Personalized Gifts

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

My second sighting of Mallard mom with ten young ducklings at the local pond. These ducklings couldn't be more than a few days old, and already they were swimming and floating like little corks under the watchful eye of Mother Mallard (who was anything but a Mother Hen).

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

Mom Extraordinaire: One Prolific Mallard Hen

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

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

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 taking to the water like a pro at the local pond. 

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

Duckling in the Reeds

Last year, I was fortunate enough to encounter the female Yellow-Headed Blackbird at Manning Park. This year, I saw not one of these rare visitors to Metro Vancouver, but three adult male Yellow-Headed Blackbirds (and at least one female)--the former calling attention to themselves with their golden heads and breasts, less-than-melodious birdcalls, and frequent sparring matches with the more familiar Red-Winged Blackbird males in the marshes of Iona Island.

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

Striking Yellow-Headed Blackbird in the Marsh

The African Superb Starling is such a beautiful rainbow of colours. When it makes an entrance, it really makes an entrance; it's no shrinking violet. Rare, though, is the moment when it stays still long enough to get a photo of it, but got it I did, as it waited for its turn to bathe in the waterfall.

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

A Stunning African Superb Starling Songbird

The second summertime flowering of our gladiolus ... this mid-August blooming produced even more striking sword lilies, with more splashes of white to contrast against the bright red hues for a candy cane like effect. Truly a Christmas moment in August!

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

Stunning Red & White Gladiolus Sword Lilies

Get a leg up on style with these floral-inspired leggings!

These Satin Flowers (also known by their more plebian alias, Pale Yellow-Eyed Grass) grow in a round and blossom in tiers; there are two tiers of flowers above and one tier of flowers below this one.

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

Elegant Satin Flowers on Black Leggings

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

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 Jigsaw Puzzle

Show off your love of nature with this wildlife-themed luggage tag! The perfect gift for bird lovers!

Usually the Northern Flickers I meet like to keep a rather "discreet" 50-foot distance between themselves and the photographer. For some inexplicable reason, this male Red-Shafted decided that he was best admired, not just high up in the tree, but on the ground as well ... some 6.5 feet away!

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

Male Red-Shafted Northern Flicker in a Tree Luggage Tag

I can't get enough of these well-dressed and beautiful soloists, who are all-year-round residents in Metro Vancouver. Until late May 2016, when I encountered a fledgling in the backyard, I was unaware that a few pairs of White-Crowned Sparrows were raising families nearby (and, as I had suspected, last year, too, in the cotoneaster bush out front!)

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

White-Crowned Sparrow Songbird in the Grass Postcard

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

You can tell when it's springtime in Metro Vancouver, because the Canada Goose will be engaging in some spectacular chases and territorial tussles. This "spat at Piper Spit" was photographed at Burnaby Lake in spring 2015.

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

Wild (Canada) Goose Chase: The Spat at Piper Spit Canvas Print

Saucy Red Squirrel in the Fir Large Christmas Stocking

Red squirrels on Galiano Island are undeniably bold and saucy, even going so far as to scold photographers and other two-legged creatures who wander into their territory. Photographed on Galiano Island in the early morning of July 4, 2017.

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

WWN Who Me? Saucy Red Squirrel in the Fir

Add a touch of nature and elegance to the kitchen and dining room with this floral-themed serving tray! Sometimes a mistake can be the path to a new technique. This Crested Iris was actually photographed outdoors under natural daylight after I forgot to reset shutter speed and aperture settings from the previous photo.

A White-Crowned Sparrow Sings to the Sun

A White-Crowned Sparrow Sings to the Sun

More from Walks with Nature

Other personalized gifts from various stores