My first meeting with one of (at least) two Clark's Nutcrackers who were frequenting Manning Park Resort in the early morning and afternoon. Like Gray Jays, Clark's Nutcrackers are quite bold and will approach visitors in hopes of free food.

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

A Curious Clark's Nutcracker Flask

A Short-Eared Owl surveys its hunting grounds for opportunistic Northern Harriers who would not hesitate to take advantage of the fruit of its hunting prowess. Sudden gusts of wind fluff this hunter's head feathers, revealing the short ear tufts for which this owl is named. Photographed on a late afternoon in late November 2017.

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Portrait of a Short-Eared Owl Flask

Color him intrigued! This male Hooded Merganser (along with his very small flock of three ladies) seemed quite surprised to see humans so close to his winter stomping grounds at Boundary Bay Regional Park. As his personal photographer, I was so surprised to see Hooded Mergansers so close to the main walking trails. Photographed in mid-December 2016 during an unusually long and cold, cold snap.

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Handsome Hooded Merganser on the Move Flask

Available in a delightful range of colors, calla lilies have long intrigued me with their elegant, pitcher-like flowers. These hardy South African natives have found a strong fan following in North American gardens as ornamental plants.

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Elegant Purple Calla Lilies Flask

The Hahn's Macaw, also known as a Red-Shouldered Macaw or Mini Macaw, is the smallest of all macaws. These South American expatriates are friendly birds, and their sweet dispositions make them popular pets.

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Hahn's Mini Macaw / Red-Shouldered Macaw Flask

This young Rufous hummingbird was taking a break from scrapping with a fellow hummingbird for ownership of the flowers in a vast public garden to enjoy a little moment of peace and quiet in the sun. Photographed in early June 2017.

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Cute Rufous Hummingbird Perched on Flower Flask

My second encounter with a male Mountain Bluebird. We are gifted, albeit very briefly, with the presence of these beautiful songbirds at the start of the spring season before they head to higher ground to breed. Those stunning cerulean colors stand out on a dreary landscape, even from a distance. When he wasn't busy diving for insects on the local beach, he was highpointing it on driftwood and stalks of dessicated tansy. Photographed at Boundary Bay Regional Park in early spring 2017.

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Beautiful Mountain Bluebird on the Tansy Hip Flask

The African Superb Starling is such a beautiful rainbow of colours. When it makes an entrance, it really makes an entrance; it's no shrinking violet. Rare, though, is the moment when it stays still long enough to get a photo of it, but got it I did, as it waited for its turn to bathe in the waterfall.

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

A Stunning African Superb Starling Flask

Add a touch of nature to your laptop or computer with this wildlife-themed mousepad.

Last year, I was fortunate enough to encounter the female Yellow-Headed Blackbird at Manning Park. This year, I saw not one of these rare visitors to Metro Vancouver, but three adult male Yellow-Headed Blackbirds (and at least one female)--the former calling attention to themselves with their golden heads and breasts, less-than-melodious birdcalls, and frequent sparring matches with the more familiar Red-Winged Blackbird males in the marshes of Iona Island.

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Striking Yellow-Headed Blackbird in the Marsh Mouse Pad

Finding this Great Egret in the winter grass and reeds fronting a Langley farm on December 31, 2018, was a great way to wrap up the year. My subject was neither disturbed by the trio of photographers capturing its every move, nor by the traffic roaring down the 2-lane road, and in fact, ventured to with 15 feet of me to feed. 

Whatever caused this migratory heron (which is an ultra-rare bird in Canada) to spend its decidedly non-tropical vacation here instead of at its regular winter stomping grounds in Miami, Mexico, and Guatemala is a mystery -- but one that I am very grateful for.

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Elegant Great Egret Bird in the Reeds Postcard

Add a touch of nature to any room with this wildlife-themed wall hanging. 

Brown Creepers are common all-year-round residents in Metro Vancouver, but it's easy to miss seeing these masters of disguise in the forest. This is the closest I have come to photographing this extremely well-camouflaged bird, and seeing the meal in its bill was a nice added bonus.

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

American Treecreeper with Bug Canvas Print

I was surprised to learn that Black-Headed Grosbeaks will fly to the ground to eat seed; my previous encounters with these strikingly-colored finches was strictly up (way up!) in the trees. This handsome fellow showed no restraints about catching some sun on the boardwalk, either, and unwittingly gave me several closeups of himself in the process. Photographed at Campbell Valley Regional Park on July 2, 2016.

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Closeup of a Handsome Black-Headed Grosbeak Classic Round Sticker

A stunning medley of primulas, these bicolor, early spring blooming beauties beckoned me with their dazzlingly vivid palettes of reds, pinks, purples, and yellows. 

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Colorful Springtime Floral Medley of Primulas Postcard

Keep notes, reminders, and more in this wildlife-themed journal. 

Only the second time I've seen a Mourning Dove, and much closer than my initial encounter with the species. This one was quite calmly sitting high up in a tree while its partner was roosting in a much lower tree across the walking trail. Photographed at Colony Farm Regional Park, a wildlife area for hundreds of migratory birds in Metro Vancouver.

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Portrait of a Mourning Dove Notebook

With its wide open spaces, the Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area is home to many different species of songbirds as well as several raptors. I found the brown-tinged feathers on this rather bold Black-Capped Chickadee--who was anticipating a free handout of seeds--rather interesting. Perhaps a hybrid with a Chestnut-Backed Chickadee was one of its parents (or grandparents)?

A Curious Clark's Nutcracker Flask

A Curious Clark's Nutcracker Flask

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