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Gold on blue make such beautiful hues. Nothing attracts the honeybees more spectacularly than the huge California Lilac that blooms with hundreds of bluish-purple clusters on the front lawn. Like a magnet, this bush draws dozens and dozens of these tireless winged workers from late spring through early summer. 

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

Gold on Blue: Honeybee on the California Lilac Magnet

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 Magnet

A newly adult Canada Goose grooms itself at Piper Spit, Burnaby Lake, on a cloudy fall day, the angular and swan-like curve of its neck conveying an almost regal quality to this bird. Although migratory birds in many parts of the world, some Canada Geese are all-year-round residents in Metro Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest. Photographed in early November 2016.

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

Canada Goose on the Lake Magnet

An almost perfectly camouflaged female Great Horned Owl attempts to catch some shuteye in the neighbor's 100-foot Douglas Fir on a rainy fall day, only to be subjected to the verbal and physical harangues of nine Northwestern Crows. After three hours, they finally left her to her beauty sleep. Photographed on November 13, 2016.

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

Great Horned Owl in the Douglas Fir 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

A drive down an old farm road on a warm mid-winter afternoon led me to this gorgeous adult Red-tailed Hawk perched on a power line. Said subject was unflappable and resolute in both the face of the long lens pointed in its direction and the constant flow of vehicular traffic.

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

Magnificent Red-Tailed Hawk in the Sun Magnet

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

This male Downy Woodpecker announced himself quite vocally with a trademark chip-chip-chip repertoire just before making an appearance on this dead tree. He proceeded to peck away at his perch, oblivious of the solitary camera lens trained on him and the many walkers on the trail.

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

Cute Downy Woodpecker Bird on Branch Magnet

Add a touch of nature and whimsy to treasured memories and moments with this wildlife-themed binder! 

The second time I've seen Dunlins since first spotting a small flock huddled together in their breeding plumage (with their trademark black belly patches), on a cold spring day on the Iona Jetty spit in 2010. Three were part of a larger group of 10-12, who were fraternizing with a larger flock of Sanderlings (60) and a single out-of-season Semipalmated Plover (not pictured here).

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

Cute Dunlins Sanderlings Sandpipers at the Beach Mini Binder

Beautiful Pensive Wood Duck in the Marsh Classic Round Sticker

Beautiful Pensive Wood Duck in the Marsh Wrist Watch

Beautiful Pensive Wood Duck in the Marsh Golf Head Cover

Beautiful Pensive Wood Duck in the Marsh Binder

A Beautiful and Pensive Wood Duck in the Sun Trivet

Beautiful Pensive Wood Duck in the Marsh Magnet

Perched on a fallen log (and living up to his name) is this colourful drake, one of several Wood Duck “fixtures” at Piper Spit. Burnaby Lake is home to the largest concentrations of Wood Ducks–hands down, the most colourful waterfowl you’ll find in Metro Vancouver, Canada.

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

WWN Pensive Wood Duck at the Lake

Show off your love of nature with this wildlife-themed luggage tag! The perfect gift 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 Songbird at Beach Luggage Tag

Usually the Northern Flickers I meet like to keep a rather "discreet" 50-foot distance between themselves and the photographer. For some inexplicable reason, this male Red-Shafted decided that he was best admired, not just high up in the tree, but on the ground as well ... some 6.5 feet away!

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

Male Red-Shafted Northern Flicker in a Tree Photo Print

Singer in the Making: Hooded Mergansers Magnet

One of two Hooded Merganser drakes who put in a surprise appearance in one of our newer local ponds. These singers were warming up their vocal chops in hopes of impressing the two hens in their small flock.

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

WWN A Hooded Merganser Who's Dressed to Impress

Add a touch of nature to the living room with this wildlife-themed lampshade cover.  

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 Poses with the Pyracantha Pendant Lamp

Stunning Rufous Hummingbird on the Cherry Tree Tripod Lamp

Stunning Rufous Hummingbird on the Cherry Tree Pillar Candle

Stunning Rufous Hummingbird on the Cherry Tree Face Mask

Stunning Rufous Hummingbird on Cherry Branch

Stunning Rufous Hummingbird on Cherry Tree Label

We had our first trio of Rufous hummingbirds arrive in the backyard in early April 2017. This adult male was uncharacteristically taken with the early-blooming flowering currant bush and the sextet of hummingbird feeders scattered throughout the area, and stayed for a week--a real treat, considering most of the adult males usually only stay a day, passing through to more northern climes (Alaska) for the breeding season. Getting a decent shot of him has been a cat-and-mouse game, however, and this pose of him on the cherry tree (with his flashing reddish gorget and rufous feathers) was only possible because my subject did not know that he was being photographed.

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

Gold on Blue: Honeybee on the California Lilac Magnet

Gold on Blue: Honeybee on the California Lilac Magnet

More from Walks with Nature

Other magnets from various stores