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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 not once, but twice in a year. In fact, this bush resembles a giant purple beehive from late spring through early summer. Photographed in the spring of 2016.

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

Save the Honeybees Pollinating California Lilac Flask

Green-Winged Teals are starting to mass in greater numbers at Piper Spit, Burnaby Lake, as winter passes its halfway point. A number of these small dabbling ducks are also starting to engage in springtime courtship behaviours. This drake was particularly vocal, and gave me a good angle of himself in the process.

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

A Chatty Green-Winged Teal Duck at the Pond Flask

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

Beautiful Buff-Breasted Sandpiper at the Beach Hip Flask

One can't help but notice Blue and Gold Macaws. There's nothing dull about the plumage or the personality of this extremely sociable and long-lived parrot. Definitely a bird who knows how to drum up an audience on a moment's notice!

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

Beautiful Blue and Gold Macaw Flask

The only Rufous Hummingbird I was able to locate -- and photograph at Iona Island on March 25, 2016. He flashed his stunning gorget very briefly -- unfortunately, too short a time for me to get a shot of it, but he was quite "faithful" to the lower trees in this area, returning to his perches within half a minute of leaving them. He was still there, holding a small number of photographers spellbound, after we had walked the length of the North Jetty.

He made no scratchy metallic noises while perched, but did treat us to the distinctive zinging that his wing feathers make in flight, and even a few dives, clearly demonstrating the acoustic differences between the acoustic tail feather squeaks of a Rufous hummingbird and Anna's hummingbird.

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

Male Rufous Hummingbird in the Spotlight Hip Flask

An almost perfectly camouflaged female Great Horned Owl attempts to catch some shuteye in the neighbor's 100-foot Douglas Fir on a rainy fall day, only to be subjected to the verbal and physical harangues of nine Northwestern Crows. After three hours, they finally left her to her beauty sleep. Photographed on November 13, 2016.

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

Great Horned Owl in the Douglas Fir Hip Flask

A newly adult Canada Goose grooms itself at Piper Spit, Burnaby Lake, on a cloudy fall day, the angular and swan-like curve of its neck conveying an almost regal quality to this bird. Although migratory birds in many parts of the world, some Canada Geese are all-year-round residents in Metro Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest. Photographed in early November 2016.

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

Canada Goose on the Lake Hip Flask

Raise a toast to nature with this elegant, floral-themed flask, which features a yin-yang styled pair of Japanese painted ferns, isolated on black, and digitally rendered in fiery orange and electric blue hues. With a leaf shape evocative of both feathers and flames, this most ancient of plants boasts a simple but dazzling and unique artistry. Personalize with an initial or monogram as desired.

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

Blue Orange Japanese Painted Ferns Monogram Flask

Give special items and keepsakes pride of place with this whimsical, wildlife-themed trinket tray, which depicts a woodcut-style illustration of one of nature's most endearing and inquisitive creatures! 

With their oversize heads; small, plump bodies; and spunky personalities, Black-Capped Chickadees are a common sight throughout much of North America. Their fondness for black oil sunflower seeds is legendary, and their willingness to purloin seed from open hands is equally shameless. Having up to three of these songbirds perched on your hand at the same time, deciding which seed (or seeds) to make off with and feast upon, is hardly unusual, not to mention time well wasted.

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

Black-Capped Chickadee under the Blackberry Leaf Trinket Tray

Elegant Floral Red Gold Monsella Tulips Pickleball Paddle

Elegant Floral Red Gold Monsella Tulips Ping Pong Paddle

WWN Red and Yellow Monsella Tulips

This wildlife design features my first encounter with one of two magnificent young but adult-sized Golden Eagles, eagerly awaiting their release from the local wildlife rehabilitation centre.

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

Young Golden Eagle Adult Cloth Face Mask

A White-Crowned Sparrow welcomes the day (and enchants its rapt listeners) with a simple but sweet song. As spring turns into summer, we see more and more of this beautiful songbird, who often forages solo, too.

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

A White-Crowned Sparrow Sings to the Sun Metal Ornament

Add a touch of nature to any room with this floral-themed wall hanging. 

I couldn't find an angle I liked with this vivid two-tone Monsella tulip until I did a few macro shots of it, and the seeming randomness of the streaks of red running rampant through this bright yellow flower seemed to me like a chaotically natural expression of art.

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

Elegant Two-Tone Red Gold Monsella Tulip Canvas Print

This male Tree Swallow appears to be quite taken with this particular nestbox ... that look says "mine, all mine." Photographed in late March 2016. These small bluebirds have shown up almost a month later than last year, and the initial flocks are much smaller, too. Also absent at this time are the greyer females, which at the same time last year were already here. Nevertheless, it's still a wonderful experience to see these little birds in action over the water and in the skies.

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

Tree Swallow, New Nestbox Owner Photo Print

Add a touch of nature to the kitchen or dining room with this wildlife-themed serving tray! 

This male Pekin Robin decided to satisfy his curiosity of the approaching humans, and flew into a large tropical tree to observe us from under the large leafy cover. Our initial encounter was all too brief and disappointing, but this second meeting yielded the opportunity to study this wonderfully dressed and beautiful singer in much greater detail and length. Our subject must have noticed this, as he was unusually still and not hopping from branch to branch!

An Indian subcontinent native, this Old World babbler is so popular that many other countries want to claim it for their own, and so, it goes by other aliases, including Pekin Robin, Pekin nightingale, Japanese hill robin, and Japanese nightingale. 

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

Save the Honeybees Pollinating California Lilac Flask

Save the Honeybees Pollinating California Lilac Flask

More from Walks with Nature

Other flasks from various stores