Personalized Gifts

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.

Profile of a Cackling Goose

Baby's first swim! This is a very young Mallard duckling in the reeds. S/he's not even a week old (perhaps just a few days), and already taking to the water like a pro at the local pond. 

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

Duckling in the Reeds

Japanese Andromeda aka Pieris Japonica is one of my favorite shrubs. It is one of the first plants to flower in the spring--making it an early and obvious choice for pollinators like bumblebees and honeybees--and its slow growing nature makes it an easy-to-maintain natural border plant. Its medley of young dark red leaves, mature yellowish green leaves, and white bell-shaped flowers contrasts nicely against a blue sky and makes for spectacular landscape shots.

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

Japanese Andromeda Bonfire

This photo was voted one of America's Favorite Birds. Over 250,000 votes were cast to see which 15 (of 42) birds were selected for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Coloring Book, to be released in the fall of 2016.  A male Green-Winged Teal enjoys the calm waters of Piper Spit/Burnaby Lake. This dabbling duck is tied with the Bufflehead, a diving duck, for the title of the smallest ducks in North America.

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

Handsome Green-Winged Teal Duck on Golden Pond

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

Easily recognizable from far away by their enormous bills, Northern Shovelers, although generally not skittish around humans, do keep themselves at a fair distance from spotting scopes and cameras, and frequent nearby bodies of water or sandbars. This fellow, on the other hand, was just inches from me, feeding just inches from the shore at the local wildlife habitat for quite a few moments before moving on.

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

Closeup of a Handsome Northern Shoveler Duck

A friendly Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo styles its crest and waves at the photographer at the same time.

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

Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo Waves at the Photographer

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!

A Twitchy-Nosed Columbian Ground Squirrel

Add a little character to the office -- or office party -- with this floral-themed tie, which features a repeating pattern of two-tone yellow and pink daylilies. 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 Yellow Pink Daylilies Neck Tie

Add a touch of nature to every room in your home with this wildlife-themed switchplate cover! 
The perfect switchplate cover for bird lovers!

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

A Stunned But Safe Varied Thrush Light Switch Cover

It's always a wonderful moment when our subjects seek us out instead of the other way around! A particularly bold American Robin approaches our picnic table to stare at us -- perhaps he was hoping that we had worms or berries with us?

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

A Curious American Robin Photo Print

Looking to score a birdie for your round of golf? You're guaranteed one--in a manner of speaking--with this wildlife-themed club head cover, which features an over-the-shoulder glance from a Pectoral Sandpiper.

The White-Crowned Sparrow is a bird for every season in the Pacific Northwest. Here it sits on the tansy that grows wild and in great numbers in the Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area. Photographed in August 2018.

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

White-Crowned Sparrow Sitting on the Tansy Golf Head Cover

Add a touch of nature and whimsy to your coffee, tea, or favourite hot drink with this wildlife-themed mug! 

A tiny Sanderling looks for a fine seafood dining experience on the shores of Boundary Bay Regional Park in mid-February 2017.

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

A Wandering Sanderling Mug

Add a touch of nature to your travels with this floral-themed luggage tag! 

Marigolds aren't just eye candy; they've been used for culinary (teas, salads) and medicinal (anti-inflammatory) purposes for hundreds of years in European cultures. These beautiful, aromatic and showy blooms bloom all summer long into fall and even until the first frost. They are a natural mosquito repellent, and may also keep flower munchers like deer from the pride and joy in your garden. Photographed in mid June and mid July 2016 at local public and private gardens.

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

A Medley of Red Yellow and Orange Marigolds Luggage Tag

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes Stir in the Fir Watch

Cute Little Kinglet Causes a Stir in the Fir Placemat

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes Stir in the Fir Magnet

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes Stir in the Fir Trivet

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes Stir in the Fir

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

During my second visit to Surrey's Elgin Heritage Park, my wish to see a Golden-Crowned Kinglet again was granted with the appearance of one of several accomplished singers in a giant fir tree. A diminutive but high-energy and multi-tasking bundle of energy--being able to sing, and flit from branch to branch while hunting for insects--the Golden-Crowned Kinglet nevertheless proved to be a challenging subject to capture. 

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

Profile of a Cackling Goose

Profile of a Cackling Goose

More from Walks with Nature

Other personalized gifts from various stores