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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 Magnet

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 Magnet

As with many yellow summer birds on my watch list, I have been pursuing this beautiful warbler and prolific singer for quite some time. Two years ago, I heard his trademark witchety-witchety-witchety birdsong and have since gotten few and frequently shaded glimpses of his rakish black mask and bright yellow breast through local shrubs and bushes. This is the closest I have come to photographing him out in the open. 

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

Beautiful Common Yellowthroat Warbler Songbird Magnet

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

Stunning Rufous Hummingbird on the Cherry Tree Magnet

This is my second visit to Surrey's Elgin Heritage Park, and I really wished to see a Golden-Crowned Kinglet again, my first photos of it on a deciduous tree being nothing but blurs. My wish was granted with one of several accomplished singers in a giant fir tree, a high-energy, multi-tasking (being able to sing, and flit from branch to branch while hunting for insects) Golden-Crowned Kinglet, who nevertheless proved to be a challenging subject to capture.

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes Stir in the Fir Magnet

It's not a Pacific Northwest winter unless you see the Varied Thrush. One of my favorite backyard birds to see (and a highly elusive one at that), this songbird has a stunning beauty to match the hauntingly beautiful timbre of its song. This handsome fellow was foraging in the backyard with several other wintering birds when I photographed him from the second floor--giving me a rare bird's eye view of t him. We almost never see them during the summer when they spend that season northwards in Alaska, but the call of the colder seasons of the year brings them back to us. Photographed in mid-January 2017.

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

Stunning Varied Thrush on the Lawn Magnet

I was privileged to see a Saker Falcon in the feathers a couple of years ago. This female was so well-mannered with the large (and often noisy) crowds in attendance, as a matter of fact, that her handler rarely needed to be present to tend to her feathered charge! Chosen for thousands of years as a popular falconry bird for its exceptional trainability, this large, pale Eurasian beauty is sadly--despite being endowed with great hunting prowess, power, and speed--an endangered hierofalcon species thanks to loss and destruction of its habitat. 

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

Vignetted Portrait of an Inquisitive Saker Falcon Magnet

Add a touch of nature to treasured memories and moments with this wildlife-themed binder! The perfect choice for bird lovers!

Although this fierce-looking falcon looks very much like a Peregrine, it's actually a Gyr-Saker hybrid falcon. Falconers crossbreed both in captivity with the hopes of producing a hybrid with the best traits of both species: in this case, the stamina of the large Gyrfalcon with the speed of the Saker falcon.

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

Gyrfalcon Saker Hybrid Falcon 3 Ring Binder

Take a bit of nature with you, wherever you go with this elegant, floral-themed drawstring backpack! 

Sometimes a mistake can be the path to a new technique. This Crested Iris was actually photographed outdoors under natural daylight after I forgot to reset shutter speed and aperture settings from the previous photo.

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

Elegant Floral Crested Iris Japonica on Black Drawstring Bag

Cute Chillin' Mallard Mom Duck & Baby Duckling Notebook

Mallard Mom with Duckling Onboard

My first-of-year-Mallard-mom-with-baby-on-her-back (one of eight) sighting at the local pond today. Both are sitting in a little grassy area just off the water. 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

WWN Cute Chillin' Mallard Mom & Baby

Keep notes, reminders, and more in this whimsical, wildlife-themed journal!

Red squirrels on Galiano Island are undeniably bold and saucy, even going so far as to scold photographers and other two-legged creatures who wander into their territory. Photographed on Galiano Island in the early morning of July 4, 2017.

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

Saucy Red Squirrel in the Fir Notebook

Add a touch of nature to the kitchen or dining room with this floral-themed sandstone coaster, which features a trio of yellow and pink daylilies isolated on a black background. Photographed in mid-July 2018 at a private garden at sunset. 

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

Elegant Trio of Yellow Pink Daylilies Floral Coaster

Elegant Great Egret Wading Bird in Reeds Clock

Elegant Great Egret in the Reeds Canvas Print

Finding this Great Egret in the winter grass and reeds fronting a Langley farm on December 31, 2018, was a great way to wrap up the year. My subject was neither disturbed by the trio of photographers capturing its every move, nor by the traffic roaring down the 2-lane road, and in fact, ventured to with 15 feet of me to feed. 

Whatever caused this migratory heron (which is an ultra-rare bird in Canada) to spend its decidedly non-tropical vacation here instead of at its regular winter stomping grounds in Miami, Mexico, and Guatemala is a mystery -- but one that I am very grateful for.

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

WWN Elegant Great Egret in the Reeds

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!

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

Cute Curious Columbian Ground Squirrel Metal Ornament

Perched on an old dock piling for either a bit of sun or rest is this Double-Crested Cormorant, some 20 feet away. This represents my closest encounter with an adult of this prehistoric-looking, turquoise-eyed seabird.

Greater Sandhill Crane Father and Child Magnet

Greater Sandhill Crane Father and Child Magnet

More from Walks with Nature

Other magnets from various stores