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It’s not every day that you see big blue fir cones in Vancouver. The abies koreana is an endangered fir found in the mountains of South Korea. This is one of (at least) three such trees planted on the grounds of the UBC Botanical Garden. Photographed in July 2016.

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

Big Blue Korean Fir Cones Postcard

Doing a flyby over the local ferry causeway at very close range on an early and blustery afternoon was this adult Ring-Billed Gull. I found this photo, which captures the downstroke, to be even more dramatic than the upstroke. 

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

Breathtaking Ring-Billed Gull in Flight Postcard

Even one of the largest bird species in North America starts life as a small chick. My first encounter with this colt happened just a few days after it hatched in the third week of May 2016 at the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, where its parents are long-term residents. Although mom and dad can put up a formidable defense against potential predators, thanks to their long, sharp bills and powerful legs, losses still can happen in the first month of its life. This was the only chick to survive to that important milestone in Metro Vancouver in 2016. Photographed in the third week of June.

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

Portrait of a Sandhill Crane Colt Postcard

My first encounter with a bold and friendly Ash-Throated Flycatcher, who was only too happy to crack a large and ebullient smile for my lens between hawking for grasshoppers on a sunny autumn afternoon. Photographed in mid-October 2020.

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

Smiling Ash-Throated Flycatcher Songbird on Branch Postcard

An unexpectedly close encounter with a female Northern Harrier while walking the paths of the local wildlife area in early Spring 2017. This beautiful, owl-faced bird of prey, so often seen soaring the skies, was hunkered down in the marshes -- probably waiting out her next meal, a duck who had gone to ground.

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

Beautiful Northern Harrier Hawk in Marshes Postcard

Mid-summer is the time of the season for lilies, and these delightfully fragrant white Casablanca Oriental lilies amazed me with their large size, abundance, and delicate beauty. Photographed in early August 2017 at a private garden.

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

Elegant Casablanca White Oriental Lilies Postcard

The smallest shorebirds (and sandpipers) to visit North American shores during the summer, Least Sandpipers can be seen feeding in small flocks on the mudflats of local wildlife areas. The yellowish green legs (when not covered in mud) of these sparrow-sized "peeps" make it easy to ID them and separate them from their similarly-sized cousins, the Western Sandpipers and Semipalmated Sandpipers, with whom they have been known to associate with in mixed flocks. Photographed on an early morning in August 2016 at Boundary Bay Regional Park, British Columbia.

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

Least Sandpiper Shorebird on Mudflats Postcard

A newly adult Canada Goose grooms itself at Piper Spit, Burnaby Lake, on a cloudy fall day, the angular and swan-like curve of its neck conveying an almost regal quality to this bird. Although migratory birds in many parts of the world, some Canada Geese are all-year-round residents in Metro Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest. Photographed in early November 2016.

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

Canada Goose Preening on Lake Postcard

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

Lesser Scaups are common wintering ducks in Metro Vancouver. Like the Ring-Necked Ducks that they resemble, they are never present in large flocks of their own species, but mingle with the much more abundant Mallards and American Wigeons. I have never seen them out of water, but they are quite accustomed to the presence of humans, especially at the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary and Piper Spit/Burnaby Lake.

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

Profile of a Lesser Scaup Jigsaw Puzzle

Add a touch of nature to any room in your home with this floral-themed switchplate cover. 

Also known by their other aliases of "Red Star" and "Rosy Posy" (my favourite), I found a bed of these small but hardy South African perennials flourishing in one of our local public gardens. Summer brings forth bright pink star-shaped flowers with their telltale hidden hearts -- low growing plants that make great ground cover.

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

Rhodohypoxis / Red Star / Rosy Posy Light Switch Cover

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

Sitting Pretty: Male Rufous Hummingbird Keychain

Colors of the Changing Seasons Quadriptych Bath Mat

Colors of the Changing Seasons Quadriptych

Colors of the Changing Seasons Quadriptych Guest Book

Colors and Seasons of Nature File Folder

Colors of the Changing Seasons Quadriptych Mouse Pad

Add a touch of nature to your important documents with these file folders, which feature the colors of the seasons.Living in a place where the colors change as the seasons each have moments in time to express themselves is always something wondrous to witness. From top to bottom: rudbeckias (Summer), winterberries (Fall), and sun-dappled green leaves in the forest (Spring).

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

WWN Colors of the Changing Seasons

On a very memorable Boxing Day 2017, a dozen of these enchanting but highly reclusive songbirds were frequenting the trees and vocalizing near the Burnaby Lake Nature House at Piper Spit. None seemed particularly concerned about the presence of photographers, and I daresay some of the subjects even worked the cameras with their pretty poses!

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

Stunning Varied Thrush Songbird in Winter Classic Round Sticker

Add a touch of nature to your coffee, tea, or favourite hot drink with this elegant, wildlife-themed mug! 

Fall migration brings thousands and thousands of Snow Geese to the shores of Metro Vancouver every year, and 2017 produced a bumper crop of these migratory birds -- a stunning spectacle to witness. Among the vibrant and calling sea of white that seemed to blanket the high tides from dawn to dusk, outnumbering the usually omnipresent and overwhelming numbers of gulls, crows, and wintering ducks at this time of the year, we also saw 5 rare blue morph Snow Geese. Photographed on a sunny afternoon in October 2017 at Boundary Bay Regional Park, British Columbia, Canada.

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

A Flock of Snow Geese at the Beach Mug

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

Big Blue Korean Fir Cones Postcard

Big Blue Korean Fir Cones Postcard

More from Walks with Nature

Other postcards from various stores