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Use these wildlife-themed tiles to protect delicate surfaces, tables, and countertops from hot pots, or as accent pieces for the dining room or kitchen.

In mid-August 2016, I met my first Wilson's Phalaropes. This was one of two juveniles, wandering the ponds at the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Ladner, British Columbia. Much smaller than Yellowlegs, these small but elegant shorebirds are typically seen at this time of the year, although never in large flocks. Breeding females are typically larger and more boldly colored than their male counterparts -- one of the few exceptions in the avian kingdom, where the males outshine the females in style and size.

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

Juvenile Wilson's Phalarope Tile

Use these wildlife-themed tiles to protect delicate surfaces, tables, and countertops from hot pots, or as accent pieces for the dining room or kitchen.

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

Cute Rufous Hummingbird on Plum Tree Branch Tile

Use this elegant, 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!

Visiting during the much lower afternoon tide enabled us to see a total of sixteen Black Oystercatchers working the south side of the Tsawwassen Ferry Causeway for clams--the highest number we have seen at this location. With their long, bright red bills and yellow eyes, these resident shorebirds are easily identifiable, even from a distance. Photographed on October 19, 2016.

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

Black Oystercatcher at the Beach Ceramic Tile

Use this elegant, 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!

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 Ceramic Tile

Use these wildlife-themed tiles to protect delicate surfaces, tables, and countertops from hot pots, or as accent pieces for the dining room or kitchen.

My second (and closest) encounter with the magnificent cheetah on a hot afternoon in September 2014 at the local zoo. This big cat was pacing restlessly around in his cage, but he did stop once, and our eyes locked through the chain link during this moments. There is something so visceral about making a connection with wildlife.  

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

Trading Glances with a Magnificent Cheetah Ceramic Tile

Use these wildlife-themed tiles to protect delicate surfaces, tables, and countertops from hot pots, or as accent pieces for the dining room or kitchen.

Next to the Brown Hawker dragonfly who made a beeline for me last summer and decided that my denim-covered leg would make a nice warm perch for a few minutes, this extremely accommodating Canada Darner dragonfly has got to be one of my best insect subjects. S/he didn't twitch in the 30 minutes I spent photographing it, and as a matter of fact, stayed on the exterior of the house for at least another 15 minutes before flying off!

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

Closeup of a Canada Darner Dragonfly Tile

Use this elegant, 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!

One of a dozen of Harlequin Ducks I had the fortune of meeting at the beach, and my closest encounter with these diving sea ducks. Interestingly, all were adult males in near or full breeding plumage and showing off their slate grey, white, and rich cinnamon feathers, but there were no ladies of their own kind to impress. Photographed on the first full day of spring 2017.

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

Beautiful Harlequin Duck on the Rock Ceramic Tile

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!

Airbnb for the birds! We were quite tickled to see how this Bewick's Wren was making itself very much at home in a long-vacated wren nestbox. This is not unusual to see during spring or summer, but completely unexpected on the second day of winter. My subject was content to showcase a few poses for me while catching a few rays of the midday winter sun. Photographed on December 22, 2019, at the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary on Westham Island in Ladner, BC.
 
Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Cute Airbnb Moment Bewick's Wren in Nestbox Ceramic Tile

Handsome Tree Swallow Songbird on a Wire Luggage Tag

Stunning Profile of a Tree Swallow Songbird Large Christmas Stocking

Handsome Tree Swallow: Bird on a Wire Canvas Print

Handsome Tree Swallow Songbird on a Wire Hip Flask

Handsome Tree Swallow Songbird on a Wire Light Switch Cover

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

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

WWN Stunning Tree Swallow on the Wire

Profile of a Cute Grey Jay / Whiskeyjack Hip Flask

Profile of a Cute Grey Jay / Whiskeyjack Bath Mat

Cute Canada Gray / Grey Jay / Whiskeyjack Golf Head Cover

Profile of a Cute Grey Jay / Whiskeyjack Classic Round Sticker

Profile of a Cute Grey Jay / Whiskeyjack 3 Ring Binder

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 of Canada's official national birds 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

WWN Saucy Grey Jay in the Fir

Add a touch of nature to your apparel with this wildlife-themed top! 

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 Wee Bushtit on the Laurel Hoodie

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

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

Adorable Rufous Hummingbird Poses on Branch Trivet

The lone representative of its species (a recently recognized and separate species of the black geese family), a Cackling Goose (once considered a Canada Goose subspecies), plies the waters of an inner pond at Jericho Park on a sunny and surprisingly warm-for-winter afternoon. A much shorter bill and smaller body size set this goose apart from its larger Canada Goose cousin.

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

Profile of a Cackling Goose Classic Round Sticker

Cute Bufflehead Duck on Sunlit Waters Drawstring Bag

Cute Bufflehead Duck on Sunlit Waters Notebook

Sweet Bufflehead Duck on Sunlit Waters Bathroom Mat

Sweet Bufflehead Duck on Sunlit Waters Wall Clock

Cute Bufflehead Duck on Sunlit Waters Throw Pillow

Cute Little Bufflehead Duck on Sunlit Waters Glass Coaster

This stunning wildlife design features an adult female Bufflehead duck (with the hint of a smile on her face), plying sunlit winter waters at the local wildlife refuge.

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

WWN Bufflehead Duck on Sunlit Waters

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump Watch

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump Gift Box

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump Tote Bag

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump Jigsaw Puzzle

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump Golf Towel

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. 

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

Juvenile Wilson's Phalarope Tile

Juvenile Wilson's Phalarope Tile

More from Walks with Nature

Other decorative tiles from various stores