Springtime is a time of green ... and blues and other beautiful hues! Nothing sets the honeybees abuzz like the huge California Lilac that's blooming with hundreds of bluish-purple clusters on the front lawn. In fact, this bush resembles a purple beehive in late spring/early summer.

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

Busy Honeybee on the California Lilac Classic Round Sticker

A brief detour from birding led to a chance encounter with two furry new friends at Ladner Harbor Park: a couple of adorable and oh so well behaved Papillon dogs, a very old Belgian/French breed of parti-color toy spaniels so named for their elegant, butterfly-like ears. Photographed in early October 2022.  

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

Cute Papillon Toy Spaniel Dog at the Dock Classic Round Sticker

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 Classic Round Sticker

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.

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

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes Stir in the Fir Classic Round Sticker

When Bushtits come calling, it's a sudden avalanche of cuteness in the backyard -- because these social songbirds often show up in flocks of 10-30, feed briefly (and co-operatively) on the suet or whatever else they fancy (calling to each other constantly as they do so), and leave as quickly as they came. Once in a while, though, they will stay for 15-30 minutes. I photographed this damp fellow--who was caught in the morning rain--taking a moment to pause on the laurel bush. Some of his fellow Bushtits were actually bathing on the laurel leaves, like hummingbirds do. Photographed in early July 2016.

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

Cute Wet Young Bushtit Songbird on the Laurel Classic Round Sticker

The fly I just caught was THAT big! This handsome male Rufous Hummingbird was photographed at one of the nectar feeders at the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in mid-May 2016. These feisty little hummingbirds are a popular attraction in Metro Vancouver, and can be seen here patronizing nectar feeders from March through August, although warm spells late into the fall in 2015 saw a few overstaying their welcome until the end of October! 

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

Stunning Male Rufous Hummingbird Flying Jewel Classic Round Sticker

I so rarely get the opportunity to photograph female Bushtits. As both genders possess the small greyish/brownish plumage, shape, and size, the golden-colored eyes of the ladies are what distinguish them from the gents. This little lady stopped eating for a few seconds to stare straight into my lens and look into my heart.

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

Female Bushtit in the Pear Tree Classic Round Sticker

My closest encounter with a magnificent male Pileated Woodpecker, who was busy carving out a hole in a very tall tree. Rather than be spooked by the presence of a photographer nearby, this largest of North American woodpeckers would stop briefly to see who was rustling the dead leaves on the forest floor, and then resume his woodworking activities. Photographed on Galiano Island in the early evening of July 3, 2017.

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

Beautiful Pileated Woodpecker on the Tree Classic Round Sticker

As a fan of both Shakespeare and shorebirds, this scene might be alternatively captioned "Baird(s) on the Beach." My meeting them in such close quarters was an unexpected pleasure; a small contingent of these tiny migrants was completely at ease with the photographer in their midst, and continued to feed nonchalantly on aquatic bugs or park themselves on top of the mounds of seaweed nearby. Photographed over the Labour Day 2018 long weekend.

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

Baird's Sandpiper on the Beach Postcard

They're not juniper berries, but this bird--which is rarely seen here in the Metro Vancouver area--clearly isn't finicky when it comes to winter fruits. This Townsend's Solitaire (another bird for my life list) materialized on our front lawn pyracantha bush on December 9, 2015, but it required two more visits more a week later to finally get proof of this handsome thrush.

Townsend's Solitaire on the Pyracantha

Hold the winning "wild" card with these nature-themed playing cards!

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

Stunning Gyrfalcon Saker Hybrid Falcon Poker Cards

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 Magnet

Cute Cherry Picking Eastern Grey Squirrel Coaster

Cute Cherry Picking Eastern Grey Squirrel Apron

One of three Eastern Grey Squirrels who find the cherries on the backyard fruit trees simply irresistible. I think I'll call him Don Cherry. If it's a girl, it'll be Dawn Cheery. Either way, I'm covered. Photographed in my backyard in mid-June 2016.

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

WWN Cherry Picking Eastern Grey Squirrel

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

You'd never guess, from her playful and youthful manner, that Stella is actually 10 to 12 years older than she looks! This indoor sweetie is as likely to cuddle up to the laps of strangers as she is to those of her regular pair of humans, but she knows how to puts her paw down as far as dogs (especially big dogs) are concerned.

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

Busy Honeybee on the California Lilac Classic Round Sticker

Busy Honeybee on the California Lilac Classic Round Sticker

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Other products from various stores