Personalized Gifts

 Invitations & Stationery

 Postcards

Hairy caterpillars or Woolly Bear caterpillars are common sights in late spring through summer in Metro Vancouver backyards like mine. I can never make heads or tails of them, but they are still fascinating creatures. :)

This particular caterpillar grows up to become the Silver Spotted Tiger Moth, which is a common sight in BC thanks to the multitude of Douglas Firs in our area.

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

Silver Spotted Tiger Moth / Woollybear Caterpillar Postcard

My first encounter with the Marsh Wren, who was charming me with an enchanting and complex aria at the local wildlife refuge. These little birds are heard much, much more often than they are seen. Ever since then, 99% of the wrens I have seen are Marsh Wrens!!

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

Beautiful Marsh Wren Songbird in the Reeds Postcard

Great Blue Herons are generally solitary creatures, and this immature was no exception. Its stunning solitude was magnified by the golden masses of withered reeds that surrounded it. Photographed in late December 2019 at the local wildlife sanctuary.

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

Great Blue Heron in a Field of Golden Reeds Postcard

A rare moment of co-operation and tenderness between Sanderlings (who are more likely to go solo or chase each other during their hunts) in their search for snacks on the shore.

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

Cute Pair of Sanderlings Sandpipers Shares a Meal Postcard

The Red-Breasted Nuthatches who patronize the backyard are all business when it comes to procuring sunflower seeds (although they may linger on the suet feeder). They are even quicker to dash and dine (or dash and cache) than the Black-Capped Chickadees, so it is extremely rare to see the former even perched on a branch for any length of time.

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

Red-Breasted Nuthatch Songbird on Branch Postcard

Now that most of the Dark-Eyed Juncos have left for the mountains, the two Sooty Fox Sparrows who have been here since last fall are more likely to show up at the seed bowls and make everyone else take a number! These large songbirds are not usually willing to pose for the camera, but the green growing season appears to have made them a lot more approachable. Photographed in early April 2017.

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

Beautiful Fox Sparrow Songbird in Grass Postcard

It’s not every day that you see big blue fir cones in Vancouver. The abies koreana is an endangered fir found in the mountains of South Korea. This is one of (at least) two such trees planted on the grounds of the UBC Botanical Garden.

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

Big Blue Korean Fir Cones Postcard

With a warm winter and early spring in Metro Vancouver, many flowers and fruits were ripening well ahead of schedule -- including these bright orange mountain ash (rowan) berries, which aren't normally "ready" for the birds to eat until mid-July. Photographed in late June 2016 in Surrey's Elgin Park.

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

Orange Mountain Ash Rowan Berries Postcard

Keep notes, reminders, and more in this whimsical, wildlife-themed journal. The perfect choice for bird lovers! One of two Hooded Merganser drakes who was practising his courtship rituals (without benefit of a female audience). He must have been pretty surprised to see his maneuvers recorded!

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

A Surprised Hooded Merganser Notebook

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

An unnaturally bold Douglas Squirrel enjoys a surprisingly generous winter feast of millet and sunflower seed at Burnaby Lake on Boxing Day 2017. These chickarees are native to the Pacific Northwest, but this is one of the few places where I can see these native squirrels all year round.

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

Cute Douglas Squirrel Enjoying a Winter Feast Notebook

Use this wildlife-themed trivet to protect delicate surfaces, tables, and countertops from hot pots, or as an accent piece for the dining room or kitchen.

It's not a Pacific Northwest winter unless you see the Varied Thrush. One of my favorite backyard birds to see (and a highly elusive one at that), this songbird has a stunning beauty to match the hauntingly beautiful timbre of its song. This handsome fellow was foraging in the backyard with several other wintering birds when I photographed him from the second floor--giving me a rare bird's eye view of t him. We almost never see them during the summer when they spend that season northwards in Alaska, but the call of the colder seasons of the year brings them back to us. Photographed in mid-January 2017.

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

Bird's Eye View of a Varied Thrush Songbird Trivet

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

I was surprised to learn that Black-Headed Grosbeaks will fly to the ground to eat seed; my previous encounters with these strikingly-colored finches was strictly up (way up!) in the trees. This handsome fellow showed no restraints about catching some sun on the boardwalk, either, and unwittingly gave me several closeups of himself in the process. Photographed at Campbell Valley Regional Park on July 2, 2016.

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

Closeup of a Handsome Black-Headed Grosbeak Serving Tray

With his bright white bib, this handsome domestic Mallard (of the Duclair designer "persuasion") was definitely the odd duck out at the local wildlife sanctuary. That didn't stop him from charming the photographers in his midst, and moving his way to the forefront of the feeding frenzy that included many, many wild Mallards. 

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

Domestic Mallard Duclair Bibbed Odd Duck

Take a bit of nature with you, wherever you go with this whimsical, wildlife-themed drawstring backpack! 

If a Guinea (Green) Turaco could ask a question, it would look something like this. Looking like an oversize cockatiel with green and purple feathers and tri-coloured mascara, this elusive and exotic African native satisfied its curiosity of humans with this rather human expression!

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

Funny Curious Guinea Turaco Green Bird Drawstring Bag

Columbian Ground Squirrels are some of the most entertaining wildlife at Manning Park, and the first ones to greet us in the parking lot. 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!

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

Silver Spotted Tiger Moth / Woollybear Caterpillar Postcard

Silver Spotted Tiger Moth / Woollybear Caterpillar Postcard

More from Walks with Nature

Other postcards from various stores