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

Handsome Tree Swallow Songbird on a Wire

Feeling a little blue? A little blue, thanks to this accommodating male Mountain Bluebird, might actually do the trick and cheer you up! The perfect notecards 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

The newest faces at the local wildlife habitat--namely, week old Canada Goose goslings--were parading their absolute adorability for the human visitors to oooh and aww over.

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

Cuteness on Parade: Canada Goose Goslings

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

Mid-autumn brings the return of Buffleheads to the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. While one or two of these diminutive ducks will partake of the birdseed thrown in the water, the rest generally keep their distance from humans and the other duck species.
 
Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Male Bufflehead in the Afternoon Sun

This is how birders get together to do lunch!

Seafood dining at its best! One of five Black Oystercatchers we spotted on a windy, cloudy day at the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty over the Great Backyard Bird Count 2017 (Feb 17-20) weekend. The fishing (clamming?) was good ... these shorebirds were hauling in clam after clam after clam!

This photo was the 1st Place Winner in the Behavior Category of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's 2017 Great Backyard Bird Count Photo Contest (see this Bird Canada article here https://birdcanada.com/are-you-in-the-gbbc)

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

Stunning Black Oystercatcher Shorebird with Clam

One of two American Kestrels we saw whilst driving through Surrey during BC Family Day 2016. Though not a closeup -- my subject was about 15-20 feet above my head and 25 feet away -- the sun lit him enough to capture his magnificent plumage (another photo I took of his back showed blue and orange wings--confirming his gender). My first sighting in the wild of North America's tiniest falcon, and the first time I have seen the male of the species. It surprised me to learn that insects, not songbirds, are the staples of their diet.

American Kestrel Hawk on a Wire

An attractive raptor with a heart-shaped facial disc, the Barn Owl is gifted with extraordinary hearing — it can even hear the heartbeats of everyone in a 30 square foot room — and silent flight, which lets it descend on and capture rats and mice with extreme stealth. As nocturnal creatures, these endowments are critical when hunting in (sometimes) complete darkness.

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

A Serene and Beautiful Barn Owl

Add a touch of nature to any room with this floral-themed wall hanging. 

Available in a delightful range of colors, calla lilies have long intrigued me with their elegant, pitcher-like flowers. These hardy South African natives have found a strong fan following in North American gardens as ornamental plants.

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

Elegant Purple Calla Lilies Canvas Print

Looking to score a birdie for your round of golf? You're guaranteed one--in a manner of speaking--with this wildlife-themed putter head cover, which features a beautiful male Wilson's Warbler on the cherry trees leaves in the spring!

2017 seems to be the year of Wilson's Warblers, and our backyard has not been exempt from the presence of these small but cheery yellow warblers. The energetic black-capped males have been exploring every potted plant and fruit tree and singing their uplifting melodies. This handsome guy paused on the cherry tree just long enough for me to get him in all his golden goodness. Photographed in mid-May 2017.

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

Cute Wilson's Warbler Songbird in the Cherry Tree Golf Head Cover

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

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

Rufous Hummingbird on the Hybrid Fruit Tree Kitchen Towel

The romantically named Satin Flowers--also known by their more plebian aliases of Pale Yellow-Eyed Grass or Argentine Blue Grass--are hardy South American, early- to mid-summer-blooming perennials that grow in tall, thick clusters, blossoming in tiers on sword-shaped leaves.

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

Elegant Satin Flowers on Black

Use this whimsical, wildlife-themed tile to protect delicate surfaces, tables, and countertops from hot pots, or as accent pieces for the dining room, kitchen, or anywhere else in the home! 

The golfers on the fairway clearly didn't disturb this rabbit, who was busy munching away on the delicious and well-manicured greens. This one paused to mug for my camera, and then went right back to chewing on its verdant comestibles, unfazed by the attention.

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

Cute Bunny Rabbit on the Golf Green Ceramic Tile

Use this floral-themed trivet to protect delicate surfaces, tables, and countertops from hot pots, or as an accent piece for the dining room or kitchen.

Asiatic lilies are a wonderful addition to any summer garden, and this red orange 'Gran Paradiso' cultivar bloomed just a bit earlier to fill the void left by the early blooming roses. Photographed in mid-June 2016.

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

Beautiful Red Orange Asiatic Lily Gran Paradiso Trivet

Add a touch of nature to the kitchen or dining room with this wildlife-themed serving tray! 

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

Handsome Tree Swallow Songbird on a Wire

Handsome Tree Swallow Songbird on a Wire

More from Walks with Nature

Other personalized gifts from various stores