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This is a closeup of flowering pineapple guava aka guavasteen (which resembles St. John's Wort) in the backyard. This is the self-pollinating variety, and one of the newest additions to our backyard garden. The birds have started taking notice, too. Being dark green on the avocado-shaped exterior and creamy yellow or white on the inside, though, the fruit isn't anywhere as exotic looking as the flowers.

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

A Quartet of Pineapple Guava / Guavasteen Flowers Magnet

This pose is the cat's meow! This neighborhood cat has been very neighbourly since summer 2014 ... visiting regularly for her dose of birdwatching, cuddles, and saucer of milk. Here she is, posing next to the camellia leaves on a wet and gloomy day.

Whimsical The Cat and the Camellia Magnet

2017 seems to be the year of Wilson's Warblers, and our backyard has not been exempt from the presence of these small but cheery yellow warblers. The energetic black-capped males have been exploring every potted plant and fruit tree and singing their uplifting melodies. This handsome guy paused on the cherry tree just long enough for me to get him in all his golden goodness. Photographed in mid-May 2017.

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

Beautiful Wilson's Warbler in the Cherry Tree Magnet

By far, Columbian Ground Squirrels are the most entertaining wildlife at Manning Park, and the first ones to greet us in the parking lot of Manning Park Resort. These Prairie Dogs of the West were positioned near their network of holes in the ground (or in rotted tree stumps) and often calling in an upright position like meerkats or groundhogs (when they weren't chasing each other around or kissing). We found plenty at Manning Park Resort and Lightning Lake (particularly near the picnic tables). Columbian Ground Squirrels spend the short summer bulking up on fat reserves for their hibernation period, which lasts for seven months!

Funny Cute Saucy Columbian Ground Squirrel Magnet

A newly adult Canada Goose grooms itself at Piper Spit, Burnaby Lake, on a cloudy fall day, the angular and swan-like curve of its neck conveying an almost regal quality to this bird. Although migratory birds in many parts of the world, some Canada Geese are all-year-round residents in Metro Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest. Photographed in early November 2016.

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

Canada Goose on the Lake Magnet

A White-Crowned Sparrow welcomes the day (and enchants its rapt listeners) with a simple but sweet song. As spring turns into summer, we see more and more of this beautiful songbird, who often forages solo, too.

A White-Crowned Sparrow Sings to the Sun Magnet

My second visit to the Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver produced meetings with not two, but six blacktail deer in a clearing ... four fawns and two does who seemed completely at ease with the small group of photographers in their midst. The younger ones seemed almost as curious about the humans as we were about them! This fawn was extremely happy to be alive, bounding in a very Bambi-esque manner through the forest! Photographed in late August 2016.

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

Vignetted Portrait of Smiling Blacktail Deer Fawn  Magnet

"Little Red" sitting next to lots of red: a handsome male House Finch poses next to some tasty hawthorn / mountain rose berries (a favorite with many year-round feathered residents) in the Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area.

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

House Finch with Hawthorn Berries Magnet

Bring a bit of nature with you, wherever you go, with this wildlife-themed tote! 

This male Tree Swallow appears to be quite taken with this particular nestbox ... that look says "mine, all mine." Photographed in late March 2016. These small bluebirds have shown up almost a month later than last year, and the initial flocks are much smaller, too. Also absent at this time are the greyer females, which at the same time last year were already here. Nevertheless, it's still a wonderful experience to see these little birds in action over the water and in the skies.

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

Tree Swallow Songbird in Nestbox Tote Bag

Add a touch of nature to the kitchen with this wildlife-themed kitchen towel! This was a Christmas Day filled with plenty of birds in the backyard -- including this rather introspective Black-Capped Chickadee looking skyward on the pear tree. Sunny skies and chilly temps made my puffed up and sleepy feathered friends reluctant to stir from their perches, and that led to a few opportunities for closeups of birds I normally find difficult to get stills of.

A Black-Capped Chickadee on the Pear Tree Towel

Stunning Anna's Hummingbird Mom on Nest Throw Pillow

This is the second hummingbird nest I've found. An Anna's hummingbird second-time mother (who had just raised two babies to adulthood a few days before successfully mating again) sits on her precious nest, lovingly and painstakingly made with lichen, moss, and spidersilk.

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

WWN Anna's Hummingbird Mother on Nest

Canada Goose on the Lake Keychain

Gold on blue make such beautiful hues. Nothing attracts the honeybees more spectacularly than the huge California Lilac that blooms with hundreds of bluish-purple clusters on the front lawn. Like a magnet, this bush draws dozens and dozens of these tireless winged workers from late spring through early summer. 

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

Gold on Blue: Honeybee on the California Lilac Magnet

Domestic Mallard Duclair Bibbed Odd Duck Face Mask

Funny Domestic Mallard Duclair Bibbed Odd Duck Coaster

With his bright white bib, this handsome domestic Mallard (of the Duclair designer "persuasion") was definitely the odd duck out at the local wildlife sanctuary. That didn't stop him from charming the photographers in his midst, and moving his way to the forefront of the feeding frenzy that included many, many wild Mallards. 

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

WWN Suave & Debonair Domestic Duclair Bibbed Mallard

Our second year globe artichokes are no slouch when it comes to flaunting the "purple hair", either. Should you be one of those backyard gardeners who let their artichokes grow old and arthritic--instead of picking them at their juiciest, tastiest stage, this is the lovely result, and a consolation prize of sorts. Photographed in late July 2016.

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

A Quartet of Pineapple Guava / Guavasteen Flowers Magnet

A Quartet of Pineapple Guava / Guavasteen Flowers Magnet

More from Walks with Nature

Other magnets from various stores