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 Perches on Fruit Tree Postcard

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

Beautiful Wilson's Warbler Songbird in Cherry Tree Postcard

My introduction to the Satyr Comma / Anglewing. Apparently these little, bright orange butterflies are supposed to be skittish, but don't tell this beauty that ... it posed for several shots on a blade of marsh vegetation. Photographed on July 2, 2016 at Campbell Valley Regional Park.

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

Beautiful Orange Satyr Comma Butterfly Postcard

Having encountered Harlequin Ducks only at great distances before, seeing these two females up close sharing a quiet moment on a seaweed-covered rock at West Vancouver's Ambleside Beach gave me hope for future encounters with these small seaducks. Photographed in late August 2016.

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

Harlequin Ducks on Seaweed-Covered Rocks Postcard

This Eurasian Wigeon drake flew in with three American Wigeon drakes, literally crashing the party when I was photographing the Hooded Mergansers. Plenty of surprise appearances today. Eurasian Wigeons are infrequent visitors to North America shores. This is my second encounter with the male of the former species.

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

Stunning Eurasian Wigeon Duck at Pond Postcard

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 Baby Bushtit Songbird on Laurel Postcard

Mid-summer is the time of the season for lilies, and these delightfully fragrant white Casablanca Oriental lilies amazed me with their large size, abundance, and delicate beauty. Photographed in early August 2017 at a private garden.

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

Elegant Casablanca White Oriental Lilies Postcard

With water beading off his inflatable crest, and a simultaneously striking and conservative palette of blacks, whites, and cinnamon brown, the adult male Hooded Merganser is one winter duck species that makes you stop and stare. They will swallow large fresh pond fish whole by stretching that normally hidden neck of theirs to a foot in length. This handsome, unperturbable gent was swimming in the ponds at the local wildlife sanctuary--not surprised to see so many humans moving in a like direction--in late December 2019.

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

Stunning Hooded Merganser Duck Swims By Postcard

Anna's Hummingbird on the Scarlet Trumpetvine Classic Round Sticker

Anna's Hummingbird on the Scarlet Trumpetvine Tote Bag

Anna's Hummingbird on the Scarlet Trumpetvine Towel

Anna's Hummingbird on the Scarlet Trumpetvine Luggage Tag

Anna's Hummingbird on Scarlet Trumpetvine Trivet

This female Anna's hummingbird adds a bit of colour and personality to the backyard on a rainy day. She is quiet and stealthy--and can often materialize without making a sound. Contrast this behaviour with that of the male, who makes himself heard well before I see him. Photographed perching on the Scarlet Trumpet vine after furtively having several long sips from the new nectar feeder--which has also drawn the attention and interest of at least one Black-Capped Chickadee, too. 

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

WWN Anna's Hummingbird on the Scarlet Trumpetvine

Springtime is a time of green ... and blues and other beautiful hues! Nothing sets the honeybees abuzz like the huge California Lilac that's blooming with hundreds of bluish-purple clusters on the front lawn. In fact, this bush resembles a purple beehive in late spring/early summer.

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

Honeybee: California Lilac Pollinator Classic Round Sticker

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump Notebook

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump Mug

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Tree Stump Large Christmas Stocking

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump Golf Towel

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump Small Gift Bag

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

WWN Bold Blue Jay Songbird on the Stump

Keep notes, reminders, and more in this whimsical, wildlife-themed journal. The perfect choice for bird lovers! 

"Little Red" sitting next to lots of red: a handsome male House Finch poses next to some tasty hawthorn / mountain rose berries (a favorite with many year-round feathered residents) in the Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area.

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

House Finch with Hawthorn Berries Notebook

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

With the deep blue of the water in the background, I could not have asked for better light or a better pose with this shot (I did hope to be a little closer to my subject, though!) Three of these very active and adorable buntings were hopping up and down the shoreline at the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty on a sunny but very breezy evening! Lapland Longspurs are delightful little songbirds that winter in Metro Vancouver but spend their summers in the high Arctic. Photographed on October 17, 2016.

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

Lapland Longspur on a Sunlit Log Luggage Tag

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

A juvenile Double-Crested Cormorant swims by and gives me a cursory once over at Ladner Harbour Park. One of three juveniles swimming in the marina (fairly close to the wharf), and one of five such individuals in the general area. The youngsters have much lighter plumage than the adults, but by the time the former have matured, they're also less likely to be so close to humans. Even from a distance, this species of cormorant is readily identifiable, thanks to its bright yellow face patch.

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

Profile of a Juvenile Double-Crested Cormorant Jigsaw Puzzle

Add a touch of nature and whimsy to your laptop or computer with this wildlife-themed mousepad. The perfect choice for cute critter lovers! 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 behavior 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

Rufous Hummingbird Perches on Fruit Tree Postcard

Rufous Hummingbird Perches on Fruit Tree Postcard

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