Personalized Gifts

The early blooming pyracantha bush has proven to be very popular with a number of fall and winter birds, including this American Robin. Earlier this fall, I spotted six of these thrushes feasting away at the same time!  My subject didn't need to share the pommes with another feathered friend, and didn't budge when I had the lens pointed her way from the front door. In fact, she continued to enjoy the bright red berries for a few moments more.

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

American Robin with a Pyracantha Pomme

As with many yellow summer birds on my watch list, I have been pursuing this beautiful warbler and prolific singer for quite some time. Two years ago, I heard his trademark witchety-witchety-witchety birdsong and have since gotten few and frequently shaded glimpses of his rakish black mask and bright yellow breast through local shrubs and bushes. This is the closest I have come to photographing him out in the open.

Beautiful Common Yellowthroat Warbler Songbird

This male Pekin Robin decided to satisfy his curiosity of the approaching humans, and flew into a large tropical tree to observe us from under the large leafy cover. Our initial encounter was all too brief and disappointing, but this second meeting yielded the opportunity to study this wonderfully dressed and beautiful singer in much greater detail and length. Our subject must have noticed this, as he was unusually still and not hopping from branch to branch!

An Indian subcontinent native, this Old World babbler is so popular that many other countries want to claim it for their own, and so, it goes by other aliases, including Pekin Robin, Pekin nightingale, Japanese hill robin, and Japanese nightingale. 

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

Colorful Leiothrix / Pekin Robin Songbird

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

This gorgeous loner, a late migrant Ruddy Turnstone, had no qualms about posing for the myriad of lenses pointed his way on an early sunny afternoon at the south side of the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty.

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

A Showstopping Ruddy Turnstone at the Beach

Asiatic lilies are a wonderful addition to any summer garden, and this red orange 'Gran Paradiso' cultivar bloomed just a bit earlier to fill the void left by the early blooming roses. Photographed in mid-June 2016.

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

Beautiful Red Orange Asiatic Lily Gran Paradiso

My first (and closest) encounter with a Sooty Grouse at Burnaby Mountain. This handsome fellow was hardly shy around the photographers, but kept largely to the base of the trees and the shadows. When the other photographers had left,  he came out for a little one-on-one time, "treating" me to dances around the remaining photographer and softly modulated hoots -- even following me partway down to the playground!

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

Beautiful Sooty Grouse in the Grass

This is my second visit to Surrey's Elgin Heritage Park, and I really wished to see a Golden-Crowned Kinglet again, my first photos of it on a deciduous tree being nothing but blurs. My wish was granted with one of several accomplished singers in a giant fir tree, a high-energy, multi-tasking (being able to sing, and flit from branch to branch while hunting for insects) Golden-Crowned Kinglet, who nevertheless proved to be a challenging subject to capture.

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes Stir in the Fir

Add a touch of nature and whimsy with your golf game with this wildlife-themed club head cover!

Our resident adult male Anna's hummingbird has never let me photograph him at close range, but on one evening in late May 2016, he came to sit on one of the old plum tree branches, just a few feet away from me. 

Perhaps, after seeing how comfortable the four visiting Rufous hummingbirds were around me, he probably figured that there wasn't anything scary about me -- and that I might even afford him some protection from the little hellraisers. So rather than being on the receiving end of his metallic scratchy or tick-tick-tick calls, he stared for a few moments into my lens, and then went to feed from the nectar feeder before making a much less frenzied exit than was his usual style.

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

Male Anna's Hummingbird on the Plum Tree Golf Head Cover

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. Photographed on a very sunny and busy winter afternoon at Boundary Bay Regional Park.

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

Sanderling Wades Through Wintry Waters Wrapping Paper

Recognize academic achievements with this modern certificate design, which features ocean and sky blue tones and easy-to-read fonts. Customize with organization's name/logo, team name, handler's name, therapy animal's name, qualification level, signatory, and expiry date.

Design and layout copyright W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Blue Therapy Animal Graduate Certificate Diploma

Add a touch of nature to the kitchen with this wildlife-themed kitchen towel! 

The first time I've had the opportunity to shoot a Bewick's Wren out in the open, and at fairly close range. This beautiful long-tailed songbird must have sensed that I wanted to photograph it, and returned my curiosity with its own by posing on this branch for a few moments. Photographed in January 2017.

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

A Curious Bewick's Wren in the Tree Kitchen Towel

Heartwarming Cute Bushtits Songbirds Family Photo Bath Towel Set

Heartwarming Cute Bushtits Songbirds Family Photo Dry Erase Board

Heartwarming Cute Bushtits Songbirds Family Photo Square Wall Clock

Inspirational Quote Family of Five Songbirds Metal Print

Heartwarming Cute Bushtits Songbirds Family Photo

Heartwarming Cute Bushtits Songbirds Family Photo Apron

They're back! On a surprisingly cold and rainy morning, two flocks of Bushtits (10 in each) flew in for brunch on the flowering carrot, butterfly bush, and California Lilac bush. Some took baths on the wet leaves, and these five guys were huddled on the plum tree for warmth. It was tricky trying to get the catchlight in everyone's eyes (and all of them facing the camera (more or less))--but without a doubt, these little birds are naturally and undeniably photogenic. Photographed in early July 2016 and featured on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's allaboutbirds.org website.

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

WWN Heartwarming Family Portrait of Bushtit Babies

Stunning Anna's Hummingbird Mom on Nest

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

This wildlife design features my first encounter with one of two magnificent young but adult-sized Golden Eagles, eagerly awaiting their release from the local wildlife rehabilitation centre.

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

American Robin with a Pyracantha Pomme

American Robin with a Pyracantha Pomme

More from Walks with Nature

Other personalized gifts from various stores