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

This pose is the cat's meow! This neighbourhood cat has been very neighbourly since summer 2014 ... visiting regularly for her dose of birdwatching, cuddles, and saucer of milk. Here she is, posing next to the camellia leaves on a wet and gloomy day.

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

Whimsical The Cat and the Camellia

This is how birders get together to do lunch!

Seafood dining at its best! One of five Black Oystercatchers we spotted on a windy, cloudy day at the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty over the Great Backyard Bird Count 2017 (Feb 17-20) weekend. The fishing (clamming?) was good ... these shorebirds were hauling in clam after clam after clam!

This photo was the 1st Place Winner in the Behavior Category of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's 2017 Great Backyard Bird Count Photo Contest (see this Bird Canada article here https://birdcanada.com/are-you-in-the-gbbc)

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

Stunning Black Oystercatcher Shorebird with Clam

My second sighting of Mallard mom with ten young ducklings at the local pond. These ducklings couldn't be more than a few days old, and already they were swimming and floating like little corks under the watchful eye of Mother Mallard (who was anything but a Mother Hen).

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

Mom Extraordinaire: One Prolific Mallard Hen

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

Meet Ela, Teddy's high-maintenance girlfriend. Unlike him, she is an attention-seeking sweetie, and her fur is the picture of perfection. Meeting you at the gates isn't enough; this dainty, but seldom still Pomeranian will make sure that you dole out scratches and cuddles to her as often as possible, which is all the time. 

She is the happiest when she's the center of everyone's attention, which is also all the time. This has made her My Little Shadow on many occasions, but she is nimble enough to not actually get underfoot and become a speed bump.

Every time I tried to get closer to her or crouch down to take a photo at her level, she would start walking towards me (to the amusement of all her human cohorts).

Ela, Pom Queen of the Lawn

The second summertime flowering of our gladiolus ... this mid-August blooming produced even more striking sword lilies, with more splashes of white to contrast against the bright red hues for a candy cane like effect. Truly a Christmas moment in August!

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

Stunning Red & White Gladiolus Sword Lilies

One of two American Kestrels we saw whilst driving through Surrey during BC Family Day 2016. Though not a closeup -- my subject was about 15-20 feet above my head and 25 feet away -- the sun lit him enough to capture his magnificent plumage (another photo I took of his back showed blue and orange wings--confirming his gender). My first sighting in the wild of North America's tiniest falcon, and the first time I have seen the male of the species. It surprised me to learn that insects, not songbirds, are the staples of their diet.

American Kestrel Hawk on a Wire

Beautiful Sooty Grouse Gamebird in the Grass Mug

Beautiful Sooty Grouse Gamebird in Grass Postcard

Funny A Little Grouse? Try Again. Bumper Sticker

Beautiful Sooty Grouse in the Grass Trivet

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

WWN Sooty Grouse in the Grass

Add a touch of nature to the living room, bedroom, or any room in your home with this elegant, wildlife-themed throw! 

A presumed hobby farm escapee, this adult male Mandarin Duck has been seen in the company of the Wood Ducks of Piper Spit. He has called Burnaby Lake home since he was first spotted in 2018. His stunning pastiche of ruffs, dazzling color palette, and "fins" make him such a dreamboat to photograph. Mother Nature left nothing to the artist's imagination when she made this creature! Photographed at Burnaby Lake in early March 2020.

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

Beautiful Mandarin Duck at the Pond Lumbar Pillow

Beautiful Female Northern Harrier in the Marsh Tie

Beautiful Female Northern Harrier in the Marsh Notebook

Beautiful Northern Harrier Hawk in the Marshes Golf Head Cover

An unexpectedly close encounter with a female Northern Harrier--who is a stunning study in brown--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

WWN Beautiful Northern Harrier in the Marsh

Add a touch of tasty to the dining experience with this elegant, food-themed glass coaster, which features a homegrown (and oddball) medley of striped, green, purple, and yellow tomatoes on a weathered grey picnic table, is great for improving muscle memory. Pictured tomato cultivars include Green Zebra, Red Zebra, Indigo Rose, Brandywine, Black Prince, Midnight Snack cherry, and heirloom cherry. 

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

Colorful Striped Tomatoes on Weathered Table Glass Coaster

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

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 Jigsaw Puzzle

Add a touch of personality to refreshments with this wildlife-themed can cooler. A great gift idea for birders and nature lovers!

This young Rufous hummingbird was taking a break from scrapping with a fellow hummingbird for ownership of the flowers in a vast public garden to enjoy a little moment of peace and quiet in the sun. Photographed in early June 2017.

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

Rufous Hummingbird at Rest Can Cooler

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

A late autumn afternoon stroll around the Stanley Park Lagoon resulted in a chance encounter with a bewhiskered river otter out of its natural element -- the second time I'd seen one (an entire family frolicking on the other side of the lagoon claimed the initial encounter) in the area on the same day! Apparently, the fishing must've been better on this side. Photographed in late November 2015.

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