Description: American White Pelican Early Morning Blues by Debra Martz I had been watching the Pelicans at the spillway for over 45 minutes with some fishing together and others alone like this one. The morning light plays an important part of the colors of the water. Only 18 minutes earlier the water was all solid gold during the golden hour; now only parts of the ripples are still reflecting that gold. Captured at the Great Salt Plains in northern Oklahoma during fall migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collections: "Feathered Friends 2" 20210929-DSC_6303.NEF
American White Pelican Early Morning Blues by Debra Martz by Debra Martz T-Shirt
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Description: 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
Description: 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
Description: 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
Description: 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
Description: Dust Bowl House At Cimarron Heritage Center Boise City Oklahoma The museum starts in a Bruce Goff-designed house with some of the original furnishings and collections of the owners who donated the home. It continues through several other buildings very well organized with historical information of Cimarron County. I was amazed with the outstanding work of displays for the Santa Fe Trail, dinosaurs, military and the Dust Bowl era. On the grounds is a one-room schoolhouse, a Dust Bowl home, restored Santa Fe Depot, windmill, blacksmith shop and more. The Cimarron Heritage Center is also responsible for providing access to Autograph Rock, a historic Santa Fe Trail campground that features ruts and a cliff wall full of traveler signatu...
Dust Bowl House At Cimarron Heritage Center Boise City Oklahoma T-Shirt
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Description: Early Morning at Great Salt Plains Lake by Debra Martz We enjoy going to the Great Salt Plains State Park in Northern Oklahoma and staying a week or two in our RV. We like getting up early and checking out the the sunrise from a variety of locations. The sun was slow to show its light due to heavy cloud cover but it finally started breaking through those clouds. The lake is terribly low due to drought. The water should be all the way up to this grass edge. Pray for rain. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20221008-DSC_7312
Description: 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
Description: Bishop Castle With Fire Breathing Dragon by Debra Martz Jim Bishop has been constructing this impressive castle for almost 60 years. It is still a work in progress to this day. It is quite difficult to explain this rock and iron structure with all its levels, angles, soaring towers and outside bridges built around the upper levels. It even has a Grand Ballroom and a fire breathing dragon! Best you go see it for yourself! It is located in Colorado on highway 165 about 24 miles west off I-25 not far from Colorado City and Rye, Colorado. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: 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
Description: American White Pelican Fishing Alone by Debra Martz I had been watching the Pelicans at the spillway for over 45 minutes with some fishing together and others alone like this one. The morning light plays an important part of the colors of the water. Only 18 minutes earlier the water was all solid gold during the golden hour; now only parts of the ripples are still reflecting that gold. Captured at the Great Salt Plains in northern Oklahoma during fall migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collections: "Feathered Friends 2" 20210929-DSC_6309.NEF
Description: Northern Flicker Cross ©Debra Martz When I first saw this Northern Flicker I thought immediately that it was the Red-shafted male due to the red mustache. But, then looking at it on my computer I noticed a red patch on its nape which is something the Yellow-shafted variety has. So I've concluded that this is a cross of the two subspecies (Red-shafted x Yellow-shafted Intergrade). The two Northern Flicker subspecies are the red-shafted and the yellow-shafted of which both can be found in Oklahoma. The male red-shafted has a red mustache while the male yellow-shafted has a black mustache and a red patch on the nape. Observed at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge near Jet, OK. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galle...
Description: Eye to Eye With A Damselfly by Debra Martz After a full morning of bird photography, it was back to the campground to rest for awhile. So, I put my camera with the long lens away and got out my camera with a macro lens and began looking for smaller things in nature. This blue damselfly presented itself to me but I had to get down on its level; down to the ground I went and it waited for me! ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Butterflies Bees Insects" 20211002-DSC_5445
Description: Morning Arrivals Joining the Flock by Debra Martz Mostly American White Pelicans and a few Double-crested Cormorants herding fish together. More Pelicans started dropping in on the feast along with one curious seagull flying in as well. Captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma during Fall Migration in early October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: Frog in the Sunlight by Debra Martz As I walked the trail along the stream frogs were jumping into the water. I came to a bridge and looked down when I spotted this one with the sun shining brightly upon it. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Wildlife" 202220160304-DSC_3072
Description: Eastern Bluebird on the Wooded Trail by Debra Martz This Bluebird may be small in these large wooded areas but this beauty shines brightly in its colorful feathers! Seen along the Eagle Roost Trail in the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20210113-DSC_3019
Description: Tall Grasses Waving in the Wind ©Debra Martz Plume Grass growing wild at the edge of the lake. Rendered in black and white with multiple layers of filters and textures applied. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: "Digital Art" "Black and White" 20221010-DSC_5550
Description: Bishop Castle Towers Turrets and Bridges by Debra Martz Jim Bishop has been constructing this impressive castle for almost 60 years. It is still a work in progress to this day. It is quite difficult to explain this rock and iron structure with all its levels, angles, soaring towers and outside bridges built around the upper levels. It even has a Grand Ballroom and a fire breathing dragon! Best you go see it for yourself! It is located in Colorado on highway 165 about 24 miles west off I-25 not far from Colorado City and Rye, Colorado. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: 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
Description: Autograph Rock in Oklahoma Panhandle 2 by Debra Martz A stopping place along the Santa Fe Trail in the 1800s. The 700 foot long, 25' high cliff wall has more than 300 autographs. It is on private property but one way to access it is to get permission and directions from the Cimarron Heritage Center museum in Boise City,, Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: Vulture Coming In For Landing by Debra Martz Turkey Vulture coming in for a landing with feet out and wings spread. Sometimes an image just calls to me to change it with some digital editing. While I liked the capture of the vulture, the winds had been high which makes the water murky and I didn't find that attractive so off to Topaz Studio I went. Captured the original photo at the bottom of the spillway of the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: "Feathered Friends 3" "Digital Art" 20211005-DSC_7284-Edit.dng
Description: Arriving A Bit Weathered and Worn by Debra Martz Over the first few weeks of October the American White Pelicans arrive daily on their fall migration from the north. This one was looking a bit haggard from its travels so I brighten it up a bit by adding some textures and painterly effects. Captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 and Digital Art 20221003-DSC_4621-Edit-Edit.tif
Description: Bishop Castle by Debra Martz Jim Bishop has been constructing this impressive castle for almost 60 years. It is still a work in progress to this day. It is quite difficult to explain this rock and iron structure with all its levels, angles, soaring towers and outside bridges built around the upper levels. It even has a Grand Ballroom and a fire breathing dragon! Best you go see it for yourself! It is located in Colorado on highway 165 about 24 miles west off I-25 not far from Colorado City and Rye, Colorado.
Description: American White Pelicans Early Morning Feeding by Debra Martz The Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma is a wonderful place to catch many birds during Fall Migration. This variety of pelican arrives by the thousands at the end of September and in early October. They work together to herd fish, then go bottoms up like a dabbling duck for the catch. This group has definitely found the fish! ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 20221003-DSC_4611.NEF
Description: American White Pelican on Blue Water by Debra Martz A beautiful, large Pelican floating on patterned blue water with wings slightly lifted, partially showing its black wing tips. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211001-DSC_6634.NEF Image captured at the south spillway of Great Salt Plains State Park near Jet, Oklahoma.
Description: Pelican Feeding Frenzy At the Lake by Debra MartzThe Pelicans Found the Fish by Debra Martz I was taken by surprise when we pulled into the Sandy Beach campground and saw this large group of American White Pelicans fishing next to the dam. I thought all but the few resident pelicans had moved on south but on this January day there were many more than the normal count. This is just another small section of the line of pelicans that were fishing together. Unlike many birds that are territorial, these Pelicans work together herding fish into shallow waters where they dip their head under, scoop, then raise their heads and gulp down the catch. Captured at the lake in the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra...
Description: Single American Pelican by Debra Martz The Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma is a wonderful place to catch many birds during Fall Migration. This variety of pelicans arrives by the thousands last of Sept and early October. Sometimes it is not easy to get just a single one in an image. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: Autograph Rock in Oklahoma Panhandle by Debra Martz A stopping place along the Santa Fe Trail in the 1800s. The 700 foot long, 25' high cliff wall has more than 300 autographs. It is on private property but one way to access it is to get permission and directions from the Cimarron Heritage Center museum in Boise City,, Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: Nescatunga Chimney Fireplace With Decorated Mantle by Debra Martz Nescatunga is a small, unincorporated town in Oklahoma that is adjacent to the Great Salt Plains State Park. I drive the narrow road between the two when out bird watching and that was when I noticed an older home had been torn down. I thought it was very cool that they left the fireplace and chimney with a decorated mantle! I will be watching to see if they rebuild a new home on the foundation. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: 20220113-DSC_0476-Edit.tif
Nescatunga Chimney Fireplace With Decorated Mantle by Debra Martz T-Shirt
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Description: Curious Male House Finch by Debra Martz I watched as the Finch would look toward our backyard feeders and then back to me. Possibly curious to know if it was okay to move from the safety of its position in the upper part of the tree. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20210102-DSC_2761-Enhanced.dng
Description: Early Morning Pelicans by Debra Martz The pelicans and a few other birds were staring to wakeup and move about...except that middle one didn't seem quite ready for the day. Captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park in Northern Oklahoma during fall migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20221005-DSC_4974-Edit.tif
