more magical: Seeing a rare sunset glory as our plane descending through the cloud bank to the Regina International Airport at the end of the trip. 

That's my photo of a glory above YQR - Regina International Airport! (Thanks, Les Cowley!) 

And today! My photos of glories are featured on Les Cowley's Atmospheric Optics Photo of the Day. Which is fantastic, because you can not only see the photos, but also explanations of what a glory is. 

The permanent link for my pix of lovely sky sighting, the YQR glory, is at www.atoptics.co.uk/fz993.htm. And, for more on the story behind seeing this glory, visit my blog at shelleybanks.ca!


What is this? My photo of a rare sunset glory, on Atmospheric Optics (atoptics.co.uk/)
Location: Landing at the Regina International Airport, Saskatchewan

Photo dates: January 25, 2014. 

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Mountain Bluebirds in the Qu'Appelle Valley

Yeah! Mountain Bluebirds have arrived in the valley north of Regina, Saskatchewan! 

We went for a drive this afternoon to look for Mountain Bluebirds and saw a flock of a dozen or more flitting around a group of trees. The males are oh-so-bright and easy to see, but there were many females, too — although most were more brown than blue. 

My first Mountain Bluebird picture of the year!  
And what a lovely bright male!  © SB

None of the Bluebirds we saw were on fences or near the nest boxes that are scattered along the route we took through the Qu'Appelle Valley. Instead, they flew and settled on the trees.

These Mountain Bluebirds, then, are likely passing through on their way to parts norths. Those few who are staying to nest along Rte 99 (from Craven to Highway 6) or near the old church on the other side of the valley have perhaps not yet settled in.

Yeah, for Mountain Bluebirds!!!


What are these? Mountain Bluebirds 
Location: Along Rte 99, between Craven and Highway 6, north of Regina, Saskatchewan

Photo dates: March 24, 2014. 

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Bohemian Waxwings at the Abbey

Bohemian Waxwing in full flight.   © SB

In the hour before sunset, Bohemian Waxwings streamed through winter skies to Abbey trees, to land in golden light and eat buds from upper branches.

Despite the cold — minus 30 C and below, with the wind sharp against my face and camera-clutching fingers — the birds reminded me of spring, feeding on growth that soon will burst into new leaves.

These Bohemians (so-called because of their nomadic winter habits) migrate from their winter homes in south-eastern Canada and the northern U.S. up to their winter homes in Alaska and north-western Canada.

I've seen them pass by the Abbey in other years, but this was a first for seeing them in this rich light.

Bohemian Waxwing checking out the buds  © SB

Bohemian Waxwing feeding on winter branches  © SB

What are these? Bohemian Waxwings.  

Location: St. Peter's Abbey, Saskatchewan
Photo dates: February 20 and 22, 2014. 

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House Sparrow: Hanging on Between Landing and Flight

Some days, you know you can fly

and you try

but you cling to the branch

while your friends turn away.

Wait.

Remember.

This is just one moment

caught

between the grace of the trees

and the sky.

This is what you were born for.

Fly.

What are these? Female House Sparrows.  

Location: Backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan
Photo dates: March 23, 2014. 

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Spring Arrival: A Junco Flies into my Yard

Bird of the day — a Dark-eyed Junco, the first one I've seen in our yard since last October.

They must be flying north again, for summer!

I love the gray tones of this male Junco - gray on gray, with pink beak.  © SB

This one was alone, a very cautious male with no visible mate or companions.

Female Dark-eyed Junco, taken in October, 2013. © SB

But, for the record, here's a female Dark-eyed Junco that came through our yard with a small group of Juncos in October, just before the snow came.


What are these? Dark-eyed Slate-coloured Juncos.   
Location: My backyard, Regina,Saskatchewan.  
Photo dates: March 22, 2014; October 19, 2013. 

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A Pair of Wintery Gray Partridges Drop By

Male Gray Partridge on the snow bank
in my front yard. (Taken through the front door...) © SB

All winter, small flocks of Gray Partridges have visited our front yard.

Six, eight, fourteen...

We see their footprints crisp in the snow, their bodies blurred in the pale blue light that rises before dawn here in Regina, SK.

These birds startle easily, and any movements by our door — like standing beside it or opening it  — send them cackling into dimly lit flight.

Finally, a pair dropped by in the warm cloud-haze of noon.

Finally, a pair sauntered down the sidewalk for me, instead of immediately taking to wing.

Finally, I have Partridge shots that make me happy just to see their orange heads, gray necks and streaked brown feathers.

And yes, for anyone doing sex-sorting, the male is the one with the much redder head; the female is overall more brown. A pair! It must be spring!

Just a closer walk along the sidewalk... Really, it's safe? This one was taken after they walked 
behind the van and I crept outside to stalk them with a long lens.  © SB

What are these? Gray Partridges.  

Location: On a snow bank in my front yard and along the sidewalk in front of my neighbour's house, Regina, Saskatchewan
Photo dates: March 14, 2014. 

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Black-capped Chickadee of the Day

Because every good day deserves a chickadee.

Soft feathered weightlessness, rasp of air on your hands.

Black-capped Chickadee waiting patiently
(or perhaps not) for nuts and seeds. © SB

What is this? A Black-capped Chickadee  

Location: St. Peter's Abbey, Muenster, Saskatchewan
Photo dates: February 11, 2014. 

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Northern Lights over Muenster, Saskatchewan

Aurora Borealis after midnight   © SB

When I came back to my room after midnight, I looked out to discover there were Northern Lights.

Most of the others were sleeping, but in the morning, I learned of those who'd never seen the solar winds dance.

They insisted I wake them if we're ever together when I see the Aurora again...

They want to watch the lights crawl from the horizon, pour from the zenith, shape-shift from harp strings to curtains to frogs and a pair of high kicking Can-Can dancers legs.

As I do... And I will... (And I hope they don't mind the 2 a.m. knock on the door, when it comes. At least that way, though, I'll have company to go light-seeking outside, instead of taking pictures through my bedroom window!)

Often, the Aurora follow solar flares, but for the February display, this was the oh-so-poetic cause: 

Magnetic fields in the interplanetary medium have tipped south, opening a crack in Earth's defenses against the solar wind. (SpaceWeather.com)

 What amazing light flows when defences are down!

Swirls of green and pink Northern Lights across the Eastern Sky. (Yes, I should have gone outside to look
to the North, but it was very late, very dark, very cold, and I was alone.) © SB

Ribbons and curtains of Northern Lights,seen from St. Peter's Abbey, Muenster, SK.  © SB

What are these? Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights.  

Location: St. Peter's Abbey, Muenster, Saskatchewan
Photo dates: February 19, 2014. 

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Venus and the Moon, Rising before the Sun

Three weeks ago, when the moon was a sliver that rose at sunrise, I watched it glide up through my east-facing window with the planet Venus glowing before it.

The old Moon chasing Venus through the sunrise sky. © SB  

A woman at lunch later that day noticed my camera and asked if I'd seen the early morning sky — deep blue over an apricot horizon, lit by a crescent and star.

She'd pulled over on her way to work in the Abbey kitchen, stopped her car at the edge of the grid road and watched Venus, the Moon, the Sun, rise.

Sometime, we are not alone.


What is this? Night sky - a conjunction of the Moon and Venus. 

Location: Outside my window at St. Peter's Abbey, Muenster, Saskatchewan.
Photo dates: February 26, 2014. 

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House Sparrow of the Day

Today, a House Sparrow.

And why not?

The sound of their accusations ("cheap! cheap! cheap!") wakes me in the morning.

And that song — though I hate to call it that! — serenades me all day long.

Dozens of House Sparrows fill my yard throughout the year.

Some days, I think the world is made of House Sparrows.

Dig, and you'll find them, all the way down...




What is this? A House Sparrow.  

Location: On a snow bank in my backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan
Photo dates: March 10, 2014. 

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The Four-legged Reason We Have So Few House Finches

And now, the reason we have had so few House Finches in our neighbourhood this winter... Or, one reason, at least. I'm sure most finches migrate south — though in past few years (until last year), several stayed and brightened our Regina, SK, backyard.

But we now have a killer in our midst... A cat.

Oh, look at the Christmas present the neighbour's cat caught!  © SB

Don't get me wrong: I love cats. Almost as much as I love dogs.

But I don't love cats that prowl our streets killing song birds and other lovely feathered things.

Inside their houses. That's where I love cats. Pampered killers shouldn't be set loose to attack fragile prey.

And when was this shot taken? Christmas Day, 2013. (Merry Christmas, Cat. You got a good one. But not yet, for the record, the House Finches in the previous post... They were still singing mid-March, 2014.)


What is this? A neighbourhood cat, carrying in its teeth the House Finch it caught.  

Location: In front of my house, Regina, Saskatchewan
Photo dates: December 25, 2013. 

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Bright Red House Finch — with Mate! (Is It Spring?)

It must be Spring: A brilliantly scarlet House Finch arrived in our Regina, Saskatchewan, backyard this week — along with a more subdued, brown-streaked female. A mating pair!

Male House Finch in fresh spring colours. © SB

A pair of House Finches! © SB

(Spring, indeed, with several feet of snow still covering our garden... Well, I can hope...)


What are these? House Finches 

Location: My backyard, Regina, Saskatchewan
Photo dates: March 15, 2014. 

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