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Spring is in the Air - Northern Beardless Tyrannulets by Debra Martz What a treat to see this pair while on a bird walk at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco, Texas. I was not the only birder that was thrilled, excited, wowed by this pair as they fly in and out of this Ball Moss. They are so tiny, measuring in at only 4-1/2" and a rare sighting in Texas. We heard their call and really thought that would be all we would get of them...just their beautiful sound! Spring is in the Air

Blue-Winged Teal Pair by Debra Martz This pair of dabbling ducks seemed to be content as that sat on this small section of a log preening and enjoying the sun on a warm Spring day. A few stay year around in this area as it is right on the border of year-round and wintering grounds. Captured at Paradise Pond in Port Aransas, Texas. Scientific name: Anas discors

Neighborhood Wild Turkey Portrait by Debra Martz For the last several years, around the beginning of fall, wild turkeys show up for a while on my parents' street in Enid, OK. I was there visiting when this lone straggler arrived one day....the others had been gone for almost a week. I believe this to be a hen because I read they have white tips on their feathers. And I didn't see a beard nor beginnings of spurs. Be please correct me if I am wrong on my conclusion from my research.

Juvenile Cormorant Profile by Debra Martz Sometimes birds will cooperate and stay in an area long enough for you to get several shots...this was one of those times. An adult cormorant would be much darker all over. There are similarities in the Neotropic and Double-crested and sometimes hard to distinguish. But because of the more acute angle at the gape and not having dark lores I determined this to be a Neotropic. It would be much easier if they were side by side because of size...the Neotropic is a bit smaller. They dive underwater to fish and this one came back with a little twig of seagrass. They are a resident of SE Texas and further into Mexico and Central America.

Immature White Ibis at Sunrise by Debra Martz A great place to be for sunrise as many birds arrive at the pond to start feeding. If I lived in Weslaco, Texas, I would be on the deck at the Estero LLano Grande State Park as many mornings as possible. The sunrise adds a beautiful golden glow to the pond; combining that glow with the wonderful sounds of all the birds is a great, refreshing way to start the day!

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk - Square by Debra Martz This young Cooper's Hawk was moving from post to post keeping an eye on a small bird in the sand dune undergrowth. Captured this image on January 2nd at the beach on North Padre Island, Texas.

A grackle gracefully gets ready to take flight.

Lark Sparrow Early Morning by Debra Martz While having coffee outdoors at my campsite several mornings in a row, I had begun to notice the habits of the birds as they started their day. The Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) along with the Black-throated Sparrows would forage mostly from the ground but would also perch on this low snag. Meanwhile, Warblers, Vireos, Flycatcher, etc were busy deep in the trees catching insects. ©Debra Martz In My Gallery/Collection "Feathered Friends" 20190426-DSC_5795

Royal Tern Catching the Sunlight by Debra Martz The Royal Tern flies over water with bill pointing down and plunges into water to catch fish. Several flew by me while I was walking the beach of North Padre Island, Texas. This one turned just right to catch the beautiful sunlight. Scientific name: Thalasseus maximus ©Debra Martz 20190619-DSC_1755

Bath Time for Female Summer Tanager by Debra Martz It was a surprising day at the bird blind at noon. Full sun, hot and normally not the best time to see any birds but on this day there were many. It was fun to watch as different ones would come and go...like taking turns or getting in line for their opportunity. Captured at South Llano River State Park near Junction, Texas. ©Debra Martz In My Collection "Feathered Friends" 20190429-DSC_6879

Common Gallinule at Edge of Water by Debra Martz It's not often that I see the full length of the colorful legs and feet of the Galinule (Gallinula galeata) so I was quite pleased as this one posed on the outer edge of the water. I, also, liked the patterns made by the movement of the brackish marsh water at Leaonabelle Birding Center of Port Aransas, Texas. This was taken from the new boardwalk that runs in a different direction from the one that was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. ©Debra Martz In My Gallery/Collection "Feathered Friends" 20190514-DSC_0922

Great Blue Heron In Flight Over the Spillway by Debra Martz I go to the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma quite often for bird watching. The spillway is usually my first stop as more than likely birds will be either in the water fishing for food or in flight as they head downstream to the river. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20210622-DSC_3997

I found it rather odd to see this Double-crested Cormorant drying its wings while in the flowing water over the spillway. More commonly, this would be done on a rock, dock, shoreline or such. But this one seemed perfectly content in this location for wing drying. High winds churn up the dirts of the shallow lake bottom and even brought some heavy streaking flowing over from the upper tier of the spillway. Great Salt Plains State Park in Northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20210622-DSC_3863

Ladder-Backed Woodpecker and Caterpillar by Debra Martz Soon to be one less possible butterfly or moth. Not sure what type of caterpillar this is but the Ladder-backed Woodpecker enjoyed it as a meal. Captured at South Llano River State Park near Junction, Texas. Scientific name: Dryobates scalaris Digital enhancements have been applied to bring out the textures. ©Debra Martz Feathered Friends 20190425-DSC_5485

Carolina Chickadee On Photo Painted Trees by Debra Martz I retained most of the natural detail of the Chickadee. The background of heavy tree foliage was softened by using several techniques to create a photo painting. Captured this image at South Llano River State Park near Junction, TX. Scientific name: Poecile carolinensis ©Debra Martz 20190429-DSC_6663

!http://ih1.redbubble.net/image.7657899.6710/mtd,375x360,w,s,TmVzdGxlZA%3D%3D,ffffff.jpg! *4437 views* Featured in: - RB Explore pg - Superbly Visual - High Quality Images - Featured Women Photographers - Nature Photography Challenge - Beach, River and Lake Treasures - Just Fun - Absolute Clarity - Serenity - Everyday Women Featured Art - All God's Creatures _Top Five_, The Addicted Photographer challenge, (133 entries), "view":http://www.redbubble.com/groups/the-addicted-photographer/challenges/51142-starts-with-the-letter-g#all-entries (C) Laurie Minor !http://ih0.redbubble.net/work.5056696.3.lp,375x360,w,s,IENBTkFEQSBHRUVTRSBJTiBQUk9GSUxF.jpg! !http://ih2.redbubble.net/work.5245906.1....

Graceful Flight of a Herring Gull by Debra Martz While the activity of birds was heavy on the water, I took to watching this young Herring Gull making lazy and graceful circles in the sky each time coming just a bit closer to me. In a few more years it will be a white gull with a yellow beak sporting a red dot. Captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma during fall migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20211107-DSC_8586.NEF

Eastern Kingbird in the Country by Dbebra Martz I had just turned onto the gravel road that leads to the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge when I saw this Kingbird snatch an insect from the air and then return to this fence wire. So I stopped the vehicle and slowly opened the door. It sat there a few extra seconds after I was out of the truck and was able to compose and get a few shots before it flew off into the distance. The yellow-green background comes from the field behind that had tall growing wildflowers. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20200830-DSC_8764.NEF

Swainson's Thrush by Debra Martz I captured this little one just as I was getting ready to leave/complete my day of bird watching. It was a late Spring migrant passing through Port Aransas, Texas. ©Debra Martz 20190514-DSC_0970

South Texas Green Jay by Debra Martz Just one of the colorful and delightful birds to see when bird watching in the tip of southern Texas. The Green Jay is just one of many tropical birds that can be seen without leaving the USA for Central or South America. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 202220170125-DSC_2430.NEF

Young Great Tailed Grackle Calling for Food by Debra Martz I had been to Port A back in early May when the Grackles and Blackbirds were nesting in the cattails and reeds. A trip back in June provided my first views of a young Great-tailed Grackle. And just like the adults, these young chicks are quite loud when they start begging the parents to bring them something to eat at feeding time. ©Debra Martz 20190616-DSC_1571

Royal Tern In Flight by Debra Martz The Royal Tern flies over water with bill pointing down and plunges into water to catch fish. Several flew by me while I was walking the beach of North Padre Island, Texas. Scientific name: Thalasseus maximus ©Debra Martz 20190619-DSC_1753

Young White Ibis Feeding in the Grass by Martz There was a family of Ibis feeding on insects in this grassy area located near the Intracoastal waterway in Port A, Texas. There were the all white adults, a few immatures and juveniles. This one more in the juvenile plumage stage soon to start getting more splotches of white as it moves to the immature plumage stage in the summer. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 202220190417-DSC_4898.NEF

Indigo Bunting in the Spring by Debra Martz Captured this little beauty in the spring of 2018 while bird watching at Leonabelle Turnbulll Birding Center. Cropped into a square format, added digital texture and framing. Copyright Debra Martz 20180415-DSC_7866-Et

Who Is Watching Who by Debra Martz I was sitting in a bird blind trying to not be noticed when this Green Jay popped right over to the opening slot and took a look at me! I guess I wasn't hiding so well after all! Captured at the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge in Alamo, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20220412-DSC_1833

Cedar Waxwings Migrating North by Debra Martz We were at Paradise Pond in Port Aransas, Tx and I was tracking a Magnolia Warbler with my lens when my husband Doug called out, "Look up!" And of course, I did!! This is just a portion of the very large flock of Waxwings that flew over us. Happy to have seen this but sure would have been nice if they would have decided to circle around and land in a tree nearby. Obviously to early in the day to stop on their northbound migration on this day, May 14th. Cedar Waxwings are a shiny collection of brown, gray, and lemon-yellow, accented with a subdued crest, black mask, and brilliant-red wax droplets on the wing feathers. Scientific name: Bombycilla cedrorum ©Debra Martz In My Gall...

Break Time for Pewee by Debra Martz It was a bird watching day that for the most part included dolphins playing in the ship channel, tons of dragonflies all over and around Paradise Pond along with a healthly bunch of Red-eared Sliders...when finally, a bird!!! A cute little Eastern Wood-Pewee stopped in for a brief break on its winter migration route. Copyright Debra Martz 20181105-DSC_0188.N

This Dove comes to my backyard everyday regardless of weather. This particular morning temps were in the teens and a very light snow was falling. When the weather is cold, birds fluff their feathers in order to stay warm. Scientific name: Zenaida macroura ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collections "Feathered Friends2" "Digital Art Photography"

Displaying Wild Turkey ©Debra Martz It was early morning and we were just starting our day of bird watching. Could not ask for a better start when this male gobbler appeared just off trail and went into full display. Captured at the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in South Texas on March 3rd. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 20230303-DSC_7227.NEF

Caught By Surprise by Debra Martz That would be me that was caught by surprise as the Great Blue Heron took off quickly after making its catch. I had my 150mm-600mm at the 600mm point when it flew too close and too fast for me to roll the zoom in toward 150mm. Cropped excess negative space from bottom. Copyright by Debra Martz 20171031-DSC_1388.N

Hungry Cardinal Bird Photograph

American Robin Isolated Color Photograph

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It is April and it is breeding season. Most birds change colors in plumage during this season or get additional features. The American White Pelicans grow a plate on the top of their massive bills and the colors of the bill become much more vibrant. They are a migratory bird that mainly breeds in the north and into Canada but some have become residents of the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma so I get to see them in all their phases. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 2021-04-08-DSC_2793

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There I was, trying to walk very quietly through all the fallen leaves on the trail so I wouldn't scare off any of the birds or waterfowl. I didn't even make it to the bird blind before this large group of ducks took to the air and then landed again further back in the marshy field. At first I thought it was all Mallards but then noticed several Green-winged Teals were in the Duck Rush, too. The Casey Tower Trail is along the Auto Tour in the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge located near Jet and Cherokee, Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20201112-DSC_1928-Edit.tif