Personalized Gifts

The perfect greeting cards for bird lovers!  There's lots to be admired when you're a Hooded Merganser. Crests are your specialty, whether you're the male or the female. The ladies have lovely cinnamon crests, and the gentlemen inflatable black-and-white numbers complemented by a one-size-fits-all black tux for all seasons with a swath of reddish brown on their sides.

A Meeting of Hooded Mergansers

Japanese Andromeda aka Pieris Japonica is one of my favorite shrubs. It is one of the first plants to flower in the spring--making it an early and obvious choice for pollinators like bumblebees and honeybees--and its slow growing nature makes it an easy-to-maintain natural border plant. Its medley of young dark red leaves, mature yellowish green leaves, and white bell-shaped flowers contrasts nicely against a blue sky and makes for spectacular landscape shots.

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

Japanese Andromeda Bonfire

Cute Hopeful Black-Capped Chickadee Songbird

Cute Black-Capped Chickadee Songbird Christmas

An adorable Black-Capped Chickadee looks longingly at the food presented in two different hands, and wonders if it should go for sunflower seeds from hand A or hand B. Decisions, decisions. 

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

WWN Hopeful Black-Capped Chickadee in the Tree

A pair of Sandhill Cranes wades through the shallow waters of the local wildlife refuge on a cloudy mid-winter's day. These are the largest birds that can be seen in Metro Vancouver all year round, more often on the ground, but occasionally in the air, too. As wild (and large) as they are, the ones who frequent the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary will consent to being handfed, and indeed, sometimes demand disbursement of birdseed this way!

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

A Pair of Wading Greater Sandhill Cranes

Monkey Puzzle Trees (also known as Chilean pines) are common sights in Metro Vancouver homes and public gardens. The emanating and repeating star pattern and natural geometry of its leaves reminds me of a finished Solitaire game, when the cards are bouncing all over the place.

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

Stunning Chilean Pine Monkey Puzzle Tree

They're not juniper berries, but this bird--which is rarely seen here in the Metro Vancouver area--clearly isn't finicky when it comes to winter fruits. This Townsend's Solitaire (another bird for my life list) materialized on our front lawn pyracantha bush on December 9, 2015, but it required two more visits more a week later to finally get proof of this handsome thrush.

Townsend's Solitaire on the Pyracantha

We encountered four of these large and beautiful butterflies on our evening walk through the local wildlife management area. Two of them seemed to engage briefly in an aerial dogfight before going their separate ways. Anise Swallowtails are almost always on the move, so to see this one resting was a rare experience.

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

Beautiful Anise Swallowtail Butterfly in the Grass

One of a dozen of Harlequin Ducks I had the fortune of meeting at the beach, and my closest encounter with these diving sea ducks. Interestingly, all were adult males in near or full breeding plumage and showing off their slate grey, white, and rich cinnamon feathers, but there were no ladies of their own kind to impress. Photographed on the first full day of spring 2017.

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

Beautiful Harlequin Duck on the Rock

Add a touch of nature and elegance to the home or office with this wildlife-themed wall hanging.

An early morning low tide at the White Rock Pier enabled me to capture this Surf Scoter seaduck feasting on exposed barnacles and mussels that coat the bottoms of exposed pilings in early November 2021.

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

Surf Scoter Feasting on Mussels and Barnacles Canvas Print

Keep notes, reminders, and more in this whimsical, wildlife-themed journal. The perfect choice for bird lovers! One of two American Kestrels we saw whilst driving through Surrey during BC Family Day 2016. Though not a closeup -- my subject was about 15-20 feet above my head and 25 feet away -- the sun lit him enough to capture his magnificent plumage (another photo I took of his back showed blue and orange wings--confirming his gender). My first sighting in the wild of North America's tiniest falcon, and the first time I have seen the male of the species. It surprised me to learn that insects, not songbirds, are the staples of their diet.

American Kestrel Hawk on a Wire Notebook

Add a touch of nature to your coffee, tea, or favourite hot drink with this wildlife-themed mug! The perfect gift idea for bird lovers! 

Although their rattling call has become a familiar sound to my ears, it's not easy to get a photo of the Belted Kingfisher in repose. By the time I've heard this well-dressed fisher, it's usually in motion, diving from its perch on a powerline or tree limb into the waters below to snag some unwitting piece of sushi. This lady was an exception, sitting quietly on a branch in the evening sun for several minutes before flying off to her next meal. Most of the time, I tend to encounter the females, whom I consider to be the prettier of the time, with their reddish brown and blue necklaces. Photographed in late July 2016 at Colony Farm.

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

Female Belted Kingfisher Out on a Limb Mug

Beautiful Touching Moment Between Wood Ducks Classic Round Sticker

Beautiful Touching Moment Between Wood Ducks Notebook

Beautiful Touching Moment Between Wood Ducks Tote Bag

Beautiful Touching Moment Between Wood Ducks Cornhole Set

Beautiful Touching Moment Between Wood Ducks Trinket Tray

These two Wood Ducks could not possibly be any closer! Intimacy with your significant other means never having to be embarrassed just because a camera lens happens to be angled your way.

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

WWN A Touching Moment Between Wood Ducks

Stunning Male Anna's Hummingbird on the Plum Tree Photo Print

Stunning Male Anna's Hummingbird on the Plum Tree 3 Ring Binder

Stunning Male Anna's Hummingbird on the Plum Tree Hip Flask

Stunning Male Anna's Hummingbird on the Plum Tree Poker Cards

Stunning Male Anna's Hummingbird in Plum Tree Keychain

Add a touch of nature to the living room or bedroom with this wildlife-themed throw! The perfect gift idea for hummingbird lovers!

Our resident adult male Anna's hummingbird has never let me photograph him at close range, but on one evening in late May 2016, he came to sit on one of the old plum tree branches, just a few feet away from me. 

Perhaps, after seeing how comfortable the four visiting Rufous hummingbirds were around me, he probably figured that there wasn't anything scary about me -- and that I might even afford him some protection from the little hellraisers. So rather than being on the receiving end of his metallic scratchy or tick-tick-tick calls, he stared for a few moments into my lens, and then went to feed from the nectar feeder before making a much less frenzied exit than was his usual style.

Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

WWN Stunning Anna's Hummingbird on the Plum Tree

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

This regal Eastern Kingbird was having a 4-minute personal grooming session at the top of this bush, completely unconcerned about the paparazzi below. This gorgeous flycatcher is a welcome and bold summer visitor to the Pacific Northwest. The perfect wall hanging for bird lovers!

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

Avian Royalty: Eastern Kingbird Canvas Print

Another gorgeous loner, a late migrant Whimbrel, wanders the autumn shores on an early sunny afternoon at the south side of the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty in its (highly successful) search for crabs. This wading bird--normally gone by early fall in Metro Vancouver--has overstayed its welcome, to the delight of wildlife photographers, instead of heading to South America with its chums.

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

A Meeting of Hooded Mergansers

A Meeting of Hooded Mergansers

More from Walks with Nature

Other personalized gifts from various stores