Personalized Gifts

Easily recognizable from far away by their enormous bills, Northern Shovelers, although generally not skittish around humans, do keep themselves at a fair distance from spotting scopes and cameras, and frequent nearby bodies of water or sandbars. This fellow, on the other hand, was just inches from me, feeding just inches from the shore at the local wildlife habitat for quite a few moments before moving on.

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

Closeup of a Handsome Northern Shoveler Duck

Mid-autumn brings the return of Buffleheads to the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. While one or two of these diminutive ducks will partake of the birdseed thrown in the water, the rest generally keep their distance from humans and the other duck species.
 
Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Male Bufflehead in the Afternoon Sun

Japanese Andromeda aka Pieris Japonica is one of my favorite shrubs. It is one of the first plants to flower in the spring--making it an early and obvious choice for pollinators like bumblebees and honeybees--and its slow growing nature makes it an easy-to-maintain natural border plant. Its medley of young dark red leaves, mature yellowish green leaves, and white bell-shaped flowers contrasts nicely against a blue sky and makes for spectacular landscape shots.

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

Japanese Andromeda Bonfire

The romantically named Satin Flowers--also known by their more plebian aliases of Pale Yellow-Eyed Grass or Argentine Blue Grass--are hardy South American, early- to mid-summer-blooming perennials that grow in tall, thick clusters, blossoming in tiers on sword-shaped leaves.

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

Elegant Satin Flowers on Black

Feeling a little blue? A little blue, thanks to this accommodating male Mountain Bluebird, might actually do the trick and cheer you up! The perfect notecards for bird lovers! 

My second encounter with a male Mountain Bluebird. We are gifted, albeit very briefly, with the presence of these beautiful songbirds at the start of the spring season before they head to higher ground to breed. Those stunning cerulean colors stand out on a dreary landscape, even from a distance. When he wasn't busy diving for insects on the local beach, he was highpointing it on driftwood and stalks of dessicated tansy. Photographed at Boundary Bay Regional Park in early spring 2017.

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

Beautiful Mountain Bluebird

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

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

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

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

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 Mug

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

With water beading off his inflatable crest, and a simultaneously striking and conservative palette of blacks, whites, and cinnamon brown, the adult male Hooded Merganser is one winter duck species that makes you stop and stare. They will swallow large fresh pond fish whole by stretching that normally hidden neck of theirs to a foot in length. This handsome, unperturbable gent was swimming in the ponds at the local wildlife sanctuary--not surprised to see so many humans moving in a like direction--in late December 2019.

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

Stunning Hooded Merganser Duck in Pond Jigsaw Puzzle

Bring a bit of nature with you, wherever you go, with this floral-themed tote! Customize with your name or message on both sides.

It's easy to see how laburnum got its moniker of "the golden chain tree" -- stunningly large masses of bright yellow, sweet pea-shaped clusters hang down from these mid-spring flowering trees, which we discovered during a leisurely afternoon stroll through a heavily forested area of Deering Island Park. The wood has been used for woodworking, and certain species of butterfly use it as source of food. Photographed in late May 2017.

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

Stunning Golden Chain / Laburnum Tree Tote Bag

Add a touch of nature to the bedroom or living room with this wildlife-themed throw.

A number of these large butterflies were flying through the Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area during our early evening visit, but this one was "kind" enough to grant us an impromptu studio session for a few minutes while it fluttered and fed from the local flora.

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

Beautiful Anise Swallowtail Butterfly in the Sun Throw Pillow

My second visit to the Maplewood Conservation Area in North Vancouver produced meetings with not two, but six blacktail deer in a clearing ... four fawns and two does who seemed completely at ease with the small group of photographers in their midst. The younger ones seemed almost as curious about the humans as we were about them! This fawn was extremely happy to be alive, bounding in a very Bambi-esque manner through the forest! Photographed in late August 2016.

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

Funny Young Blacktail Deer Smiles at Photographer Keychain

A number of these large butterflies were flying through the Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area during our early evening visit, but this one was "kind" enough to grant us an impromptu studio session for a few minutes while it fluttered and fed from the local flora.

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

Beautiful Anise Swallowtail Butterfly in the Sun Keychain

Add a touch of nature to the bedroom or living room with this wildlife-themed throw! 

Challenge your opponent with the feisty stare of this male Tree Swallow. His take-no-prisoners look means that this nestbox is his, stay out, move on, and find your own! Photographed in late March 2016. 

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

Closeup of a Handsome Northern Shoveler Duck

Closeup of a Handsome Northern Shoveler Duck

More from Walks with Nature

Other personalized gifts from various stores