Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Tank Tops

Boardwalk at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge during high tide, May 2018.

Martin National Wildlife Refuge

Winter Blues At Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge ©Debra Martz Winter blues means color, not a winter blues/sad day. It was great that the sun had finally shone brightly after a long spell of gray days and below-freezing weather. The water is not shining brightly where the top layer of ice has not yet melted and a mix of the salt. This is a view from the Sandpiper Trail within the Refuge located along Highway 11 in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20220113-DSC_5634

A pair of Sandhill Cranes wade through the flooded fields in Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.

Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge Sunrise On Swamp

Bonham Pond, located in the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, is opened to children 14 and under and to mobility impaired individuals. It is a “catch-and-release” pond opened only April 1 to October 15; closes for migrating waterfowl starting October 16 to March 31 each year. Refuge located in northern Oklahoma new the towns of Jet and Cherokee. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collections: 20211002-IMG_7106-Edit

It was a rather slow day of bird watching and those we saw were at a distance so I turned to some landscape photography. This is taken from the bird blind located along the Eagle Roost Trail within the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210311-DSC_4452.NEF

Little Marsh at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge by Debra Martz Within the National Wildlife refuge there are hiking trails and also The Harold F. Miller 2.5 mile auto tour route. This meandering auto tour route leads visitors along a number of refuge ponds, marshes and farm fields where birds, deer and other wildlife can be seen. The refuge is located in northern Oklahoma near Cherokee and Jet. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20200522-DSC_7959

A red-tailed hawk perched in a tree under a blue sky at the Merced National Wildlife Refuge in California. Wild bird lovers will love these beautiful wildlife gifts

Okefenokee Georgia Vintage

Sage thrasher perched on a shrub in Santa Margarita, California. Wild bird lovers will adore these beautiful wildlife gifts.

A wave design inspired by the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System logo.

I LOVE AUTAUGA | Alabam county United State of america in alabama it's a wonderful county!

I LOVE BALDWIN | Alabam county United State of america in alabama it's a wonderful county!

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

designed by MplusC

Oklahoma Salt Plains ©Debra Martz Located in northern Oklahoma near the towns of Cherokee and Jet, and within the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, you will find over 11,000 acres of salt flats. A new location is marked off each year for the public to dig for Selenite crystals between April 1 and October 15.

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

The water was not moving, it was all frozen in place. Waterfowl looking for open water of which there was a small area back by the spillway on both sides. The birds in flight are mostly Common Mergansers, Northern Pintails and a few seagulls. February was brutally cold with several weeks below freezing dipping as low as -14. Once the weather and roads improved I made the drive to the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma for a bird watching day. I had a better day than anticipated, seeing 41 different species even with the majority of the lake frozen. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20210223-DSC_4307.NEF

Quizzical Meadowlark by Debra Martz When I turn onto the gravel road that leads to the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge from Hwy 38, I always stop the truck and get out for some bird watching. While most of the birds on the fence on the right or the highline wires on the left will immediately fly before returning, this Western Meadowlark stayed put and just checked out me and my camera gear! Such a poser it was! The refuge is about 14 miles north of Jet, Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20201001-DSC_0199.NEF

Pelican Takeoff Kicking Up Mud by Debra Martz Due to an ongoing drought the lake was getting lower all the time. Places closer to the shore were becoming way to shallow for the large birds to successfully fish. So shallow that this one kicked up mud instead of the usual splash of water they make at takeoff. Captured 20 minutes after sunrise on October 12th at the Great Salt Plains State Park in Northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 20221012-DSC_5866.NEF

Morning Flight During Fall Migration ©Debra Martz The early morning light provided a pink cast sky that reflected on water in the foreground. American White Pelicans departing for another area of the lake. What appears as small white dots flying across the lower level of the trees is mainly American Avocets as they migrate here in large numbers, too. October 12th at the Great Salt Plains state park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: Feathered Friends and Oklahoma 20221012-DSC_5845.NEF

American White Pelican In Flight by Debra Martz While there were 100s of the pelicans on the lake I took to the sky to catch one in flight on this beautiful autumn day. Captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park in Northern Oklahoma in During Fall Migration in October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 20221009-DSC_5199.NEF

Migrating Turkey Vultures by Debra Martz Not olny do large numbers of Pelicans, Cormorants, Blue Jays, Gulls and Ducks arrive during fall migration, so do large numbers of Vultures. They stay around a few weeks before starting to head south. Captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma in October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 20221011-DSC_5622

Assateague Light which is located at the Virginia Eastern Shore was painted with watercolor and ink.

Crowded Takeoff by Debra Martz I don't know how they can takeoff when so close and crowded together. The American White Pelican is a very large bird with a length over 5 ft and wingspans up to 9.5 ft. Also, you might notice they are kicking up muddy water. That is just how shallow this lake is becoming due to the ongoing drought. Captured at the Great Salt Plains state park in northern Oklahoma in October during fall migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 20221011-DSC_5659.NEF

Splash of a Landing by Debra Martz It is fun to watch Cormorants land and take off from water. They always make several splashes when landing and even more on take-off as they sort of get a running start. This was on take-off which I thought was cool with the circular splash made by this Double-crested Cormorant. Captured at the spillway of the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma. For enhancement, I added a vignette and some digital film grain. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: "Feathered Friends 3" "Digital Art Photography" 20211202-DSC_9804

Sand Creek Bay Bird Blind by Debra Martz I've spent many many hours in this bird blind since discovering it after our move to northern Oklahoma in 2019. There are a few ducks out there this morning. BUT fall migration is spectactular when thousands upon thousands of Sandhill Cranes, Geese and Ducks of many varities and shore birds arrive to spend some time here before moving on south for the winter. Located in the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge along the Eagle Roost Trail. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Oklahoma" 20220131-IMG_8944 Bird Blind-Edit.tif

Area Beyond This Sign Closed by Debra Martz A small portion of the 11,000 acreas of salt flats within the Salt Plains National Refuge is open to the public April 1 through October 15 each year. There is a designated area where digging for the Selenite Crystals is allowed. The rest of the area is preserved for wildlife and birds, more specifially for the fall and spring migration of birds included several endangered and at risk species. Unfortunately, as you can see, some people just have to break the rules and act in unlawful ways. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Nature's Treasures" 20200921-DSC_2023-Edit.tif

Verdin Nest Building ©Debra Martz This was the first time I had seen a Verdin's nest and was quite surprised by the size and messiness of it! Maybe the inside is neater where it flew into it from the bottom with this bit of white fluff! Image captured along the Chachalaca Trail at the Santa Ana NWR in south Texas March 2. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 20230302-DSC_7191.NEF

I had to stop to capture this view of Siletz Bay, near where Abrams Creek runs into the Siletz River. These rocks are on a small peninsula that pokes into the bay, viewable as you drive by on Highway 101, south of Lincoln City, Oregon. Beyond the rocks is where the Siletz River empties into the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Quiet Alone Time ©Debra Martz While there were 1000s of American White Pelicans on the lake, this one found a bit of space to just float around in peace and quiet. Captured original image at Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma. Digital filters and brushes used for a painterly effect. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: Feathered Friends 3 Digital Art Photography 20221012-DSC_5860-Edit.tif

American White Pelican Migration Continues ©Debra Martz I discovered this migration path for these Pelicans in 2019 and return each year to watch in amazement as the numbers grow the first few weeks in October. it is now October 11th and more arrivals everyday. Captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park in Northern Oklahoma in During Fall Migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 20221011-DSC_5596

Beaks to the West ©Debra Martz We moved to another area of the lake to try for some closer images. Almost all of these Pelicans have their beaks facing west. Trying to not look into the morning light perhaps. It was 8:38am and the sun was rather bright. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 20221011-DSC_5723.NEF

Turkey Vulture Up Close by Debra Martz Goodness, it was if this vulture flew by so close that it was telling me, "Those Pelicans aren't the only birds migrating and worth photographing!" Captured up on the spillway at the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma during fall migration in October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 20221010-DSC_5465

Clouds Loom Over the Oklahoma Salt Plains by Debra Martz On a second trip to the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, we drove as far as allowed on the marked "road" onto the salt flats. We didn't stay long as the salty, sandy, clay substance is not somewhere you want to be driving if the rains come, even in 4-wheel drive it felt like we could easily get stuck! Located in northern Oklahoma near the towns of Cherokee and Jet. Several digital filters applied to my original photograph for a somewhat painterly effect. ©Debra Martz 20191001-DSC_7340-Edit.tif