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Eastern Kingbirds are welcome and familiar sighted during Metro Vancouver summers. Smartly dressed in black and white and sporting a patrician (some might say, an imperious) air about themselves, I can usually find these feathered insectivores roosting on their favorite trees and bushes close to the walking trails at Coquitlam's Colony Farm Regional Park. My subject here took the cake for boldness, hopping from branch to branch and edging closer and closer to my lens. I could not have asked for a better subject!

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

Eastern Kingbird on a Branch Magnet

Handsome Tree Swallow Songbird on a Wire Magnet

Nothing heralds spring like Tree Swallows. These small and very approachable birds amaze me with their astonishing aerial maneuvers and beautiful iridescent blue plumage.

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

WWN Stunning Tree Swallow on the Wire

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.

Actually, he's drying out his wings after a bath in the summer sun. Wood Ducks are some of the prettiest, most colourful waterfowl I've seen in Metro Vancouver. Comfortable both in the water and on land, they can also be found perched on tree branches--the only species of duck that can do so. 

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

Townsend's Solitaire on the Pyracantha Magnet

It's hard not to be amazed by such beauty! I am so used to seeing Dunlins in flocks of hundreds and thousands in their non-breeding/winter plumage, that to encounter a solitary member of this sandpiper species is a bit puzzling. S/he was in full breeding regalia, and in no particular hurry to fly north for the summer. 

We almost missed seeing this peep--so intent on photographing the 20 Greater Scaups much further out from shore--that it was many moments before I realized that this Dunlin was quite calmly "pacing" us some 6-8 feet away on the shoreline!

Being in such close proximity to this beauty enabled me to get a good look at that black belly patch and the wonderful russet brown feathers on its head and back!

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

Beautiful Dunlin Shorebird at the Beach Magnet

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 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

Profile of a Cute Grey Jay / Whiskeyjack Magnet

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 Magnet

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

Vignetted Portrait of Smiling Blacktail Deer Fawn  Magnet

Our resident adult male Anna's hummingbird has never let me photograph him at close range, but on one evening in early June 2016, he came to sit on one of the old plum tree branches, just a few feet away from me. 

Perhaps, after seeing how comfortable the four visiting Rufous hummingbirds were around me, he probably figured that there wasn't anything scary about me -- and that I might even afford him some protection from the little hellraisers. So rather than being on the receiving end of his metallic scratchy or tick-tick-tick calls, he stared for a few moments into my lens, and then went to feed from the nectar feeder before making a much less frenzied exit than was his usual style.

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

Stunning Male Anna's Hummingbird in Plum Tree Magnet

Did I say something funny? Meet Teddy. Looking like he's tossing me a big smile and a sly wink, this friendly Pommie of the Lawn is a real character. Fur that hasn't quite grown back the right way, and the lack of an eye hasn't stopped this energetic little guy from pursuing life to the fullest. 

He's no attention hound; show up at his place, and he'll give you an effusive 30-second greeting punctuated by happy barks and tailwags--as if he's seen you for the very first time--and in less than a minute, he'll settle down to his favorite bone, completely oblivious to your presence.

With his prodigious winter fur, I am leaning towards one of two theories: that this Pomeranian may be part Chow Chow or part lion.

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

Winking Chuckling Funny Dog Keychain

Spotted Towhee Sparrow in Autumn Leaf Litter Mouse Pad

Profile of a Spotted Towhee Round Pillow

I'd hardly call a Spotted Towhee a cute little bird. The red eyes on this large sparrow are mesmerizing and can best be described as eerie; and the black, white, reddish-brown plumage it wears all year round are "power colours". Photographed at Stanley Park's Lost Lagoon on a chilly afternoon in late November 2015.

This photo was selected by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, to be featured in its "Backyard Birds and Blossoms" Coloring Book (release date Spring 2017). 

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

WWN Spotted Towhee in the Autumn Leaf Litter

Adorable Rufous Hummingbird on Branch

Adorable Rufous Hummingbird on Branch Photo Print

Adorable Rufous Hummingbird on Branch 3 Ring Binder

Adorable Rufous Hummingbird on Branch Hip Flask

Adorable Rufous Hummingbird on Branch Mini Binder

Rufous Hummingbirds have usually left Metro Vancouver for Mexico by mid August, so it was a delight to see and photograph this exceedingly feisty straggler in the backyard. This little scrapper has been (successfully, for the past two days) giving grief to the juvenile male Anna's hummingbird who has owned the backyard for most of the summer (as well as the other feathered friends who visit), vigorously defending every flower and feeder in sight. This hybrid fruit tree branch has become its favorite perch, and gave me quite a few photographic opportunities. Photographed on September 4, 2016.

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

WWN Rufous Hummingbird on the Hybrid Fruit Tree

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

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 Light Switch Cover

Add color and a touch of nature to your walls with this floral-themed wall art hanging!

Though they last but a few short months, these annuals dazzle with an eclectic display of vivid colors, shapes, and sizes.

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

A Colorful Pastiche of Summer Annual Flowers Acrylic Print

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

Profile of Stella the Gray Cat Keychain

Add a touch of nature to the living room with this floral-themed lampshade cover.  This particular cultivar of alstroemeria, or Peruvian lily, grows tall and looks great as flower bed plants. They are hardy, breathtaking perennials that bloom from late spring through early summer.

Eastern Kingbird on a Branch Magnet

Eastern Kingbird on a Branch Magnet

More from Walks with Nature

Other magnets from various stores