Personalized Gifts

The perfect greeting cards for bird lovers!  One of two Hooded Merganser drakes who was practising his courtship rituals (without benefit of a female audience). He must have been pretty surprised to see his maneuvers recorded!

A Surprised Hooded Merganser

The second time I've seen Dunlins since first spotting a small flock huddled together in their breeding plumage (with their trademark black belly patches), on a cold spring day on the Iona Jetty spit in 2010. Three were part of a larger group of 10-12, who were fraternizing with a larger flock of Sanderlings (60) and a single out-of-season Semipalmated Plover (not pictured here).

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

Cute Dunlins Sanderlings Sandpipers at Beach

We had our first trio of Rufous hummingbirds arrive in the backyard in early April 2017. This adult male was uncharacteristically taken with the early-blooming flowering currant bush and the sextet of hummingbird feeders scattered throughout the area, and stayed for a week--a real treat, considering most of the adult males usually only stay a day, passing through to more northern climes (Alaska) for the breeding season. Getting a decent shot of him has been a cat-and-mouse game, however, and this pose of him on the cherry tree (with his flashing reddish gorget and rufous feathers) was only possible because my subject did not know that he was being photographed.

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

Stunning Rufous Hummingbird on Cherry Branch

Blue Jays may be one of North America's most iconic bird species, but they are rarely found on the West Coast. However, this one has discovered that Ladner Harbor Park in beautiful British Columbia is a great place to hang out and avoid the nasty snowfalls of the east. S/he's been "resident" in this forest since early November 2020 and grants an audience to whomever is willing to shell out a handout of peanuts first. Photographed in late March 2021. 

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

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Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump

Extremely tolerant of the long lens pointed at her from some six feet away, a female Rufous Hummingbird--a regular backyard visitor--sits on twining grape and kiwi vines in the cool of a mid-spring evening.

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

Beautiful Rufous Hummingbird on Twining Vines

Being an escapee from an Oregon farm did not diminish the appeal of this adult male Mandarin Duck, whose flight to freedom was rewarded with a constant supply of bird seed and the company of Wood Ducks at Piper Spit. I was gifted with the privilege of his metamorphosis over many agonizingly slow months, as I watched him exchange his post-breeding plumage for the magnificent feathers and stunning color palette that make him a dream to photograph (and a hit with the females of his kind). Mother Nature left nothing to the artist's imagination when she made this creature! Photographed at Burnaby Lake in mid-October 2018.

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

Beautiful Mandarin Duck in the Pond

As Buffleheads don't congregate in large flocks (4 is generally the maximum) but do keep their distance from humans and potential predators (with the exception of the odd sentry, who investigates all comings and goings of creatures other than itself), it was a pleasant surprise to see both conventions broken in early December 2016, when we spotted a flock of 30 at one of the local ponds, swimming very close to the edge of the pond -- and even anticipating handouts of birdseed! Clearly, these seaducks have become accustomized to the presence of creatures like us!
 
Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Getting My Ducks in a Row: Four Buffleheads

The perfect greeting cards for bird lovers!  Sanderlings are tiny -- and surprisingly, quite approachable -- migratory shorebirds that can be easily found on Vancouver beaches in the coldest winter months. This one was foraging on the shoreline with 100 of its kind and a few Dunlins. Photographed on a sunny autumn afternoon at Boundary Bay Regional Park.

Cute Sanderling Sandpiper Wanders Winter Shores

Add a festive touch to year-end and Christmas celebrations with these elegant floral-themed paper cups.

Poinsettias are most often associated with Christmas, and, surrounded here by cream coloured Yellow Snow poinsettias, the speckled leaves of this particular variety -- known as Shimmer Surprise Poinsettia -- add an even more festive touch to year-end holidays as a popular centerpiece.

Note: opacity of background image may be adjusted by hiding white layers.

Design © W.H. Sim. See more at zazzle.com/expressionsoccasions

Festive Red White Floral Christmas Poinsettias Paper Cups

Keep notes, reminders, and more in this whimsical, wildlife-themed journal. The perfect choice for hummingbird lovers! Extremely tolerant of the long lens pointed at her from some six feet away, a female Rufous Hummingbird--a regular backyard visitor--sits on twining grape and kiwi vines in the cool of a mid-spring evening.

Stunning Rufous Hummingbird on Twining Vines Notebook

Add a touch of tasty to the bedroom or living room with this elegant, food-themed trivet, which features a homegrown (and oddball) medley of striped, green, purple, and yellow tomatoes on a weathered grey picnic table, is great for improving muscle memory. Pictured tomato cultivars include Green Zebra, Red Zebra, Indigo Rose, Brandywine, Black Prince, Midnight Snack cherry, and heirloom cherry.  

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

Colorful Striped Tomatoes on Weathered Table Trivet

Rudbeckia Fulgida / Orange Coneflower Fleece Blanket

Beautiful Floral Rudbeckia Orange Coneflowers Apron

Beautiful Rudbeckia Fulgida / Orange Coneflowers Fleece Blanket

Rudbeckia Fulgida / Orange Coneflower Serving Tray

Rudbeckia Fulgida / Orange Coneflower Long Table Runner

Beautiful Yellow Floral Rudbeckias Coneflowers Drawstring Bag

Rudbeckias are some of my favourite summertime flowers, especially when these buttery yellow beauties bloom like this. Photographed in mid-August 2016 at Colony Farm Regional Park.

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

WWN Beautiful Black-Eyed Susans

Add a little character and whimsy to the office -- or office party -- with this wildlife-themed tie.  A Hooded Merganser drake puts in a surprise appearance in one of our newer local ponds. This one is warming up his vocal chops in hopes of impressing the two hens in his small flock.

Singer in the Making: Hooded Merganser Neck Tie

Add a touch of nature to treasured memories and moments with this wildlife-themed binder! The perfect choice for bird lovers!

Rufous Hummingbirds have usually left Metro Vancouver for Mexico by mid August, so it was a delight to see and photograph this exceedingly feisty straggler in the backyard. This little scrapper has been (successfully, for the past two days) giving grief to the juvenile male Anna's hummingbird who has owned the backyard for most of the summer (as well as the other feathered friends who visit), vigorously defending every flower and feeder in sight. This hybrid fruit tree branch has become its favorite perch, and gave me quite a few photographic opportunities. Photographed on September 4, 2016.

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

Adorable Rufous Hummingbird on Branch Binder

Add a little character to the office -- or office party -- with this whimsical, wildlife-themed tie.  One of my favourite birds to photograph, and one of the most elusive as well. This lovely male Varied Thrush was a bit stunned but none the worse for wear after flying into a window, but he chose to take five on the cherry tree -- giving me time to capture his beauty from the upper floor sunroom, some 15 feet away.

A Surprised Hooded Merganser

A Surprised Hooded Merganser

More from Walks with Nature

Other personalized gifts from various stores