Description: Hummingbird Moth in Motion ©Debra Martz Beautiful pink Snapdragons and a lovely variety of flowers in the garden at the Cuchara Yacht Club were attracting butterflies, bees and the Hummingbird Moths (a favorite of mine). I especially liked how the pink of the flowers made the pink in the wings stand out more. They are very fast and wanting to show some motion, I slowed my shutter speed to 1/640 sec. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: Immature White Ibis On The Move ©Debra Martz This young one was quite the entertainer as it preened and continually ruffled its feathers. Captured along the 4800 ft boardwalk at South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center the last day of February. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 20230228-DSC_6747.NEF
Description: Stately Reddish Egret ©Debra Martz These Egrets are normally quite animated as they dart across shallow waters, making quick turns all while opening and shutting their wings. But, no, not today! This one just stood so still it looked like a statue. I waited as long as I could but it out lasted me. However, it is obviously colored for the upcoming breeding season with those bright blue legs and brighter than normal two-toned beak. Captured along the 4800 ft boardwalk at South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center the last day of February. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 2023-02-28-DSC_6708.NEF
Description: Ironing Can Be Easy by Debra Martz The cover and title caught my attention and made me snicker. I don't iron much at all these days and I cannot recall ever sitting down to iron! Spotted this in the Cimarron Heritage Center museum in Boise City, Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: Dust Bowl Dinner Table by Debra Martz In the kitchen of the Dust Bowl house, the dishes are set facing down so that the surfaces of the plates that people would eat off wouldn't become covered with dust. The dust storms were so severe in the 1930s that the dust would find its way inside people's homes even with windows and doors closed. The replica of a Dust Bowl house from the 1930s is on the grounds of the Cimarron Heritage Center museum located in Boise City, Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20220928-IMG_2974-Edit.dng
Description: Seagulls on the Spillway by Debra Martz Mid-morning light enhances the water with beautiful blue and gold patterns while 3 gulls seem to be relishing in the sunshine. The front two are Ring-billed Gulls and the back one is a young Herring Gull. Captured at the spillway of the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma during fall migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20211107-DSC_8318
Description: All About the Boots - Bandera - Texas by Debra Martz One cannot walk and roam around Bandera, Texas without noticing the western feel of the town. From horse art to boots...you'll find it here. This store front, The Cowboy Store, uses larger than life Justin boots in American colors of red, white and blue to draw attention. Copyright Debra Martz 20180808-DSC_3176.N
Description: Walking Tree - Bryce Canyon Utah by Debra Martz While hiking the Rim Trail between two of the overlooks at Inspiration Point, I needed to stop for a breather!! What better place to take a break than beside this gnarly tree with the roots like legs "walking" along the edge!! And believe it or not, this pine still had several branches of green. Copyright Debra Martz 20180824-DSC4910.N
Description: Scratch Where It Itches by Debra Martz What fun to have this Great Egret land on my back deck....and then do some preening and scratching. Made me think of the quote "Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches." by Alice Roosevelt Longworth. She was the only daughter of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, and his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee.
Description: Cicada by Debra Martz This past summer while vacationing in our RV, I opened the door early one morning to find this Cicada. It was hanging out on my dogs leash which I drape over the hand rail at night so it is at easy reach the next morning....on this morning I had to go for a backup leash so as not to disturb the aka Cicadoidea. Cool fact from phys.org "Cicadas are essentially tiny violins with wings. The body of a cicada is similar to that of a violin or a guitar, in that much of it consists of empty, air-filled spaces that act like a resonating chamber and amplify the sound they generate. Also, The loud noise we hear is the male's mating call—females are silent!!! " Copyright of Debra Martz 20180810-DSC_3422-E2t
Description: 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
Description: North View Overlook - Cedar Breaks - Utah by Debra Martz I had no idea what to expect when arriving at Cedar Breaks...just that it was a National Monument and within fairly close proximity to Zion National Park which was what brought us to the area. Firstly, the drive along hwy 14 was impressive with the climb in elevation and passing by old lava flows! But to arrive at the visitors center and walk out to the overlook at an elevation of 10,350 ft and see a huge amphitheater somewhat similar to Bryce Canyon National Park was a complete surprise. Finally, I was able to walk away from the first stop and continue on to all of the other overlooks. Copyright Debra Martz 20180822-DSC_4161-N
Description: Great Roadrunner takes a Brief Pause by Debra Martz Meep meep!! Catch me if you can!!! They are fast birds that prefer to run rather than fly. And boy can they run....up to 15 miles an hour and maybe even faster when on to prey. This one stopped briefly on the road where I was walking, showed off its beautiful crest of colored of feathers, and off again like a flash.
Description: Cottontail Rabbit Hopping Along the Trail by Debra Martz While hiking along one of the many trails in South Llano River State Park, this cute cottontail hopped out of the brush and along the trail for a ways and then paused and looked back at me before continuing along its merry way.
Description: Hammond's Flycatcher by Debra Martz I already had plans to spend a week in south Texas bird watching and I knew I would go to one of my favorite places, Estero Llano Grande State Park. For some reason, I decided to call the park about a week before I was to arrive and ask how the birding had been. The ranger reported that it had been pretty good with 60-80 species being seen most days. I then ask if they had any specialty birds making an appearance....and they had. One was the Hammond's Flycatcher which it out of its normal range and the Tropical Parula. While I didn't manage to find the Parula, I did get the Flycatcher...a lifer bird for me!!!
Description: Long-billed Dowitcher by Debra Martz Well, what a coincidence! I captured this image of the dowitcher on none other than the Dowitcher Pond at Estero Llano Grande State Park in South Texas. I actually saw a large number of Long-billed Dowitchers on this January day and spotted the first ones in the area named Grebe Marsh. It was morning and they were all busy bobbing their heads up and down like a sewing machine while feeding.
Description: Cedar Waxwings at the Watering Hole by Debra Martz A rather large number of Cedar Waxwings flew overhead as I was making my way back from a hike out on Golden-Check Warbler trail. When I reached the Agarita Blind I slipped inside to see if any had stopped here...and they had. Mostly, they were in the shrubs eathing berries and then started going back and forth to the water. I love their colors and bold, black masks! ................................................ 20180429-DSC_9648.NEF
Description: Just Passing By by Debra Martz And that is what this Brown Pelican did. Just passed right on by me. I was hoping for maybe a turn or a plunge for a fish... nope. But, I did like the split of water below/behind grasses and above it. Captured in Port Aransas, Texas early November. Copyright by Debra Martz 20181105-DSC_0274.n
Description: Sacred Datura Bud Unfurling by Debra Martz Beautiful but poisonous and may be fatal if ingested by humans, livestock, or pets. It was growing wild throughout Zion National Park. Datura wrighti is sacred to some Native Americans and has a history of having been used in ceremonies and rites of passage by Chumash, Tongva, and others....however, not all survived the rites of passage.
Description: Couch's Kingbird - Dragonfly for Lunch by Debra Martz We heard this kingbird calling as it flew through the treetops around noon at Estero LLano Grande State Park. Finally it landed up high, looked around for awhile, then swooped down and caught this dragonfly. This huge dragonfly!! It worked on it for a while, tossing and tapping on the limb in an effort to try and remove the wings. But in the end, ate the dragonfly, wings and all!!
Description: Hostiles - A Day on Set No1 by Debra Martz While spending a few weeks in Chama, NM during September 2016, a filming/studio crew arrived in town. For a week or so, we would go by the Chama train depot to see the design crew at work. They were painting signage for buildings and revamping some older train/passenger cars for what would be a day on set of filming for the movie Hostiles. From early morning until the end of the day, these extras repeatedly did their parts in staging for the scene. Finally, January 2018 the film came to the movie theaters! After going to see the movie, I came home and went through some of the pictures I took that day of filming. The train depot portion is at the end of the movie and while weeks of prep and an ...
Description: Couch's Kingbird - Dragonfly Tossing by Debra Martz We heard this kingbird calling as it flew through the treetops around noon at Estero LLano Grande State Park. Finally it landed up high, looked around for awhile, then swooped down and caught this dragonfly. This huge dragonfly!! It worked on it for a while, tossing and tapping on the limb in an effort to try and remove the wings. But in the end, ate the dragonfly, wings and all!!
Description: 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
Description: Zebra Longwing Butterfly by Debra Martz Zebra Longwing Butterfly by Debra Martz It is said that these butterflies live in warm, damp tropical areas and is often found in hammocks and thickets. That is a great description of the area where I spotted a number of them; the Resaca de la Palma State Park in south Texas. Scientific name: Heliconius charitonia...........................
Description: Yellow-crowned Night Heron Resting On A Branch By Debra Martz I visit Estero Llano Grande State Park in south Texas several times a year for bird watching. Almost always find some Night Herons on the trail around Alligator Lake. And this January visit didn't fail me!! This heron was resting on this branch over the water just below the trail.
Description: Vermillion Flycatcher and Reflection Framed by Debra Martz Looking across the Dowitcher Pond where the water level was very low, I spotted this tiny Vermillion and its reflection. The area seemed barren until the bright red bird gave a pop of color. I've added a soft texture overlay for a softer finish and framing to complete.
Description: Monk Parrot in Hidalgo Texas - Digitally Enhanced by Debra Martz While visiting the Historic Hidalgo Pump House in south Texas during January, an employee, realizing I was bird watching, informed me of the large amount of Monk Parrots and nests just on the outer edge of the property. So of course I went looking. They build huge stick nests, and most were on powerline poles. A large number of these birds will share one nest which has many internal compartments. It is thought that this helps them keep warm and tolerate colder temperatures. They were fist introduced into the US in the 1960s to be sold as pet but over time, through escape or release, they have populated a number of areas in the US as wild birds. They a...
Description: Pink Miniature Roses by Debra Martz These beauties are container grown by my Mom...she has a green thumb for sure. She amazes me with her beautiful potted plants every year. I thought these were in a wonderful natural arrangement with the buds mixed between the full blooming roses. Gardeners limited in space can enjoy all the fun of rose growing by cultivating miniature roses in containers. They also adapt well to flowerbed edging, front-of-the-border socializing with perennials and annuals, and low hedges. Rosas
Description: 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.
Description: Silly Abstract Piggy By Debra Martz Oh the fun one can have when you begin to digitally alter an image. This creation came about from an original landscape of mine in the arid, high desert of New Mexico. I see it as a piggy face now but you might see something completely different.
Description: Do You Know the Way Wooden Sign by Debra Martz Always talk to the locals to find the out of the way places! We were staying a few nights in Guernsey, Wy to see the Cliff Register wall, Oregon Trail and Guernsey State Park....but a local told us we also needed to travel to Fort Laramie for the National Historic Site and to hit a back-road on the way back leading to Hartville, Wyoming where we wold find the state's Oldest Bar....and on the way we also stopped to take in this rustic sign showing us the way! Digitally enhanced with several layers of textures; 2 which I created and the 3rd one by Teresa Wilson.
Description: Approaching Storm at the Beach by Debra Martz Not every day at the beach turns out to be perfect....weather can change in an instant. And that is exactly what happened on this summer day. One minute sitting and relaxing with a book under the umbrella and suddenly this storm approaches. Quickly started grabbing books, tables, chairs, etc and putting in the back of the truck but got pretty soaked by the downpour of rain...fortunately made it into the truck in time before the lightning strikes began. Digitally altered in Lightroom and Topaz from my original photograph. Copyright of Debra Martz 20180805-2018-08-05.eet North Padre Island - Padre Island National Seashore - Texas
Description: Pins and Cues by Debra Martz I'm a birder and to get some of the best bird pictures, you need to start early in the morning. I was doing just that....loading my equipment into my car at the Holiday Inn in Weslaco, TX. I turned around and saw this bowling pin shining bright in the very dark sky. I already had my 150-600mm zoom mounted to my camera for the birds which worked perfect to get this shot just close enough. I like how the white is so bright against the black natural sky which seems to make the red and blue lettering even more vivid than I remember. The shadow in the side is enough to show that this is a 3 dimensional sign.
