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About 4 of the 10 Horned Grebes we spotted at Blackie Spit were swimming and diving uncharacteristically close to the main walking path of Crescent Beach -- close for Horned Grebes, that is (about 20-30 feet away). The fishing was obviously quite good near shore. My closest encounter with these birds. They are exhibiting neither the flamboyant yellow horns nor red-and-black breeding plumage during this season, but those red eyes and dapper tux are nonetheless mesmerizing!

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

Profile of a Horned Grebe Magnet

Her cobalt blue mascara never runs! Quiet as her mate is noisy, this female Eclectus Parrot surprised me even further by choosing to perch uncharacteristically close to my lens.

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

Beautiful "Lady in Red" Eclectus Parrot Magnet

Our resident adult male Anna's hummingbird has never let me photograph him at close range, but on one evening in early June 2016, he came to sit on one of the old plum tree branches, just a few feet away from me. 

Perhaps, after seeing how comfortable the four visiting Rufous hummingbirds were around me, he probably figured that there wasn't anything scary about me -- and that I might even afford him some protection from the little hellraisers. So rather than being on the receiving end of his metallic scratchy or tick-tick-tick calls, he stared for a few moments into my lens, and then went to feed from the nectar feeder before making a much less frenzied exit than was his usual style.

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

Stunning Male Anna's Hummingbird in Plum Tree Magnet

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 "America's Favorite Birds: 40 Beautiful Birds to Color" Coloring Book, (released Fall 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 Magnet

A mid-summer walk around Stanley Park's Lost Lagoon yielded the surprise of a raccoon. In fact, this one quietly preceded us, like a tour guide, for a hundred yards, to the cement bridge before joining a haze of other raccoons. S/he even stopped to give me a few angles ... all of which is very unnatural behaviour for a mammal who is more likely to be active at night! 

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

Face to Face with a Raccoon Magnet

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

Curious American Robin Songbird in the Grass Magnet

A closeup of a gorgeous young male Golden Eagle, who immediately proved restless and eager to fly free from his handler and exhibitor. My first encounter with this species.

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

Vision of a Beautiful Young Golden Eagle Magnet

Add a touch of nature to any room with this wildlife-themed clock! Customize with or without numbers, and choose from round or square designs. Perfect for bird lovers!

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

Stunning Rufous Hummingbird on Fruit Tree Clock

This stunning wildlife design features a Spotted Towhee posing on a snow powdered branch in the backyard.

Design © W.H. Sim, All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Stunning Spotted Towhee Songbird on Snowy Branch Adult Cloth Face Mask

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes a Stir in the Fir Metal Ornament

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes Stir in the Fir Magnet

Cute Little Kinglet Causes a Stir in the Fir Magnet

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes Stir in the Fir Keychain

Cute Kinglet Songbird Causes Stir in the Fir Trivet

Cute Little Kinglet Causes a Stir in the Fir Mug

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

WWN Golden-Crowned Kinglet Causes a Stir in the Fir (II)

Beautiful Buff-Breasted Sandpiper at the Beach Postcard

Profile of a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper at the Beach Canvas Print

Profile of a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper at the Beach

Profile of a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper at the Beach Tote Bag

Profile of a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper at the Beach Classic Round Sticker

An unusual bird to see in Metro Vancouver during the fall migratory bird season, this Buff-Breasted Sandpiper was one of two I had the opportunity to photograph up close, and one of five spotted here in 2016. Like the Sanderling, the BBSA is exceedingly comfortable around humans. 

The BBSA is special for another reason: fewer than 80,000 individuals are estimated worldwide (per data from migration sites and its allaboutbirds.org/guide/Buff-breasted_Sandpiper/id profile; actual figures are difficult to obtain, as it does not always exhibit nest fidelity), making it a Near Threatened species. Its dainty, dove-like head, short bill, and buff coloration make it one of the easier peeps to identify. It is a transcontinental bird, flying northwards to breed in the arctic, and wintering in South America.

Rather comically, this one spent some time chasing the other one off. Apparently, it wanted the attention of the photographers all to itself! When it wasn't hogging the limelight, it made sure every lens was trained on it -- regardless of what it was doing -- foraging, resting on the grass, or grooming its feathers. Photographed in late August 2016.

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

WWN Buff-Breasted Sandpiper at Low Tide

Part brainteaser, part assemble-it-yourself art, this challenging and elegant wildlife-themed puzzle is great for improving muscle memory.

A presumed hobby farm escapee, this adult male Mandarin Duck has been seen in the company of the Wood Ducks of Piper Spit. He has called Burnaby Lake home since he was first spotted in 2018. His stunning pastiche of ruffs, dazzling color palette, and "fins" make him such a dreamboat to photograph. Mother Nature left nothing to the artist's imagination when she made this creature! Photographed at Burnaby Lake in early March 2020.

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

Beautiful Mandarin Duck on the Rocks Jigsaw Puzzle

Nothing says "you complete me" or "your better/other half" than these whimsical, wildlife-themed lovers' mugs. Eclectus Parrots are an instant hit, wherever you see them. While the males are (understandably, and expectedly), brightly coloured, with green plumage and candy-corn yellow beak, the females are just as colourful, with their striking red and cobalt blue feathers.

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

Eclectus Parrots Coffee Mug Set

A Pair of Wading Greater Sandhill Cranes

A pair of Sandhill Cranes wades through the shallow waters of the local wildlife refuge on a cloudy mid-winter's day. These are the largest birds that can be seen in Metro Vancouver all year round, more often on the ground, but occasionally in the air, too. As wild (and large) as they are, the ones who frequent the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary will consent to being handfed, and indeed, sometimes demand disbursement of birdseed this way!

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

WWN Great Sandhill Cranes Wading through the Marsh

Eastern Kingbirds are welcome and familiar sighted during Metro Vancouver summers. Smartly dressed in black and white and sporting a patrician (some might say, an imperious) air about themselves, I can usually find these feathered insectivores roosting on their favorite trees and bushes close to the walking trails at Coquitlam's Colony Farm Regional Park. My subject here took the cake for boldness, hopping from branch to branch and edging closer and closer to my lens. I could not have asked for a better subject!

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

Profile of a Horned Grebe Magnet

Profile of a Horned Grebe Magnet

More from Walks with Nature

Other magnets from various stores