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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

7 Killdeer were frequenting the mudflats near the pumphouse at Boundary Bay Regional Park / Centennial Beach after the first snowfall to truly blanket the region and turn normally flowing watercourses into frozen lakes of ice and snow. In my admittedly short 2 years of birding, I have never encountered Killdeer at this time of the year (winter is a week away), let alone under the current weather conditions. Photographed in mid-December 2016 during an unseasonably prolonged cold snap.

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

Killdeer Shorebird on Icy Mudflats Postcard

My second visit to the Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver produced meetings with not two, but six blacktail deer in a forest clearing ... four fawns and two does who seemed completely at ease with the small group of photographers in their midst. This is one of the two deer families ... a doe with her first year and second year fawns. Photographed in late August 2016.

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

Stunning Trio of Blacktail Deer in the Forest Postcard

If someone combined the adorably big head and black eyes of a Black-Capped Chickadee with the colours and bill of a Kookaburra in a Jay-sized body, they'd have the whimsically-named Whiskeyjack. Also known by its less colourful aliases of Canada Jay and Gray Jay, we saw no fewer than six of Canada's official national birds at Manning Park's Lightning Lake, where they would boldly descend on picnic tables in the hopes of free handouts.

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

Grey Jay Whiskeyjack Songbird in Evergreen Tree Postcard

My first encounter with an American Avocet at Boundary Bay Regional Park in beautiful Tsawwassen, British Columbia. This elegant wading bird is rarely found in Canada's westernmost province, so to discover two adults spending a week there during the early stages of fall migration, enjoying the local amenities and completely at ease with the photographer in their midst, was a real treat. Photographed in early September 2022.

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

Stunning American Avocet Wading Bird at the Beach Postcard

Isn't she lovely? This female Rufous hummingbird poses calmly for my camera on the old plum tree in the backyard. With the very early arrival (and disappearance) of the males in March and April as they migrate to as far north as Alaska, we have had a veritable dearth of yardbirds. Her continued presence means that life will become much more "interesting" for the resident Anna's (particularly the males). Not coincidentally, we are also seeing more birds in the backyard now.

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

Rufous Hummingbird on Plum Tree Postcard

With a warm winter and early spring in Metro Vancouver, many flowers and fruits were ripening well ahead of schedule -- including these bright orange mountain ash (rowan) berries, which aren't normally "ready" for the birds to eat until mid-July. Photographed in late June 2016 in Surrey's Elgin Park.

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

Orange Mountain Ash Rowan Berries Postcard

I finally got the opportunity to photograph the cheerily colored American Goldfinch. When he isn't eating sunflower or nyjer seeds, the male likes to perch on the bamboo poles that serve as stakes for the potted plants; in this photo, he's on the unedo bush. Photographed in the second week of June 2016.

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

American Goldfinch Songbird on Arbutus Tree 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 the Marshes Magnet

Seeing a Downy Woodpecker (usually the female) on the backyard suet feeder isn't unusual. Seeing this male (busy whittling wood here) and his female (unseen, but preening herself nearby) on the pear tree just when we got a spot of sunshine over the Great Backyard Bird Count 2017 (Feb 17-20) weekend, was!

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

Cute Downy Woodpecker on Fruit Tree Magnet

Add a touch of nature and wonder to your walls with this wildlife-themed decal! The perfect choice for bird lovers!

Although this fierce-looking falcon looks very much like a Peregrine, it's actually a Gyr-Saker hybrid falcon. Falconers crossbreed both in captivity with the hopes of producing a hybrid with the best traits of both species: in this case, the stamina of the large Gyrfalcon with the speed of the Saker falcon.

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

Gyrfalcon Saker Hybrid Falcon Wall Sticker

Add a pop of color to the garden with Arizona Sun blanket flowers. These perennials brighten up even the dreariest places, are remarkably drought resistant, attract butterflies, and bloom from summer through fall. Photographed at the entrance to the UBC Botanical Gardens in July 2016.

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

Arizona Sun Blanketflowers Postcard

Add a touch of nature and the colors of fall to your bathroom with this floral-themed shower curtain, which features stunning red and gold autumn chrysanthemums.

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

Stunning Red Gold Autumn Chrysanthemum Flowers Shower Curtain

Stunning Tropical Kingbird on Blackberry Branch Glass Coaster

Stunning Tropical Kingbird on Blackberry Branch Ornament

My first encounter with a Tropical Kingbird at Boundary Bay Regional Park in beautiful Tsawwassen, British Columbia. An unusual visitor during Pacific Northwest autumn months, the Tropical Kingbird adds a cheery bit of color to the fall with its striking butter yellow belly. 

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

WWN Stunning Tropical Kingbird on Blackberry Branch

Add a touch of nature to every room in your home with this wildlife-themed switchplate cover! The perfect switchplate cover for hummingbird lovers! 

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

Big Blue Korean Fir Cones Postcard

Big Blue Korean Fir Cones Postcard

More from Walks with Nature

Other postcards from various stores