Personalized Gifts

A rather interesting top-down view of a Great Blue Heron at the local wildlife refuge. I've been spotted by my subject, but this efficient (and, at times, ruthless) fisher is in no hurry to move from its spot. Great Blue Herons are the most commonly seen herons in Metro Vancouver, and may be even spotted in ditches along highways and freeways.

A Top-Down View of a Blue Heron

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

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

Really, some birds have no shame. Photographed pillaging the hummingbird nectar feeder was this Black-Capped Chickadee, who looks mildly startled -- a priceless expression -- but that didn't stop it and a fellow partner in crime from chugging the sweet stuff like a pair of gluttons (once, in tandem!) Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Black-Capped Chickadee Caught Red-Handed

In a cute moment highly reminiscent of another bushtit family gathering from 2016, three young songbird fledglings roost together in the sun-dappled shade of the pear tree, while parents and helpers (older siblings) pick grubs from the leaves nearby, while keeping up a steady stream of conversation. My young subjects were only too willing to oblige for my lens. Photographed in late May 2020.

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

Cute Baby Bushtit Songbirds in the Pear Tree Card

Metro Vancouver's second snowstorm of the winter season finally brought the lovely and much anticipated male Varied Thrush to my backyard, where he spent the greater part of the day excavating the white stuff for tasty grubs. With their dazzling palette of orange, grey, and black hues, this reclusive songbird is a welcome sight during the monochromatic winter months. Photographed in mid-February 2019.

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

Stunning Varied Thrush Songbird in the Snow

Cute Chestnut-Backed Chickadee Christmas Holiday

Cute Chestnut-Backed Chickadee Songbird

Wildlife and the magic of the holiday season go hand in hand, and finding this cute little songbird--a familiar sight in the Pacific Northwest--perched in one of the backyard fruit trees, proved irresistible. 

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

WWN Cute Chestnut-Backed Chickadee on the Pear Tree

I was privy to a very special moment in late May 2016 when I saw this Greater Sandhill Crane father, a veteran parent, searching for wood bugs with his 3-day-old colt. It's hard to believe that such a small creature could grow up into one of the largest bird species found in Metro Vancouver!

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

Greater Sandhill Crane Father and Child

Add a touch of nature to any room with this wildlife-themed clock! Customize with or without numbers, and choose from round or square designs. Perfect 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

Stunning Rufous Hummingbird on Fruit Tree Clock

This stunning wildlife design features a Spotted Towhee posing on a snow powdered branch in the backyard.

Design © W.H. Sim, All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Stunning Spotted Towhee Songbird on Snowy Branch Adult Cloth Face Mask

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes a Stir in the Fir Metal Ornament

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes Stir in the Fir Magnet

Cute Little Kinglet Causes a Stir in the Fir Magnet

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes Stir in the Fir Keychain

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes Stir in the Fir Trivet

Cute Little Kinglet Causes a Stir in the Fir Mug

Add a touch of nature to the kitchen or dining room with this whimsical, wildlife-themed sandstone coaster. 

During my second visit to Surrey's Elgin Heritage Park, my wish to see a Golden-Crowned Kinglet again was granted with the appearance of one of several accomplished singers in a giant fir tree. A diminutive but high-energy and multi-tasking bundle of energy--being able to sing, and flit from branch to branch while hunting for insects--the Golden-Crowned Kinglet nevertheless proved to be a challenging subject to capture. 

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

WWN Golden-Crowned Kinglet Causes a Stir in the Fir (II)

Beautiful Buff-Breasted Sandpiper at the Beach Postcard

Profile of a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper at the Beach Canvas Print

Profile of a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper at the Beach

Profile of a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper at the Beach Tote Bag

Profile of a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper at the Beach Classic Round Sticker

An unusual bird to see in Metro Vancouver during the fall migratory bird season, this Buff-Breasted Sandpiper was one of two I had the opportunity to photograph up close, and one of five spotted here in 2016. Like the Sanderling, the BBSA is exceedingly comfortable around humans. 

The BBSA is special for another reason: fewer than 80,000 individuals are estimated worldwide (per data from migration sites and its allaboutbirds.org/guide/Buff-breasted_Sandpiper/id profile; actual figures are difficult to obtain, as it does not always exhibit nest fidelity), making it a Near Threatened species. Its dainty, dove-like head, short bill, and buff coloration make it one of the easier peeps to identify. It is a transcontinental bird, flying northwards to breed in the arctic, and wintering in South America.

Rather comically, this one spent some time chasing the other one off. Apparently, it wanted the attention of the photographers all to itself! When it wasn't hogging the limelight, it made sure every lens was trained on it -- regardless of what it was doing -- foraging, resting on the grass, or grooming its feathers. Photographed in late August 2016.

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

WWN Buff-Breasted Sandpiper at Low Tide

Part brainteaser, part assemble-it-yourself art, this challenging and elegant wildlife-themed puzzle is great for improving muscle memory.

A presumed hobby farm escapee, this adult male Mandarin Duck has been seen in the company of the Wood Ducks of Piper Spit. He has called Burnaby Lake home since he was first spotted in 2018. His stunning pastiche of ruffs, dazzling color palette, and "fins" make him such a dreamboat to photograph. Mother Nature left nothing to the artist's imagination when she made this creature! Photographed at Burnaby Lake in early March 2020.

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

Beautiful Mandarin Duck on the Rocks Jigsaw Puzzle

Nothing says "you complete me" or "your better/other half" than these whimsical, wildlife-themed lovers' mugs. Eclectus Parrots are an instant hit, wherever you see them. While the males are (understandably, and expectedly), brightly coloured, with green plumage and candy-corn yellow beak, the females are just as colourful, with their striking red and cobalt blue feathers.

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

Eclectus Parrots Coffee Mug Set

A Pair of Wading Greater Sandhill Cranes

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 Top-Down View of a Blue Heron

A Top-Down View of a Blue Heron

More from Walks with Nature

Other personalized gifts from various stores