Description: I had just returned from walking the 2 mile trail at the RV park hoping to get some bird photos. I heard a few but saw none! So, of course, just as I sat down in my lawn chair along came several Canyon Towhees scurrying from one bush to the next foraging on the ground. This one stopped momentarily right in front of me. Montebello RV Park iin El Prado, New Mexico near Taos ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20210912-DSC_4573
Description: Black-necked Stilt Reflecting on the Day by Debra Martz Bird Watching in Port Aransas, Texas is one of my favorites! So many beautiful birds any time of year. This Stilt is a migratory bird, however, it can be see year-round in the coastal area of Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 202120190514-DSC_0678
Description: Departure With the Fish of Its Dreams by Debra Martz This Ring-billed Gull wanted to get as far away from the others as quickly as possible. It is not every day that you see them catch a fish of this size. And gulls will be gulls as they try and steal others catches. Image captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park of northern Oklahoma while bird watching along the Salt Fork River below the spillway area. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211101-DSC_8006-Edit-Enhanced.dng Added vignette to image and posterized.
Description: Cottonwood Scarred Tree with a Hawk Topping by Debra Martz When I saw this fire scarred tree in the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in northern Oklahoma, I just had to stop to appreciate the beauty that remained. The fire came through the NWR several years ago burning much of the land and also the visitor/ranger station. This scarred tree stands proud and tall with only black and white bark. It, also, makes a great place for a Red-tailed Hawk to stop and survey the grounds around it in search of prey. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20211008-DSC_7550.NEF Converted to black and white and cropped to a square format.
Description: Waning Moon and Tree Silhouettes by Debra Martz It was December 2nd, just a few days before the new moon, and I'm standing in a bird blind freezing. The birds are waking, coming to life with their songs and calls which our very loud. Soon the sky will be filled with thousands of birds that have stopped here for fall migration. While waiting for enough light for my first sight of the birds, I'm looking around at the darkness of the trail I just walked and taking in that small crescent moon giving off a bit of light. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: 20211202-DSC_9396Waning Moon and Tree Silhouettes by Debra Martz It was December 2nd, just a few days before the new moon, and I'm sta...
Description: Gull Going for the Fish by Debra Martz The Gulls were being fairly good at catching fish on this day though most they caught were small. This image doesn't show the fish but I liked that the yellow portion of this Ring-billed Gull's beak was visible just under water plus the bubble created from the dive. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20211202-DSC_9759
Description: Sparrow In The Pines by Debra Martz We were out hiking in Yellowstone in late summer to enjoy the amazing landscape. Then I heard this little Clay-colored Sparrow sing. I looked up and around a bit and then there it was. It looked so small and sweet nestled in the limbs of the large pine tree. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: "Feather Friends3" 202220140908-DSC_5032
Description: Beauty of A Garden Petunia by Debra Martz I found this to be a beauty of a petunia with its bright color edged in white. It 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). ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: 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
Great Blue Heron In Flight Over the Spillway by Debra Martz T-Shirt
$16 $24
Description: Weeping Bottlebrush Bloom by Debra Martz This close up of a bloom is from one of the tallest Weeping Red Bottlebrush trees I've ever seen. It was growing in the tropical zone of Estero Llano Grande State Park in Southern Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" "Digital Art" 20220414-DSC_2745.NEF
Description: Sink Ya Teeth New Orleans by Debra Martz Stopped at a sidewalk café in the French Quarter for an early lunch and this delivery truck stopped in front of us. Love the sign on the truck. Digital filters used for enhancements. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "New Orleans" "Digital Art Photography" "Signs" 202220210512-DSC_4724-Edit.tif
Description: 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
Bonham Pond Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge by Debra Martz T-Shirt
$16 $24
Description: Mexican Olive Blossoms by Debra Martz The Mexican Olive, is also known as the Texas Olive (in southern Texas) or Anacahuita. While it is not related to a true olive, it does produce similar-looking fruits. It is grown more for its foliage and fragrant flowers. Some call it the show-off shrub with its showy, trumpet-shaped white flowers with bright yellow throats and is often described as looking like crepe paper. This beauty was more of a tree than a shrub. Captured along a trail at the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Mission, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Flora" 20220415-DSC_2823.NEF
Description: More Pelicans Cormorants and Gulls Arriving at the Spillway by Debra Martz It is a continual thing of the migrating birds coming and going all day for several weeks in the fall. The spillway is multi-tiered and the middle seems to be the most popular with the birds. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211001-DSC_6612.NEF
More Pelicans Cormorants and Gulls Arriving at the Spillway by Debra Martz T-Shirt
$16 $24
Description: Posing Anhinga by Debra Martz Well, not actually posing as it had been busy preening its backside. I thought I would never get a photo of its head looking forward but finally did! Note the tiny white feather atop its beak from all the preening it had been doing. Adult male Anhingas are black with silvery to white streaks but the females and immatures, like this one, have a pale tan head, neck, and breast. The bill, legs, and feet are yellowish orange. Captured at Estero Llano Grande State Park in south Texas near the border of Mexico. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20220414-DSC_2563.NEF
Description: Incoming Pelicans Egrets and Gulls by Debra Martz Great way to start the early morning by bird watching from my campsite during fall migration in northern Oklahoma. The Great Plains Salt Lake flows through the spillway into the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River directly behind the Riverroad Campground. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211001-DSC_6507 Great Salt Plains State Park near Jet and Cherokee, Oklahoma
Description: I saw my very first Red-headed Woodpecker after moving to northern Oklahoma in late 2019. Since then, it has been my dream to capture an image of one. That dream happened in just a split second when this one landed along the Eagle Roost trail and just as quickly disappeared deep into the trees. I slowly made my way closer to where it landed in hopes it might return but after some time of waiting, I continued on my hike. Someday I will get that close-up shot of my dreams. But this image shows just how striking this woodpecker is. "The Red-headed Woodpecker has many nicknames, including half-a-shirt, shirt-tail bird, jellycoat, flag bird, and the flying checker-board." Quoted from AllAboutBirds.org ©Debra Martz, All Rights R...
Description: Ring Billed Gull in Landing Position by Debra Martz Bird watching at the upper level of the spillway is always enjoyable. Even in off seasons, you will still see a number of birds in this location. This gull, with wings spread upward and fee down, is ready for landing. Perhaps it has spotted some small fish for a meal. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20211202-DSC_9757
Description: Handsome Mourning Dove by Debra Martz The bluish crown, neck colors and bright blue eye ring of this male were just gorgeous. Birds, especially males, get much more colorful during breeding season. The female is more brownish overall with muted blue eye ring; they each have the black dots on the back. Most everyone in the US has this bird but it was just sitting there on the rock looking so pretty that I couldn't resist several shots. Captured at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Southern Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20220415-DSC_2998
Description: Royal Sonesta Desire on Bourbon Street by Debra Martz I enjoyed an early morning walk on Bourbon Street and other French Quarter Streets nearby while there were no crowds. While on this stroll, I took pictures of my favorite signs and several are places I actually went to later. AND, this is my favorite place for char-grilled oysters! YUM! In Topaz software, I used several filters to make the image a bit more colorful and add texture. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: "Signs" "New Orleans Louisiana" "Digital Art Photography" 202220210512-DSC_4613-Edit
Description: Hovering Hummingbird Moth by Debra Martz The White-Lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata) are often referred to as the hummingbird moth beacause of the bird-like size, 2.5 - 3.5 inch wingspan, and flight patterns. It behaves like a hummingbird as it can fly extremely fast and instantly swing from side to side while hovering . It is a species of Hawk Moth , therefore, another name is White-Lined Hawk Moth. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: The Great Blue Heron Hiding In Plain Sight by Debra Martz I do believe the Great Blue Heron is one of the most patient birds out there. They will stand forever waiting for the perfect snag of prey. The way this one was standing in the surround of green nature, it looked to me like it thought it was hiding . ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20220413-DSC_1995.NEF
Description: Hummingbird Moth Gathering Nectar by Debra Martz The White-Lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata) takes nectar from the sunflower with its long proboscis. They are often referred to as the hummingbird moth because of the bird-like size, 2.5 - 3.5 inch wingspan, and flight patterns. It behaves like a hummingbird as it can fly extremely fast and instantly swing from side to side while hovering . It is a species of Hawk Moth , therefore, another name is White-Lined Hawk Moth. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: American White Pelican Golden Hour by Debra Martz The colors of the early morning light reflecting beautifully on the water as this White Pelican slowly glided by me. Captured at the spillway of the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20210929-DSC_6200
Description: Towering Sunflower by Debra Martz While spending a week in La Veta, Colorado in late September, I passed this sunflower a number of times. I had never seen a sunflower taller than the roofline of a house! Finally, drove intentionally there to stop for a photo. On private property, so I shot from the sidewalk from my eye level though it would have been neat to shoot from directly under it. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Flora 20210919-DSC_5337.NEF
Description: Daydreaming Dove by Debra Martz I was bird watching while sitting inside a bird blind. This White-winged Dove landed on this small branch and looked upward for a bit. They are vegetarians and commonly eat above ground. Perhaps it has its sights on a nice large seed or a berry instead of daydreaming. Captured at Estero Llano Grande State Park in southern Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20220414-DSC_2729
Description: Giant Sunflower and Bear Welcome by Debra Martz While spending a week in La Veta, Colorado in late September, I passed this sunflower a number of times. I had never seen a sunflower taller than the roofline of a house! Finally, drove intentionally there to stop for a photo. And, of course, it is bear country so I included the bear welcome in the composition. On private property, so I shot from the sidewalk from my eye level though it would have been neat to shoot from directly under it. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210919-DSC_5333
Description: John B Farley Overlook Colorado © Debra Martz Right at the top of Cuchara Pass on Hwy 12 take the dirt road turn-off on the east to reach this overlook. We've only visited in late September but I understand the meadow is beautiful with wildflowers in the spring and early summer. Located in the San Isabel National Forest with views of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. A short drive north of La Veta and Cuchara, Colorado.
Description: American Avocet Minimalism by Debra Martz While I was busy keeping my eye tuned to a few certain Pelicans, I saw something coming from the corner of my eye. Two small Avocets flying into the scene; so small compared to the huge White Pelicans but so similar with their underbody of white and black wing tips. Captured at the spillway of Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma during fall migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20210929-DSC_6352.NEF
