This female Rufous Hummingbird has developed a fondness for many of our flowering plants, including the nectar from the first Kniphofia to bloom in our backyard! Miss R. now owns the garden, scrutinizing every creature who shows up -- bird, squirrel, and everyone else!

Rufous Hummingbird Sipping Kniphofia Nectar Photo Print

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

A Curious American Robin Photo Print

I've only met the Blue-Winged Teals this year ... this is the third encounter and each one has brought me progressively closer to these summering migrants! Like Gadwall drakes, Blue-Winged Teal drakes dress conservatively for their women. No flashy feathers are necessary -- just lots and lots of personality!

A Special Moment Between Blue-Winged Teals Photo Print

Add a touch of whimsy to your walls with this wildlife-themed print. The perfect choice for bird lovers! 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 at Manning Park's Lightning Lake, where they would boldly descend on picnic tables in the hopes of free handouts.

A Cute and Curious Grey Jay / Whiskeyjack Photo Print

A Curious American Robin in the Grass Keychain

I could not ask for a better pose from this Wood Duck. For some reason, the profile of this drake makes me think that he's got a Velo helmet built onto his head. The Wood Ducks don't wait to be tossed seed -- they help themselves to the squirrel proof feeders located throughout the refuge.

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

Profile of a Wood Duck Drake Postcard

A rehabilitated bald eagle is set free on the local raptor wildlife rehabilitation center during its 2015 summer open house weekend, to the amazement of a full house of bird watchers.

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

A Magnificent Bald Eagle Flies Free Postcard

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

A Twitchy-Nosed Columbian Ground Squirrel Gel Mouse Pad

A number of these large butterflies were flying through the Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area during our early evening visit, but this one was "kind" enough to grant us an impromptu studio session for a few minutes while it fluttered and fed from the local flora.

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

Beautiful Anise Swallowtail Butterfly in the Sun Postcard

Add a splash of personality to your wrist with an animal-themed watch from the walkswithnature™ Furry Friends collection.  This pose is the cat's meow! This neighbourhood cat has been very neighbourly since summer 2014 ... visiting regularly for her dose of birdwatching, cuddles, and saucer of milk. Here she is, posing next to the camellia leaves on a wet and gloomy day. "Sweetie" is one affectionate kitty ... she has been known to leap up onto complete strangers' laps for a nap!  The perfect watch for cat lovers!

Whimsical The Cat and the Camellia Watch

This is a female Anna's hummingbird who has been challenging the adult male Anna's hummingbird for backyard ownership rights (note: there are three MORE challengers!) -- going so far as to not just drink from the nectar feeders in the backyard, but sit in the same branch as the current owner ... which is usually a challenge that usually shatters the peace in about five seconds.

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

Anna's Hummingbird Hovers in Place Keychain

This pose is the cat's meow! This neighbourhood cat has been very neighbourly since summer 2014 ... visiting regularly for her dose of birdwatching, cuddles, and saucer of milk. Here she is, posing next to the camellia leaves on a wet and gloomy day.  "Sweetie" is one affectionate kitty ... she has been known to leap up onto complete strangers' laps for a nap! 

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

The Cat and the Camellia Gel Mouse Pad

Whimsical The Cat and the Camellia Leaf Keychain

Extremely tolerant of the long lens pointed at her from some six feet away, a female Rufous Hummingbird--a regular backyard visitor--sits on twining grape and kiwi vines in the cool of a mid-spring evening.

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

Beautiful Rufous Hummingbird on Twining Vines Postcard

Sometimes a mistake can be the path to a new technique. This Crested Iris was actually photographed outdoors under natural daylight after I forgot to reset shutter speed and aperture settings from the previous photo--which turned out to be perfect for highlighting its delicate petals. 

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

Elegant Floral Crested Iris Shaga Postcard

The romantically-named Satin Flowers (also known by their more plebian alias, Pale Yellow-Eyed Grass) grow in a round and blossom in tiers; there are two tiers of flowers above and one tier of flowers below this one.

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

Beautiful Satin Flowers on Black Postcard

Keep notes, reminders, and more in this whimsical, wildlife-themed journal. The perfect choice for hummingbird lovers! Extremely tolerant of the long lens pointed at her from some six feet away, a female Rufous Hummingbird--a regular backyard visitor--sits on twining grape and kiwi vines in the cool of a mid-spring evening.

Stunning Rufous Hummingbird on Twining Vines Notebook

Keep notes, reminders, and more in this whimsical, wildlife-themed journal. The perfect choice for bird lovers! A particularly hopeful American Robin slowly but clearly approached to stare at us and hope that maybe some berries (or other tasty snacks) would fall from our picnic table. Taken in spring 2015. 

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

A Hopeful American Robin Notebook

Keep notes, reminders, field notes, and more in this stunning wildlife-themed journal. 

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

Handsome Tree Swallow: Bird on a Wire Notebook

One of many Sanderlings--seen here in their non-breeding, winter plumage--who have been frequenting the shores of Boundary Bay Regional Park since mid-November 2014. They are quite accustomed to humans, and 15-20 of them flew by and foraged within 7 feet of my camera lens.

A Strolling Sanderling Photo Print

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

Handsome Tree Swallow: Bird on a Wire Photo Print

Add a touch of nature and elegance with this floral-themed mousepad!  Sometimes a mistake can be the path to a new technique. This Crested Iris was actually photographed outdoors under natural daylight after I forgot to reset shutter speed and aperture settings from the previous photo.

Elegant Floral Crested Shaga Japanese Iris Gel Mouse Pad

Add a touch of whimsy to your laptop with this wildlife-themed mousepad. The perfect choice for bird lovers! 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 at Manning Park's Lightning Lake, where they would boldly descend on picnic tables in the hopes of free handouts.

A Cute and Curious Grey Jay / Whiskeyjack Gel Mouse Pad

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

Curious Cute Columbian Ground Squirrel Gel Mouse Pad

This young female Anna's hummingbird unwittingly gave me the perfect bird-in-flight pose by hovering in front of, and feeding from the nectar feeder directly in front of me. Based on the original photography of W.H. Sim. All Rights Reserved. See more at zazzle.com/walkswithnature

Anna's Hummingbird Hovers in Place Gel Mouse Pad

Based on the portfolio of Pacific Northwest nature photographer, blogger, and avid birder W.H. Sim, the **Walks With Nature** shop showcases a diverse range of wildlife- and outdoors-themed gift ideas to add character, humor, inspiration, or a dramatic flair to the spaces where you live, work, and play.

Walks with Nature