Personalized Gifts

I was privy to a very special moment in late May 2016 when I saw this Greater Sandhill Crane father, a veteran parent, searching for wood bugs with his 3-day-old colt. It's hard to believe that such a small creature could grow up into one of the largest bird species found in Metro Vancouver!

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

Greater Sandhill Crane Father and Child

Cute Hopeful Black-Capped Chickadee Songbird

Cute Black-Capped Chickadee Songbird Christmas

An adorable Black-Capped Chickadee looks longingly at the food presented in two different hands, and wonders if it should go for sunflower seeds from hand A or hand B. Decisions, decisions. 

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

WWN Hopeful Black-Capped Chickadee in the Tree

By far, Columbian Ground Squirrels are the most entertaining wildlife at Manning Park, and the first ones to greet us in the parking lot of Manning Park Resort. These Prairie Dogs of the West were positioned near their network of holes in the ground (or in rotted tree stumps) and often calling in an upright position like meerkats or groundhogs (when they weren't chasing each other around or kissing). We found plenty at Manning Park Resort and Lightning Lake (particularly near the picnic tables). Columbian Ground Squirrels spend the short summer bulking up on fat reserves for their hibernation period, which lasts for seven months!

Funny Cute Saucy Columbian Ground Squirrel

Blue Jays may be one of North America's most iconic bird species, but they are rarely found on the West Coast. However, this one has discovered that Ladner Harbor Park in beautiful British Columbia is a great place to hang out and avoid the nasty snowfalls of the east. S/he's been "resident" in this forest since early November 2020 and grants an audience to whomever is willing to shell out a handout of peanuts first. Photographed in late March 2021. 

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

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump

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

The perfect greeting cards for bird lovers!  These two Wood Ducks could not possibly be any closer! Intimacy with your significant other means never having to be embarrassed just because a camera lens happens to be angled your way.

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

Beautiful Touching Moment Between Wood Ducks

Perfectly reflected in the tranquil waters of this pond is this Northern Pintail drake. They may be most commonly seen in West Coast winters, but I've encountered these ducks all year round at the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

Reflections of a Northern Pintail Duck

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

Add a touch of nature to your next spring, summer, garden or wedding party with these floral-themed plates! 

I couldn't find an angle I liked with this vivid two-tone Monsella tulip until I did a few macro shots of it, and the seeming randomness of the streaks of red running rampant through this bright yellow flower seemed to me like a chaotically natural expression of art.

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

Elegant Floral Red and Gold Monsella Tulips Paper Plates

Add a touch of nature to the kitchen or dining room with this striking, wildlife-themed glass coaster. 

One of my favourite birds to photograph, and one of the most elusive as well. This lovely male Varied Thrush was a bit stunned but none the worse for wear after flying into a window, but he chose to take five on the cherry tree -- giving me time to capture his beauty from the upper floor sunroom, some 15 feet away.

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

Beautiful Varied Thrush Songbird in the Tree Glass Coaster

Keep notes, reminders, and more in this whimsical, wildlife-themed journal. The perfect choice for bird lovers! 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 Notebook

Magnificent Red-Tailed Hawk in the Sun Canvas Print

Magnificent Red-Tailed Hawk in the Sun Binder

Magnificent Red-Tailed Hawk in the Sun Post-it Notes

Magnificent Red-Tailed Hawk in the Sun Notebook

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

WWN Red-tailed Hawk Looking Regal in the Winter Sun (I)

Add a touch of nature to the kitchen with this wildlife-themed kitchen towel! 

One of an unexpectedly large flock of 30 Buffleheads, who were swimming in a local pond at Ambleside Park in early December 2016. These seaducks were uncharacteristically bold, and venturing as far to land as a few feet away from the water's edge. More than a handful--like this handsome adult male--looked like they were expectantly waiting handouts of birdseed from the watching birders and photographers, and yet, when none was forthcoming, resumed their activities of swimming, preening, or diving for food.
 
Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Stunning Bufflehead Duck at the Pond Kitchen Towel

Dreamy Wisdom of Snowy Owls Trinket Tray

Dreamy Wisdom of Snowy Owls Family Pillar Candle

Funny Owl We Want for Christmas ... Snowy Owls Throw Blanket

Owl We Want Spread Christmas Cheer Snowy Owls Doormat

Dreamy Snowy Owls Christmas Family Funny Hoot Foil Holiday Card

Funny Owl We Want for Christmas ... Snowy Owls Paper Plates

Owl you'll want is right here! Wildlife and the magic of the holiday season go hand in hand, and the no bird wears winter better or is more strongly associated with the season of cold than the charismatic Snowy Owl. The largest owls in North America only show up in Metro Vancouver every few years, and their appearance during our winters causes crowds of admirers and fans to form and flock. 

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

WWN Family of Smiling Snowy Owls

Add a touch of nature to the living room, bedroom, and even picnics and outdoor events with this whimsical, wildlife-themed fleece blanket!

Not one, but two (!) blue morph Snow Geese slumber peacefully in the afternoon summer sun, dreaming, perhaps of delicious grasses.

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

Greater Sandhill Crane Father and Child

Greater Sandhill Crane Father and Child

More from Walks with Nature

Other personalized gifts from various stores