A website dedicated to photographs and videos from Canada and around the world with an emphasis on nature, wildlife, food, travel and sport as well as art, architecture and culture. In culture, the focus will be on projects related to the work of His Highness the Aga Khan, his Ismaili Muslim community and Islam in general.
2021 in Photos: Beautiful Portraits of the Hawk from Toronto’s Aga Khan Park
I captured the following photos of a hawk at Aga Khan Park on the morning of August 7, 2021 between 6:37 AM and 6:58 AM. When I arrived at the Park, I saw the majestic bird perched on the horizonal top of an electric pole with a fresh kill — a mouse. Then, after he had cleaned his plate, he flew to a nearby tree, where he gave me the opportunity to take more photographs. At one point, I was afraid it may swoop down on me and claw on my head or face!
It has been a magnificent year of photo taking at the Aga Khan Park and other parks, forests, rivers, lakes and gardens that I visited in and around Toronto. I begin the 2021 series with the hawk.
Note: All photos taken with Olympus E-M10, auto mode.
Hawk with a mouse under its claw, Aga Khan Park, Toronto, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, digs into his meal, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, first bite reaction; August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, a sizeable chunk, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, bit by bit, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, enough still left; August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto; oh! it’s all gone! August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, mouse cleaned up! August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, perched on a tree, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hast thou not seen how that whatsoever is in the heavens and in the earth extols God, and the birds spreading their wings? Each — He knows its prayer and its extolling; and God knows the things they do.
Holy Qur’an, 24:41, Sura An-Nur (Chapter of The Light), translation by Arberry. See 7 parallel translations in Corpus Quran HERE
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Hawk at Aga Khan Park, Toronto, August 7, 2021. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.
Date posted: December 23, 2021.
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Thank you so much, as always Mr Merchant. Quick question: While I do not know which part of the world you may be from, but I am from Kenya, East Africa and are Hawks the same thing we used to call “SAMARDIS) back at home?
I am from Dar es Salaam, and prior to that Maputo (then Lourenco Marques). I don’t recall the word Samardis and cannot find it in google. It appears to be a Croatian word. Perhaps a reader familiar with the naming of hawks in Kenya might respond. I am glad you liked the photos.
Lovely photos——I presume, you spend lot of time sauntering In the Park “de temps a temps “to catch such precious moments!
Thank you so much, as always Mr Merchant. Quick question: While I do not know which part of the world you may be from, but I am from Kenya, East Africa and are Hawks the same thing we used to call “SAMARDIS) back at home?
I am from Dar es Salaam, and prior to that Maputo (then Lourenco Marques). I don’t recall the word Samardis and cannot find it in google. It appears to be a Croatian word. Perhaps a reader familiar with the naming of hawks in Kenya might respond. I am glad you liked the photos.
Amazing pictures, Malik.
Thanks for sharing.
🤲😊
Stunning pictures. Thanks for sharing