Personalized Gifts

With its wide open spaces, the Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area is home to many different species of songbirds as well as several raptors. I found the brown-tinged feathers on this rather bold Black-Capped Chickadee--who was anticipating a free handout of seeds--rather interesting. Perhaps a hybrid with a Chestnut-Backed Chickadee was one of its parents (or grandparents)?

Profile of a Black-Capped Chickadee

Brown Creepers are common all-year-round residents in Metro Vancouver, but it's easy to miss seeing these masters of disguise in the forest. This is the closest I have come to photographing this extremely well-camouflaged bird, and seeing the meal in its bill was a nice added bonus.

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

American Treecreeper with Bug

After the time of many showy blooms had passed at the end of July, this lovely ornamental flower, a South African native also known as the River Lily or Crimson Flag, continues to awe and hold its own at the UBC Botanical Garden. 

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

Kaffir Lily / River Lily / Hesperantha Coccinea

Living in a place where the colors change as the seasons each have moments in time to express themselves is always something wondrous to witness. Clockwise from top left: winterberries (Fall), rudbeckias (Summer), sun-dappled green leaves in the forest (Spring), and dusty miller (Winter).

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

Colors of the Changing Seasons Quadriptych

With flaming red mascara to match his lipstick and magnificent crest, this handsome Crested Wood Partridge looks just as flamboyant as he sounds. Our first encounter with the Roul Roul proved to be elusive and disappointing. This latest visit, however, yielded multiple encounters with five of them, including two pairs, and a full-grown offspring. None of these diminutive pheasants showed the least bit of hesitance about stepping out--which made us very careful where we walked! 

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

Stunning Roul-Roul Crested Wood Partridge Bird

My first (and closest) encounter with a Sooty Grouse at Burnaby Mountain. This handsome fellow was hardly shy around the photographers, but kept largely to the base of the trees and the shadows. When the other photographers had left,  he came out for a little one-on-one time, "treating" me to dances around the remaining photographer and softly modulated hoots -- even following me partway down to the playground!

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

Beautiful Sooty Grouse in the Grass

On its way to raid the backyard suet feeder, a young, very curious Chestnut-Backed Chickadee pauses to stare at my lens from the grapevine.

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

Cute Curious Chestnut-Backed Chickadee Songbird

Beautiful Varied Thrush Songbird in the Snow

Varied Thrush in the Snow Christmas Holiday

After sitting outside for an hour and a half as the afternoon snow fell quickly and in fat clumps this afternoon, this beautiful male Varied Thrush finally ventured to the bowl of the seed on the ground. Occasionally, he would look up and gaze in my direction before resuming his meal. After eating his fill (and keeping the other, smaller songbirds at bay), he returned to flipping leaf litter under the thicket. My first time photographing a Varied Thrush in the snow. Taken in early February 2017. 

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

WWN Stunning Varied Thrush in the Driving Snow

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

Although this handsome and talented singer--garbed in dazzling whites, crisp blacks, rich brown streaks, and a yellow/green cap--was quick to regale us with his cheery, energetic aria on many occasions, opportunities to photograph him on the local mountain flora were few and far between. His presence was a delight to local birders like myself, for this songbird is a very rare sight in the West; Chestnut-Sided Warblers are normally found in the Canadian Prairies and provinces eastward. Photographed in early July 2018 on Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver, British Columbia.

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

Chestnut-Sided Warbler Songbird on a Branch Glass Coaster

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.

Birding just a small clearing of forest in Minnekhada Regional Park in late May 2016 yielded two new bird species for my life list, including this Red-Breasted Sapsucker, who chose to fly to a dead tree as I was photographing some other birds. This handsome woodpecker did not call -- but its bright red head did all the talking for it. It was all I could do not to stop and stare.

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

Meeting a Red-Breasted Sapsucker Ceramic Tile

It's an avalanche of cuteness when a flock of Bushtits descend on the suet feeder in the backyard. However, these hyperactive bundles rarely hold still for a photo. This young fellow was an exception to the rule; while everyone else was busy engaged in feeding on the suet or looking for insects in the trees, he was happy to look pretty on the pear tree, and I was happy to oblige. Photographed in mid-January 2017.

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

Cute Bushtit Songbird on Pear Tree Branch Postcard

Keep notes, reminders, and more in this wildlife-themed journal. 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 Notebook

Add a touch of nature to the kitchen or dining room with this wildlife-themed serving tray! The perfect choice for bird lovers! The early blooming pyracantha bush has proven to be very popular with a number of fall and winter birds, including this American Robin. Earlier this fall, I spotted six of these thrushes feasting away at the same time!  My subject didn't need to share the pommes with another feathered friend, and didn't budge when I had the lens pointed her way from the front door. In fact, she continued to enjoy the bright red berries for a few moments more.

American Robin with a Pyracantha Pomme Serving Tray

This elegant floral design features the bright crimson reds of a large Japanese maple tree in late spring.

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

Red Japanese Maple Leaf Tree Adult Cloth Face Mask

Add a touch of nature to your tumbler with this wildlife-themed design!

Birding just a small clearing of forest in Minnekhada Regional Park in late May 2016 yielded two new bird species for my life list, including this Red-Breasted Sapsucker, who chose to fly to a dead tree as I was photographing some other birds. This handsome woodpecker did not call -- but its bright red head did all the talking for it. It was all I could do not to stop and stare.

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

Profile of a Black-Capped Chickadee

Profile of a Black-Capped Chickadee

More from Walks with Nature

Other personalized gifts from various stores