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 perfect notecards for hummingbird lovers! This female Anna's hummingbird adds a bit of colour and personality to the backyard on a rainy day. She is quiet and stealthy--and can often materialize without making a sound. Contrast this behaviour with that of the male, who makes himself heard well before I see him. Photographed perching on the Scarlet Trumpet vine after furtively having several long sips from the new nectar feeder--which has also drawn the attention and interest of at least one Black-Capped Chickadee, too.

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

Anna's Hummingbird on the Scarlet Trumpetvine

Meet Ela, Teddy's high-maintenance girlfriend. Unlike him, she is an attention-seeking sweetie, and her fur is the picture of perfection. Meeting you at the gates isn't enough; this dainty, but seldom still Pomeranian will make sure that you dole out scratches and cuddles to her as often as possible, which is all the time. 

She is the happiest when she's the center of everyone's attention, which is also all the time. This has made her My Little Shadow on many occasions, but she is nimble enough to not actually get underfoot and become a speed bump.

Every time I tried to get closer to her or crouch down to take a photo at her level, she would start walking towards me (to the amusement of all her human cohorts).

Adorable Pomeranian Dog

American Wigeons are a common sight in Metro Vancouver from fall through spring, but they disappear for the summer to cooler shores. With 40 more members of his flock, I spotted this handsome fellow wandering the local beach in the late winter of 2015--an odd sight, since they tend to be seen on water or land, but not sand!

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

An American Wigeon on the Beach

Her cobalt blue mascara never runs! Quiet as her mate is noisy, this female Eclectus Parrot surprised me even further by choosing to perch uncharacteristically close to my lens.

Beautiful "Lady in Red" Eclectus Parrot

Feeling a little blue? A little blue, thanks to this accommodating male Mountain Bluebird, might actually do the trick and cheer you up! The perfect notecards for bird lovers! 

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

Baby's first swim! This is a very young Mallard duckling in the reeds. S/he's not even a week old (perhaps just a few days), and already stroking like a seasoned pro at the local pond. 

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

Baby Duckling Paddles in the Local Pond

Golden-Crowned Sparrows are one of the most recognizable of yard birds to visit Metro Vancouver in the fall and winter, and the round, orange berries of the pyracantha coccinea (Scarlet Firethorn) have proven to be particularly irresistible to these large, chubby sparrows. I photographed this first winter bird indulging in this "pub favorite" (which has a slightly intoxicating effect on them) in late October 2016.

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

Golden-Crowned Sparrow on the Scarlet Firethorn

Trading Glances with a Magnificent Cheetah Tote Bag

Trading Glances with a Magnificent Cheetah Trinket Tray

Trading Glances with a Magnificent Cheetah Pickleball Paddle

Trading Glances with a Magnificent Cheetah Cat Clock

Trading Glances with a Magnificent Cheetah Watch

My second (and closest) encounter with the magnificent cheetah on a hot afternoon in September 2014 at the local zoo. This big cat was pacing restlessly around in his cage, but he did stop once, and our eyes locked through the chain link during this moment. There is something so visceral about making a connection with wildlife.  

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

WWN Eye to Eye with a Magnificent Cheetah

Add a touch of furry whimsy to the kitchen with this adorable, dog-themed kitchen towel.

Ella the Pomeranian was so happy to be the focus of attention that she forgot (for once) to run to the photographer, and instead cracked a smile for me. Photographed in late June 2018.

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

Cute Laughing Pomeranian Dog Kitchen Towel

Beautiful Pensive Wood Duck in the Marsh Classic Round Sticker

Beautiful Pensive Wood Duck in the Marsh Wrist Watch

Beautiful Pensive Wood Duck in the Marsh Postcard

Beautiful Pensive Wood Duck in the Marsh Magnet

Perched on a fallen log (and living up to his name) is this colourful drake, one of several Wood Duck “fixtures” at Piper Spit. Burnaby Lake is home to the largest concentrations of Wood Ducks–hands down, the most colourful waterfowl you’ll find in Metro Vancouver, Canada.

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

WWN Pensive Wood Duck at the Lake

Save the Bumblebees Pollinating Flowering Carrot Magnet

WWN Bumblebee on Flowering Carrot Jigsaw Puzzle

Bumblebee on Flowering Carrot Postcard

One of several bumblebees on the flowering carrot in our backyard. We don't usually get as many of these fuzzy insects as we do the honeybees, but the former can be quite large (defying the laws of physics and aviation at times) and generally much easier to photograph than the latter.

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

WWN Bumblebee on Flowering Carrot

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

Rufous Hummingbird at Rest Classic Round Sticker

Although it bears a strikingly uncanny resemblance to Scotch thistle, this is, in fact, flowering artichoke. 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 at the UBC Botanical Garden in mid-July 2016.

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

Flowering Globe Artichoke Vegetable Postcard

Add a touch of nature to your tumbler with this wildlife-themed design!

The start of the growing season means the return of the diminutive but feisty Rufous Hummingbirds to Metro Vancouver. From March through August, their presence means increased competition for nectar feeders and flowers for the resident Anna's hummingbirds. This fellow was one of five Rufouses to visit the Richmond Nature Park regularly on an early spring day. We witnessed extremely vocal and physical territorial disputes (which were, rather comically, inversely proportional to the size of the combatants). Photographed on April 4, 2016.

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

A Surprised Hooded Merganser

A Surprised Hooded Merganser

More from Walks with Nature

Other personalized gifts from various stores