Description: We enjoy going to the Great Salt Plains State Park and staying a week or two in our RV. We prefer the campground that is right on the water's edge which is great for sunrises and reflecting scenes like this in the early morning light. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20201003-DSC_2409
Description: Each time I go to the Salt Plains NWR in northern Oklahoma, I stop near an old green abandoned home. My main purpose is to look for birds (my hobby) but I find so much interest at this old homestead. The tower of this windmill is covered with vines, some of which can be seen just below the blades. Aermotor windmills have been around since 1888. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210203-DSC_3499-Edit.tif
Description: It has been a very cold winter in northern Oklahoma and much of the USA this year. This Dark-eyed Junco is a nice addition of colors to the white snow covered branches. With the roads so bad, I've been bird watching in my backyard. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20210210-DSC_3668.NEF
Description: I love watching these playful Wrens. So much so that I decided to be playful with the editing for this one. We have several of these that visit our back yard, sometimes running around the patio, up on the chairs, checking out the grill, the feeders and everything in between. Then stops briefly on the fence before departing. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collections "Feathered Friends2" 20210103-DSC_2816-Edit.tif
Description: It has been a very cold winter in northern Oklahoma and much of the USA this year. We started the day wiwth -11F but fortunately the heater in the watering bowl for the birds is keeping water thawed and warm for them. This European Starling had just finished getting a drink and turned to depart. With extra inside time on my hands, I took this image into PS to create this abstract. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210210-DSC_3695
Description: My pansies have survived one hard freeze covered in ice for 3 days and two snow storms. After the New Year Day's heavy snow, I didn't see my flowers until the 5th. Finally on the 7th all snow was gone, sunshine was bright and the pansies sprang back to life. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210113-DSC_3057-Edit-Edit.tif
Description: I didn't eat here while touring around Socorro, New Mexico but from what I've now read online, I should have. If traveling through the area again, I certainly will. Love the vibrant colors and style of the sign. I added splashes of digital paints for a festive look. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collection: "Signs" 202120170815-DSC_9525-Edit-Edit
Description: The female Blue-winged Teal is not quite as distinctive as the male which is easily identifiable with its bold white cresent in front of the eye. The female only has a small white patch between lower eye and bill but does have a dark eyeline, white eyering and a large dark bill. The powdery blue shoulder patch is visible in flight. They breed in much of the northern USA and Canada migrating as far south as South America. But many are perfectly fine to stop in south Texas for the winter. Captured in January in Port Aransas, TX at Paradise Pond. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 202120180107-DSC_3125
Description: Autumn Interrupted By Ice by Debra Martz We had a surprise ice storm October 26-27, 2020. Icicles hung from the eaves all around the house. Trees lost limbs and power outages were all over town. Then a few days later the temps were back in the 70s F. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20201027-DSC_1497.NEF
Description: "I wonder if I can find some ground food now that some of the snow is gone?" queried this Wren. At least that is what it made me think. Food has been so scarce for the birds due to the extended period of ice and snow covered grounds. I love watching Caronlia Wrens as the scurry all about the yard and patio, stopping and searching and just being curious. And that curiousity led this little one to one of our pan feeders where it happily found plenty of a variety of seeds. Painterly effects applied to the foreground and background. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collections "Feathered Friends2" "Digital Art " 20210213-DSC_3714-Edit.tif
Description: The male Blue-winged Teal is easily identifiable with its bold white cresent in front of the eye and a good sized black bill. The powdery blue shoulder patch is visible in flight along with green secondaries of the wing. They breed in much of the northern USA and Canada migrating as far south as South America. But many are perfectly fine to stop in south Texas for the winter. Captured in January in Port Aransas, TX at Paradise Pond. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 202120180107-DSC_3121
Description: Migrating Pelicans at Rest by Debra Martz Large numbers of American White Pelicans continued to arrive at the Great Salt Plains State Park. It is a stopping point along their route south to fill on fish. After working together herding fish they moved to the the edge of the spillway to rest and some did some preening. The state park is in northern Oklahoma near Jet. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20201022-DSC_1352.NEF
Description: Snowy Egret Performance by Debra Martz It might look like a performance but it's their attitude about territory that gets them up in the air and running sideways like this. Incoming one wanting to take over the fishing spot where the other was being successful. If there are several in close proximity, you will most likely get a show like this! Captured below the spillway at the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahome. Some digital enhancements have been done in Topaz Impressions but masking out the birds about 90% to keep them true to form. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collection "Feathered Friends2" 20201015-DSC_1157-Edit-2.tif
Description: Some Bunny Loves Flowers by Debra Martz This little cottontail rabbit had been on the other side of my backyard enjoying my Petunias. It ate a number of the blooms before hopping across the yard making stops along the way to check out other flowers. I had a good laugh when it checked out this yellow flower and frog which is the base of my birdbath. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: 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
Description: I know nothing about this place. It was just a fun sign I saw when we were touring around Socorro, New Mexico. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 202120170815-DSC_9523-Edit.tif
Roadrunner Lounge Steak House Socorro New Mexico by Debra Martz T-Shirt
$16 $24
Description: Labyrinth at Montoso Campground Wild Rivers New Mexico by Debra Martz Over the years we have camped at a number of the campsites at Wild Rivers Recreation, a part of the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument north of Questa, New Mexico. This year, however, no camping due to the Covid19 pandemic so we just revisited the many sites and trails. This unicursal labyrinth has been here many years and was just behind the covered picnic table the year we camped at the Montoso camping area. I never did get the story as to when or why but it seems to be appreciated as noone has disturbed it over the many years. Digital brushes and enhancements have been applied; use the zoom tool to see them closer. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In ...
Description: 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
Description: American White Pelican Gliding Along by Debra Martz The American White Pelicans were flying to and fro at the spillway. The early morning light creating wonderful shadows. The shadows casted by the wings of this pelican created neat shapes making an almost abstract bird in flight image. Captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park near Jet, Oklahoma during fall migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20201012-DSC_0786.NEF
Description: 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
Description: Rolling Red River at the Fish Hatchery in New Mexico by Debra Martz If you start the Pescado Trail at Wild Rivers Recreation, you hike down switchbacks in the gorge. The Ponderosa pines are huge and offer shade on a summer hike. Once you've made it to the Fish Hatchery the trail meets a walking bridge that crosses the rushing waters of the Red River. Fly fishing in this clear, cold water for trout is quite popular. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collections" "New Mexico" 20200630-DSC_1038.NEF
Description: Yellow on Yellow by Debra Martz It was early October and already having some cool nights. Therefore, while bird watching at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge I was constantly scanning the ground and the sides of the trail for snakes out warming in the sun. But this scan brought into view the yellow Clouded Sulphur Butterfly on the yellow wildflower. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20201008-DSC_0622.NEF
Description: Roadrunner Sketchy Attitude by Debra Martz At first this Greater Roadrunner was headed up the road toward me when it stopped, flicked its blue tail up high then turned 90 degrees and took off running away from me. Roadrunners aka Chapparals can fly, but they usually do not. Instead, they run at speeds up to 15mph. Scientific name: Geococcyx californianus ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: "Feathered Friends2" 20200830-DSC_8813-Edit.tif
Description: Pescado Trail Wild Rivers New Mexico by Debra Martz The first mile from the ranger station is mostly flat with only a slight elevation gain and there are some rocky areas with a few twists and turns. This is the view after that first mile and just beyond the "Danger - Vertical Cliffs" warning. But you must go past that sign a bit or you miss this view down to the Red River Fish Hatchery. After you've enjoyed this view, it is back to the trail which is still fairly flat. But once you come to the fence, the trail becomes much steeper with large rocks and switchbacks. But I love this switchback part of the trail as you go down the hillside, into the woods and enjoy the sights of the forest of ponderosa pines! ©Debra Martz, All Rights ...
Description: Oklahoma Plains Sunflower by Debra Martz An early evening drive through the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge was highlighted by the abundance of these sunflowers. Sunflowers can be a bit confusing so I used my ID app and was returned the name Prairie Sunflower aka Lesser Sunflower, Plains sunflower, Deceptive Sunflower and Kansas Sunflower. I decided that since I was driving through the plains of Oklahoma that I would go with Plains Sunflower. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Wildflowers" 20200830-DSC_8774.NEF
Description: Roadrunner Running the Road by Debra Martz At first this Greater Roadrunner was headed up the road toward me when it stopped, turned 90 degrees and took off running away from me. Roadrunners aka Chapparals can fly, but they usually do not. Instead, they run at speeds up to 15mph. Scientific name: Geococcyx californianus ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20200830-DSC_8815
Description: Angry Egret by Debra Martz Snowy Egrets are fun too watch as they are full of attitude! They are quite territorial, too, when it comes to who's fishing where! The lower, angry looking Snowy was going from side to side of this penisula chasing off other snowies! The American White Pelican just carried on with its fishing. Captured below the spillway at Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20200729-DSC_8512.NEF
Description: Red Eyed Vireo in the Holly by Debra Martz Excitement for us in these trying Covid times is when a new bird comes to the backyard. This beautiful Red-eyed Vireo worked its way around our back yard snacking on insects in each of the holly shrubs. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20200811-DSC_8745.NEF
Description: Leaning Spike of Hosta Buds by Debra Martz My Hostas budded nicely but due to ongoing hard winds they broke over before flowering. Maybe the winds won't be so strong next year and I'll actually get flowers from the buds. But, of course, it is Northern Oklahoma where the Winds come sweeping down the Plains!!! :-) ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: Chawalauna Overlook at Wild Rivers Recreation New Mexico 2 by Debra Martz If you take the first right after stopping at the pay station, the Chawalauna Overlook is the next place for amazing views. There is not a trailhead here into the gorge but there are views both upstream and downstream (this view) of the Rio Grande. You can see where the other trails reach the river and backcountry campsites at the bottom of the gorge, where ponderosa pines offer tall shade if you decide to trout fish. If you are not camping up on the rim, this overlook offers parking to the Rinconada 6 mile loop trail which is on a well kept gravel path. It passes by all of the rim campgrounds of both the Rio Grande and Red River. When we camp here, if no...
Description: Chawalauna Overlook at Wild Rivers Recreation New Mexico 3 by Debra Martz If you take the first right after stopping at the pay station, the Chawalauna Overlook is the next place for amazing views. There is not a trailhead here into the gorge but there are views both upstream and downstream (this view) of the Rio Grande. You can see where the other trails reach the river and backcountry campsites at the bottom of the gorge, where ponderosa pines offer tall shade if you decide to trout fish. If you are not camping up on the rim, this overlook offers parking to the Rinconada 6 mile loop trail which is on a well kept gravel path. It passes by all of the rim campgrounds of both the Rio Grande and Red River. When we camp here, if not ...
