Socks
Description: "Giant Deer Sculptures on the Prairie" The enchanted highway in North Dakota begins at I-94’s exit 72 and covers 32 miles along County Highway 21, ending in Regent. We were traveling south to north, so the first structure for us was actually considered the last one in Regent. It was located at mile 3, so it was the 7th one we stopped to visit. However, if you started from I-94, the deer are the first encounter on the Enchanted Highway. The buck is 75 feet tall, and the doe tops out at 50 feet. They were built from scrap metal salvaged from used oil well tanks. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Miscellaneous" 20250804-DSC_2657
Description: “Grasshoppers in the Field" The enchanted highway in North Dakota begins at I-94’s exit 72 and covers 32 miles along County Highway 21, ending in Regent. We were traveling south to north, so the first structure for us was actually considered the last one in Regent. Grasshoppers in the Field features the world’s largest, 60 feet long, with antennae 40 feet high. It was located at mile 15, so it was the 6th one we stopped to visit. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Miscellaneous" 20250804-DSC_2648
Description: “Enormous Fish Sculpture Display" The enchanted highway in North Dakota begins at I-94’s exit 72 and covers 32 miles along County Highway 21, ending in Regent. We were traveling south to north, so the first structure for us was actually considered the last one in Regent. The Fisherman’s Dream was located at mile 19, so it was the 5th one we stopped to visit. If you spot the fisherman in the boat, it is life-size, so it adds scale to the overall structure. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "North Dakota" 20250804-DSC_2623
Description: "Pheasants on the Prairie" The enchanted highway in North Dakota begins at I-94’s exit 72 and covers 32 miles along County Highway 21, ending in Regent. We were traveling south to north, so the first structure for us was actually considered the last one in Regent. This was located at mile 24, so it was the 4th one we stopped to visit. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "North Dakota" 20250804-DSC_2623
Description: "Teddy Rides Again" The enchanted highway in North Dakota begins at I-94’s exit 72 and covers 32 miles along County Highway 21, ending in Regent. We were traveling south to north, so the first structure for us was actually considered the last one in Regent. This was located at mile 26, so it was the third one we stopped to visit. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "North Dakota" 20250804-DSC_2591
Description: "Theodore Roosevelt Rides Again" The enchanted highway in North Dakota begins at I-94’s exit 72 and covers 32 miles along County Highway 21, ending in Regent. We were traveling south to north, so the first structure for us was actually considered the last one in Regent. This was located at mile 26, so it was the third one we stopped to visit. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "North Dakota" 20250804-DSC_2589
Description: "Egrets and an Ibis in Shallow Water" I have previously seen both the dark morph and white morph Reddish Egrets, but this was a first to see both together! Photographed from a boardwalk at Charlie's Pasture Nature Preserve in Port Aransas, Texas, in October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251015-DSC_8860
Description: "Pink Beauties and a Surprise Heron" The photo was all about the Roseate Spoonbills and their bright pink reflections, or so I thought. I was totally surprised by this young Night Heron as it strolled through the scene. This area in the wide open wetlands was the last place I would have imagined seeing a night heron. Photographed from a boardwalk at Charlie's Pasture Nature Preserve in Port Aransas, Texas, in October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251015-DSC_8849
Description: "Quirky Tin Family Sculpture" The enchanted highway in North Dakota begins at I-94’s exit 72 and covers 32 miles along County Highway 21, ending in Regent. We were traveling south to north, so the first structure for us was actually considered the last one in Regent. This was located at mile 30, so it was the second one we stopped to visit. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "North Dakota" 20250804-DSC_2573
Description: "Whimsical Outdoor Art Structure" The enchanted highway in North Dakota begins at I-94’s exit 72 and covers 32 miles along County Highway 21, ending in Regent. We were traveling south to north, so the first structure for us was actually considered the last one in Regent, next to the souvenir shop. There is a switch to flip, and all the items in this "house" begin to move all about. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "North Dakota" 20250804-DSC_2567
Description: "Hot and Cold Water Towers Monochrome" It was a stop-the-truck moment when I saw these water towers in Pratt, Kansas. It was our first day on a summer road trip, driving the back highways, and with no reservations. This sure gave me a good laugh; I hope it brings a smile to others as well. Photograph converted to black and white with an overlay of texture added to the sky. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Black and White" 20250803-DSC_2552 BW
Description: "Ducks Flying in Unison" I was panning my camera with the ducks as they took off, and was pleased to find they framed the Black-necked Stilt that was wading in the wetlands. . Photographed from a boardwalk at Charlie's Pasture Nature Preserve in Port Aransas, Texas, in October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251015-DSC_8820
Description: "Roseate Spoonbills and Egret in Wetland" I was only working to photograph the Roseate Spoonbills and their reflections when this White Morph Reddish Egret dropped in for a photobomb. Photographed from a boardwalk at Charlie's Pasture Nature Preserve in Port Aransas, Texas, in October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251015-DSC_8842
Description: "Plover Walking on Sandy Shore" I only saw this one Piping Plover on this day while walking the boardwalk over the wetlands. Photographed at Charlie's Pasture in Port Aransas, Texas, in October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251015-DSC_8789
Description: “Marbled Godwit in Shallow Water” Unlike most shorebirds that eat aquatic invertebrates year-round, Marbled Godwits forage almost exclusively on plant tubers during migration, using their upturned bill to clip tubers. Captured from the boardwalk over the wetlands of Charlie’s Pasture Preserve in Port Aransas, Texas, in October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: “Feathered Friends” 20251015-DSC_8772
Description: "Graceful Roseate Spoonbill in Flight" It was a heavily overcast day, making everything very dull...until this Spoonbill flew overhead and brightened the mood! Photographed in South Padre Island, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20250306-DSC_6098
Description: "Cold and Hot Water Towers" It was a stop-the-truck moment when I saw these water towers in Pratt, Kansas. It was our first day on a summer road trip, driving the back highways, and with no reservations. This sure gave me a good laugh; I hope it brings a smile to others as well. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20250803-DSC_2552
Description: "White Ibis Among Mangrove Roots" Photographed in the wetlands of South Padre Island, Texas, where many birds wade through and around the vegetation, where a large variety of food can be found. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20250304-DSC_5780
Description: "Roseate Spoonbill in Shallow Water" This juvenile was putting on a show, moving all about and sweeping its large spoon-shaped bill in the water. Every few seconds or so, it would stop and look directly at me. Photographed from a boardwalk over the wetlands in South Padre Island, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 2025-03-01-DSC_5294
Description: "Green Heron Fluffed Crown Feathers" I waited and watched the Heron as it waited and watched for some prey in the water below. When it fluffed its feathers, I thought, finally, I'm going to get the photo of it taking off, but that wouldn't happen. It outlasted me, and I finally moved on along the walking path. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20250301-DSC_5270
Description: "Duck in Natural Habitat" A Mottled Duck with an expression that seemed like, "What Are You Looking At?" This one was in the vegetation just off the Laguna Madre in South Padre Island, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20250304-DSC_5690
Description: "Heron With Its Prize Catch" I am always amazed when birds catch such large fish, and this one was a prize catch! I also wonder how they manage to digest them. This Great Blue Heron sought out refuge in the wooded area of the lake, so I didn't get to watch the work it went through to chow down in this one. Photographed at Falcon Lake in Southern Texas in January. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 202520180125-DSC_5917
Description: "Marbled Godwits Resting and Reflecting" After a busy morning of feeding on the wetlands, it was time to rest. The air was still, making for calm waters and perfect reflections. Photographed from the boardwalk on the Nature Trail in Port Aransas, Texas, in October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251016-DSC_9039
Description: Splashes of Pink in the Wetlands" A large number of Roseate Spoonbills were already resting after a morning of feeding in the wetlands, while some were preening. Photographed from the boardwalk on the Nature Trail in Port Aransas, Texas, in October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251016-DSC_9028
Description: "Circles of Light at Sunrise" When the light of the sun seemed to bounce across the waves to the shoreline, I knew I had to go vertical to capture as many of those circular 'balls' of light as possible. Photographed this sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico from the beach in Port Aransas, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20251015-DSC_3443
Description: "Tricolored Heron and its Reflection" It was early morning, and not even a slight breeze was in the air which made for some perfectly mirrored reflections of the birds. Captured from the Nature Trail boardwalk in Port Aransas, Texas, in mid-October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251016-DSC_9005
Description: "Bird Wing Imprint in Snow" I was sitting outside in my backyard, getting photos of birds landing on the snow-covered limbs of trees. I was not ready for a bird trying to land on the slanted roof of our storage building. The Bluejay, as you can see, was not successful in sticking the landing, but it left a cool imprint of its wings! ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 202520240115-DSC_9141
Description: "Wren Singing Its Song" This Bewick's Wren is one of those small birds whose vocalizations are surprisingly big and loud. I most often hear Wrens before I spot them. This one was mid-song when I turned to find it had landed on a branch of a tree I had just passed on the trail. Image captured at Falcon Lake State Park in South Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 202520180126-DSC_6025
Description: "Flames In the Waves" It was a very peaceful start to a new day when the sun broke on the horizon. Once that big ball of fire rose above the horizon, the colors intensified, even coloring the splashes of a few breaking waves, which reminded me of flames. Ships seen on the horizon were awaiting entry into the Port Aransas, Texas, ship channel, which then continues into the Port of Corpus Christi, where they load and/or unload their products. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collections: "Coastal" 20251015-DSC_3416
Description: "Serene Sunrise with Ships on the Horizon" It was a cloudless, peaceful start to a new day as the sun broke on the horizon. Ships seen on the horizon were awaiting entry into Port Aransas, Texas, ship channel, which then takes them into the Port of Corpus Christi. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Coastal" 20251015-DSC_3393
Description: "Happy Turtle on a Log" I saw this Red-eared Slider sitting on a pile of dead reeds in the wetlands, and it appeared to be smiling. Was it happy to be out sunning, or was it enjoying the new feather it was sporting on its head? ;-) Photographed from the boardwalk on the Nature Trail of Port Aransas, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20251014-DSC_8522
Description: "Desert Landscape with Rainfall" This is the high desert of Northern New Mexico. This scene is within the Wild Rivers Recreation national lands north of Questa. The two levels of landscape are cut by the Rio Grande deep in the gorge. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 202520170917-DSC_0882 AI Text: A vast desert landscape is depicted under a dramatic sky. Rainfall is visible in the distance, creating a serene yet striking scene. Photography by Debra Martz
Description: "Common Gallinule Admiring Its Reflection" It stared so intently into the water that it appeared it was admiring its own reflection. Captured from the nature trail in Port Aransas, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251014-DSC_8499 AI Text: A gallinule with a striking red and yellow beak gracefully floats on calm waters. Its reflection creates a mirror image on the surface. Photography by Debra Martz
Description: "Young Cormorant Stare Down" Check out that look on this young Double-crested Cormorant after it resurfaced! It made me chuckle when I saw it on my computer later. Captured in Port Aransas, Texas, from a boardwalk over the water. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251014-DSC_8485 AI Text: A cormorant with a long neck swims gracefully on the surface of a rippling body of water. Its sleek, dark feathers contrast with the light reflecting off the water. Photography by Debra Martz
