Description: "Scenic Highway Through Rolling Hills" It was our last stop of the day, overlooking Skyline Vista in the south unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. We would soon be back out on the interstate, though traffic on this one was rather light. Heading to Dickinson and then the next day to the north unit of the national park. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20250805-DSC_2825 AI Text: A highway winds through a lush green landscape under a clear blue sky. Rolling hills and sparse vegetation create a peaceful scene.
Description: "Shy Shoveler Looking Away" Where I live, I see the Northern Shovelers when in their breeding plumage. But this was October in South Texas, so they looked very different in their non-breeding colors and patterns. There were many, but I was looking for the one that had moved away from the group to photograph. Captured along the Nature Trail in Port Aransas, Texas, mid-autumn. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: “Feathered Friends” 20251017-DSC_9221 AI Text: A duck stands by the edge of a pond, with water ripples reflecting the sunlight. The lush green grass adds a vibrant contrast.
Description: "American White Pelican Wings Open Wide" It was October, and the migrating American White Pelicans were arriving in South Texas. They were coming in one after another, and making gentle landings with their wings open wide for braking. Captured from a boardwalk over the wetlands along the Nature Trail in Port Aransas, Texas, mid-autumn. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: “Feathered Friends” 20251017-DSC_9170 AI Text: A pelican stretches its wings wide as it gracefully lands on a shimmering water surface. Another pelican glides serenely in the background.
Description: "Pelican Coming In For A Landing" It was October, and the migrating American White Pelicans were arriving in South Texas. When they land, it appears as if they are skiing with their wings spread wide and their legs and feet stretched forward like skis. Captured from a boardwalk over the wetlands along the Nature Trail in Port Aransas, Texas, mid-autumn. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: “Feathered Friends” 20251017-DSC_9169 AI Text: A pelican gracefully skims over the water at sunrise, its wings outstretched. The calm water reflects the soft golden hues of the sky.
Description: "Pelican Coming In For A Landing" It was October, and the migrating American White Pelicans were arriving in South Texas. This one made me think of "landing gear down," with its wings spread wide and its legs and feet stretched downward for the landing. Captured from a boardwalk over the wetlands along the Nature Trail in Port Aransas, Texas, mid-autumn. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: “Feathered Friends” 20251017-DSC_9168 AI Text: A pelican spreads its wings as it hovers just above the water, creating a calm reflection. The soft light highlights the bird’s white plumage and the serene lake setting.
Description: "Grackle In the Morning Sunlight" I heard this female Great-tailed Grackle arriving before I saw her. When I turned, she had landed very close and was lit beautifully by the morning sun. Captured along the Nature Trail in Port Aransas, Texas, mid-autumn. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: “Feathered Friends” 20251017-DSC_9150 AI Text: A bird perches quietly on a branch, illuminated by the warm sunlight. The clear blue sky serves as a serene backdrop.
Description: "Lizard Perched on Chain-Link Fence" This Brown Anole was repeatedly displaying its dewlap, which is a key visual communication tool. It serves several purposes: territorial defense to warn off rivals, courtship to attract females, and predator deterrence to warn against potential predators. Captured along the Nature Trail in Port Aransas, Texas, mid-autumn. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20251017-DSC_9145 AI Text: A lizard clings to a chain-link fence, displaying its vibrant orange throat. Soft grasses sway behind, blurring into a warm backdrop.
Description: "Cormorant Splashing in the Water" One moment, it was peacefully floating on the water, and the next, there was a sudden frenzy of loud splashes! Captured along the Nature Trail in Port Aransas, Texas, mid-autumn. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: “Feathered Friends” 20251016-DSC_9123 AI Text: A cormorant vigorously flaps its wings, creating an energetic splash in the water. The bird's wet feathers glisten in the sunlight.
Description: "Bright Pink Spherical Flower" Is it a Shameplant? I was at the start of a trail to do some birdwatching when I saw this bright pink flower. Not sure what it was, so later I used an ID app, which revealed that it was known as Mimosa pudica, aka the Shameplant. Mimosa pudica goes by many names: The Sensitive Plant. The Shy Plant. Touch Me Not. The Tickle-Me Plant. The Sleepy Plant. The Humble Plant. All of its names stem from the plant's response to stimulus: when it is touched, its leaves fold up and its branches droop. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20251017-DSC_9135 AI Text: A vivid pink flower stands out against a blurred natural background. The delicate petals form a spherical shape, attracting attention
Description: "Golden Sunrise Over the Gulf" Heavy clouds blocked the sun when it rose at the horizon. I was about to give up on getting a sunrise when finally the sun started breaking through those clouds. So glad I waited it out a while longer to see this golden glow in a new day. Photographed from the beach near Caldwell Pier in Port Aransas, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20251017-DSC_3571 AI Text: Sunrise casts golden hues over a tranquil ocean with a ship on the horizon. Clouds scatter the sky, adding depth and drama to the scene.
Description: "Cloudy Dawn at Port Aransas Texas" Slowly, some light and a bit of changing color began to happen. But the clouds were so dense that I began thinking I might not see a ball of fire at sunrise. I also noticed there were no large ships visible, like there had been the previous 3 mornings, just one working boat . Photographed from the Port A beach near Caldwell Pier. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20251017-DSC_3563 AI Text: The silhouette of a heron stands alone in the shallow waves under a dramatic, cloudy sky. A distant ship is visible on the horizon.
Description: "Blue Seascape at Dawn" We had been going to the beach each morning when it was still dark. This morning was darker than normal due to the heavy cloud cover. As I waited to see if the sun would break through, I was taken by the dark blues and the silhouettes of the working boat and the heron. Captured from the beach of Port Aransas, Texas, on a mid-October morning. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20251017-DSC_3559 AI Text: A heron stands by the shoreline as the waves crash gently onto the beach. In the distance, a ship is silhouetted against a cloudy evening sky.
Description: "Skyline Vista Theodore Roosevelt National Park" There was an ever-present prairie breeze as we walked the path to the plateau where we took in this expansive landscape with a stark contrast between plains and badlands. Photographed in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20250805-DSC_2829 AI Text: Rolling hills of the badlands stretch across the horizon, covered in patches of greenery and sparse vegetation. Fluffy clouds dot the bright blue sky above.
Description: "Majestic Bison in Open Landscape" We had just passed a huge herd of Bison on both sides of the road, and then there was this one by itself, slowly walking toward the road. People were not in a big hurry to move on, so we had time to stop for me to get a few photos. Photographed this big one in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20250805-DSC_2822 AI Text: A large bison stands on a grassy plain with rolling hills in the background under a clear sky. The vivid colors highlight the natural beauty of the scene.
Description: "Herd of Bison Grazing" Nearing the end of a full day exploring the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, a large herd of Bison brought all the traffic to a standstill. They were on both sides of the road and in the middle of the road between many of the vehicles. People were actually doing what they were supposed to do...stay in the vehicle! ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20250805 AI Text: A large herd of bison grazes on a grassy plain beneath a vast, open sky. Rugged hills and scattered clouds provide a picturesque backdrop.
Description: "Wild Horses Grazing by Rocky Cliff" We had been looking for wild horses on hikes and from overlooks into the valleys. A section of road was closed near the end of the scenic loop, so we had to do a U-turn and backtrack to the beginning. What a surprise to round a curve in the road and see all of these beauties! Photographed in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Wildlife" "North Dakota" 20250805-DSC_2791
Description: "Cormorant Glistening In the Sunlight" We decided to start our day at Charlie's Pasture Preserve, and after birdwatching the 2.5-mile round-trip on the boardwalk, we headed to Leonabelle, hoping to still have good light. And at mid-morning, I was pleased with the light on the birds that were closeby. Captured from the boardwalk that extends past Leonabell onto the Nature Trail in Port Aransas, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: “Feathered Friends” 20251016-DSC_9121
Description: "White Ibis With A Catch" I watched this Ibis catch and toss this little crab a few times as it kept repositioning it farther up in its beak. Captured from a boardwalk along the Nature Trail in Port Aransas, Texas, mid-autumn. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: “Feathered Friends” 20251016-DSC_9118
Description: "LNG Rosenrot Inbound Port Aransas Texas" I'm always looking for ships inbound or outbound in the ship channel while I'm birdwatching at Charlie's Pasture Preserve in Port Aransas, Texas. From the boardwalk, they look even more massive and almost appear to be on land rather than in the ship channel, which ends in the Corpus Christi port terminals. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Coastal" "Texas" 20251016-DSC_9069
Description: "Aegean Dream Tanker at Port Aransas Texas" The Aegean Dream is a large crude oil tanker owned by Arcadia Shipmanagement, a Greek company, while "Arcadia Hellas" refers to the company itself. I'm always on the lookout for ships in the port when I'm birdwatching at Charlie's Pasture Preserve in Port Aransas, Texas. They almost appear to be more on land than in the ship channel, which ends in Corpus Christi, where they load. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20251016-DSC_9050
Description: "Black-necked Stilt Reflection on The Wetlands" The morning light was still adding a bit of golden glow to the water and provided a nice reflection of the Stilt as well. Captured along the Nature Trail in Port Aransas, Texas, mid-autumn. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: “Feathered Friends” 20251016-DSC_9086
Description: "Passionflower in the Sunlight" I always found these growing in the wild when I lived in coastal Texas. It was nice to come across this vining plant with some blooming flowers while I was visiting in Port Aransas, Texas. This one was at the end of a boardwalk at Charlie's Pasture Preserve where I was doing some birdwatching. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Flora Trees Nature Wildlife" 20251015-DSC_8938
Description: "Sandy Path Leading Over Hill" As we drove the scenic route through the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, we stopped at each pullout. This particular one was small, unmarked, and there were no other cars, but we spotted a trail and decided to see where it would lead us. It didn't take us very far and ended abruptly, so back up the hill and moving on for more fun finds...even if short :-) ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20250805-DSC_2722
Description: "Scenic Trail Through Rolling Hills" As we drove the scenic route through the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, we stopped at each pullout. This particular one was small, unmarked, and there were no other cars, but we spotted a trail and decided to see where it would lead us. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20250805-DSC_2703
Description: "Dowitcher in Shallow Water" Dowitchers are a variety of Sandpipers with a very long bill and short legs compared to many others. 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_8912
Description: "Plover at Water's Edge" This arctic-breeding bird, the Semipalmated Plover, can show up almost anywhere across North America during migration. Photographed this one 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_8926
Description: "Semipalmated Plover by the Water" This arctic-breeding bird, during migration, can show up almost anywhere across North America. Photographed this one 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_8926
Description: The Rose by Debra Martz A digital artwork created from my original photograph of this Knock Out Rose using several different filters and brushes in a few editing programs. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20190601-DSC_1090
The Rose T-Shirt
$24
Description: "Egrets and Shorebirds on Coastal Mudflat" This is a very common scene when bird watching in Port Aransas, Texas. Especially along any of the boardwalks over the wetlands and mud flats. 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_8910
Description: "Single Yellowlegs in Shallow Wetlands" This single Greater Yellowlegs left the crowd of a mixed group of many bird species giving me a nice opportunity to capture just the one showing off its vibrant yellow legs. 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_8897
Description: "End Of Trail" As we drove the scenic route through the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, we stopped at each pullout. This particular one was not marked, but we spotted a trail and off we went, first uphill, and then a moderate downhill, to which it abruptly stopped. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Landscapes and Landmarks" 20250805-DSC_2710
Description: "Bison and Calves in Meadow" Early in the day, we had walked a trail in hopes of seeing Bison and wild horses. And while we did see some, they were a long distance away in a valley. So these came as quite a surprise as we headed out on another trail just for scenic views. As we topped a knoll, this was the sight, and I was thankful that I was not a great distance from the trailhead. I turned and headed back to a safe place behind the vehicle to wait and watch for them. Captured in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, South Unit, at the trailhead of Coal Vein Nature Trail. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Flora Trees Nature Wildlife" 20250805-DSC_2787
Description: "Reddish Egret Dancing for Fish" It’s always fun to come across Reddish Egrets in shallow water as they put on quite a show. They are known for racing back and forth, opening and closing their wings, and stirring up sediment with their feet, all in pursuit of small fish. Captured from the boardwalk over the wetlands of Charlie’s Pasture in Port Aransas, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: “Feathered Friends” 20251015-DSC_8872
