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Monkey Puzzle Trees (also known as Chilean pines) are common sights in Metro Vancouver homes and public gardens. The emanating and repeating star pattern and natural geometry of its leaves reminds me of a finished Solitaire game, when the cards are bouncing all over the place.

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

Stunning Chilean Pine Monkey Puzzle Tree

Last year, I was fortunate enough to encounter the female Yellow-Headed Blackbird at Manning Park. This year, I saw not one of these rare visitors to Metro Vancouver, but three adult male Yellow-Headed Blackbirds (and at least one female)--the former calling attention to themselves with their golden heads and breasts, less-than-melodious birdcalls, and frequent sparring matches with the more familiar Red-Winged Blackbird males in the marshes of Iona Island.

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

Striking Yellow-Headed Blackbird in the Marsh

If the legendary celestial phoenix had an earthly form, it would have to be this creature. Golden Pheasants are showstoppers, wherever you see them. In their natural environment, these shy creatures seek the underbrush in the day and roost high in trees at night. As with most birds in the avian kingdom, the males are the ones who dress to impress, and this uncharacteristically bold fellow is no exception. This is the red gold variant. 

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

Stunning Profile of a Red Golden Pheasant

The perfect notecards for horse lovers! I witnessed a beautiful moment of friendship between these two gorgeous chestnut horses. Were they mother and child; siblings; or simply stablemates? It didn't matter what their relationship to each other was. The importance was the now of the moment. Not even a nicker did I hear pass between them; the simple act of touching spoke volumes for both.

Two Beautiful Chestnut Horses in the Sun

As with many yellow summer birds on my watch list, I have been pursuing this beautiful warbler and prolific singer for quite some time. Two years ago, I heard his trademark witchety-witchety-witchety birdsong and have since gotten few and frequently shaded glimpses of his rakish black mask and bright yellow breast through local shrubs and bushes. This is the closest I have come to photographing him out in the open.

Beautiful Common Yellowthroat Warbler Songbird

Did I say something funny? Meet Teddy. Looking like he's tossing me a big smile and a sly wink, this friendly Pommie of the Lawn is a real character. Fur that hasn't quite grown back the right way, and the lack of an eye hasn't stopped this energetic little guy from pursuing life to the fullest. 

He's no attention hound; show up at his place, and he'll give you an effusive 30-second greeting punctuated by happy barks and tailwags--as if he's seen you for the very first time--and in less than a minute, he'll settle down to his favorite bone, completely oblivious to your presence.

With his prodigious winter fur, I am leaning towards one of two theories: that this Pomeranian may be part Chow Chow or part lion.

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

Winking Chuckling Funny Dog

This is how birders get together to do lunch!

Seafood dining at its best! One of five Black Oystercatchers we spotted on a windy, cloudy day at the Tsawwassen Ferry Jetty over the Great Backyard Bird Count 2017 (Feb 17-20) weekend. The fishing (clamming?) was good ... these shorebirds were hauling in clam after clam after clam!

This photo was the 1st Place Winner in the Behavior Category of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's 2017 Great Backyard Bird Count Photo Contest (see this Bird Canada article here https://birdcanada.com/are-you-in-the-gbbc)

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

Stunning Black Oystercatcher Shorebird with Clam

The humble but prolific anise hyssop (hummingbird mint) is the flower of choice for hummingbirds, and the ease with which these small fragrant pink (or red or orange) flowers grow makes them popular with honeybees, bumblebees, and many other insects too. Taken earlier in the summer of 2016, when an abundance of visiting Rufous hummingbirds meant more feeding opportunities for these little red birds (and more contenders for the resident Anna's hummingbirds meant more opportunities to photograph the feisty  little migrants and challengers).

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

Rufous Hummingbird Feeding on the Anise Hyssop

Handsome Tree Swallow Songbird on a Wire Luggage Tag

Stunning Profile of a Tree Swallow Songbird Large Christmas Stocking

Handsome Tree Swallow: Bird on a Wire Canvas Print

Handsome Tree Swallow Songbird on a Wire Hip Flask

Handsome Tree Swallow Songbird on a Wire Light Switch Cover

Nothing heralds spring like Tree Swallows. These small and very approachable birds amaze me with their astonishing aerial maneuvers and beautiful iridescent blue plumage.

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

WWN Stunning Tree Swallow on the Wire

Profile of a Cute Grey Jay / Whiskeyjack Hip Flask

Profile of a Cute Grey Jay / Whiskeyjack Bath Mat

Cute Canada Gray / Grey Jay / Whiskeyjack Golf Head Cover

Profile of a Cute Grey Jay / Whiskeyjack Classic Round Sticker

Profile of a Cute Grey Jay / Whiskeyjack 3 Ring Binder

If someone combined the adorably big head and black eyes of a Black-Capped Chickadee with the colours and bill of a Kookaburra in a Jay-sized body, they'd have the whimsically-named Whiskeyjack. Also known by its less colourful aliases of Canada Jay and Gray Jay, we saw no fewer than six of Canada's official national birds at Manning Park's Lightning Lake, where they would boldly descend on picnic tables in the hopes of free handouts.

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

WWN Saucy Grey Jay in the Fir

Add a touch of nature to your apparel with this wildlife-themed top! 

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 Bushtit on the Laurel Hoodie

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.

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

Adorable Rufous Hummingbird Poses on Branch Trivet

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.

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

Profile of a Cackling Goose Classic Round Sticker

Cute Bufflehead Duck on Sunlit Waters Drawstring Bag

Cute Bufflehead Duck on Sunlit Waters Notebook

Sweet Bufflehead Duck on Sunlit Waters Bathroom Mat

Sweet Bufflehead Duck on Sunlit Waters Wall Clock

Cute Bufflehead Duck on Sunlit Waters Throw Pillow

Cute Little Bufflehead Duck on Sunlit Waters Glass Coaster

This stunning wildlife design features an adult female Bufflehead duck (with the hint of a smile on her face), plying sunlit winter waters at the local wildlife refuge.

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

WWN Bufflehead Duck on Sunlit Waters

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump Watch

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump Gift Box

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump Tote Bag

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump Jigsaw Puzzle

Cute Blue Jay Songbird on Treestump Golf Towel

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

Stunning Chilean Pine Monkey Puzzle Tree

Stunning Chilean Pine Monkey Puzzle Tree

More from Walks with Nature

Other postcards from various stores