Who ya calling a turkey? I spotted this handsome male Ring-Necked Pheasant foraging in the oddest of places ... not a marsh or wild woodland habitat, but the green well-maintained grass of a heritage air park! He did not seem concerned that a couple of camera lenses was trained on him, but, from time to time, would stand up on his legs, flap his wings, and give his best rooster impression, before returning to the task of foraging. On a rather birdless day, hearing this elusive gamebird vocalize and seeing him displaying those impressive bright red wattles really made my day. Photographed on Good Friday 2017.

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

Flustered Ring-Necked Pheasant in Grass Postcard

Up to 20 of these diminutive but fearless sandpipers were braving choppy waters and 14-foot morning high tides on a sunny and unseasonably warm New Year's Day 2020, to pluck the anchovies that the pounding surf was constantly washing up on the shore just off the White Rock Pier. With their dark eyes, round heads, dainty bills, and plump bodies, Black Turnstones are fascinating creatures to watch.

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

Stunning Black Turnstone Shorebird on the Rock Postcard

American Wigeons are a common sight in Metro Vancouver from fall through spring, but they disappear for the summer to cooler shores. With 40 more members of his flock, I spotted this handsome fellow wandering the local beach in the late winter of 2015--an odd sight, since they tend to be seen on water or land, but not sand!

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

American Wigeon Duck Walking the Beach Postcard

A young sub-adult male Anna's hummingbird was taking five in the scarlet firethorn next to its pommes on an unseasonably prolonged cold snap. Unlike most other birds who frequent this bush in the fall and winter, he didn't seem to mind that I wrestled the window open (however softly I did it), and took a few shots of him next to the bunch of berries that's almost as big as he is. Photographed in mid-December 2016.

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

Anna's Hummingbird with Orange Pyracantha Berries Postcard

Maybe it's just me, but whenever I see a male White-Winged Scoter, the resemblance between this black seaduck and one of main nemeses of a certain popular comic book hero is immediate and unmistakeable. The white Viking horn patches surrounding those pale eyes seem to connote something sinister. :) Much smaller flocks of this less (nasally) flamboyant (and more paparazzi shy) cousin of the Surf Scoter could be seen plying the waters of the White Rock Pier on a chilly but sunny morning in early November 2019.

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

Stunning White-Winged Scoter Duck at Pier's Edge Postcard

With a freshly caught vole clutched in its furry feet, a Short-Eared Owl surveys its hunting grounds for opportunistic Northern Harriers who would not hesitate to take advantage of the fruit of its hunting prowess. Sudden gusts of wind fluff this hunter's head feathers, revealing the short ear tufts for which this owl is named. Photographed on a late afternoon in late November 2017.

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

Stunning Short-Eared Owl with Vole Postcard

I was tracking this tiny Sanderling at Boundary Bay Regional Park in mid-February 2017 when s/he finally landed a fresh bit of surf 'n' turf near the shore. Seaside dining at its finest!

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

Cute Sanderling Sandpiper Dines on Clam at 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

Last year, I was fortunate enough to encounter the female Yellow-Headed Blackbird at Manning Park. This year, I saw not one of these rare visitors to Metro Vancouver, but three adult male Yellow-Headed Blackbirds (and at least one female)--the former calling attention to themselves with their golden heads and breasts, less-than-melodious birdcalls, and frequent sparring matches with the more familiar Red-Winged Blackbird males in the marshes of Iona Island.

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

Striking Yellow-Headed Blackbird in the Marsh Classic Round Sticker

This photo was voted one of America's Favorite Birds. Over 250,000 votes were cast to see which 15 (of 42) birds were selected for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's "America's Favorite Birds: 40 Beautiful Birds to Color" Coloring Book, (released Fall 2016). 

A male Green-Winged Teal enjoys the calm waters of Piper Spit/Burnaby Lake. This dabbling duck is tied with the Bufflehead, a diving duck, for the title of the smallest ducks in North America.

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

Handsome Green-Winged Teal Duck on Golden Pond Magnet

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

Black Oystercatchers are one of the most approachable all-year-round shorebirds in Metro Vancouver. Their bright red bills, arresting yellow eyes, and red mascara will grab your attention from the start. Some will even walk right up to you--giving you the chance for some great photo opportunities. If they are very comfortable around you, they will go about their business as if you are not even there.

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

Profile of a Black Oystercatcher Jigsaw Puzzle

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  Keychain

Bring on the birds of spring! A round, energetic ball of energy, this adult male Wilson's Warbler posed briefly on the grapevine with the white, bell-like flowers of the pieris japonica shrub in the background on a slightly overcast afternoon in mid-May 2018. 

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

Cute Wilson's Warbler Songbird on the Grapevine Metal Ornament

Add a touch of nature to your bathroom with this floral-themed shower curtain!

These oxeye daisies (also known by their other aliases of "moon daisies", and "dog daisies") were photographed on a cloudy day that gave way to lots of sunshine at the UBC Botanical Gardens in mid-June 2016.

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

A Field of Oxeye Daisies Shower Curtain

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

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

Flustered Ring-Necked Pheasant in Grass Postcard

Flustered Ring-Necked Pheasant in Grass Postcard

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