Description: Flight of an American Avocet by Debra Martz On a bird watching day in Port Aransas, Texas, a small number of Avocets were present at Leonabelle Birding area as some stay year around in this coastal area. I created this digital painting from my original photograph which I took from the boardwalk. ©Debra Martz 20190514-DSC_0853
Description: Gnatcatcher On Greenery by Debra Martz The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is a beautiful, tiny bird that makes itself known by its soft but insistent calls and its constant motion makes it hard to capture. In addition to its constant in and out, up and down movements, it flicks its white-edged tail from side to side, scaring up insects and chasing after them. Captured at South Llano River State Park near Junction, Texas. Scientific name: Polioptila caerulea ©Debra Martz 20190429-DSC_6715
Description: Male Northern Cardinal on a Snag by Debra Martz I was at the end of my hike, almost to the truck, when this guy flew in and landed on top of this old snag. Captured at south Llano River State Park near Junction, Texas. Scientific name: Cardinalis cardinalis The white overcast sky was rather boring so I added a few textures to the overall image. ©Debra Martz 20190429-DSC_6711
Description: Patriotic Egret by Debra Martz It was Spring time and the Great Egret was starting into breeding plumage with green lores and wispy feathers. It was flying over a canal on North Padre Island when it landed on a neighboring deck facing their American flag. Several digital filters have been used to create a painterly digital art from my origninal photograph. Copyright Debra Martz 20190317
Description: Walking On Sunshine Rose by Debra Martz "Walking on Sunshine" was the 2011 All-American Rose award winner. This beautiful yellow Floribunda Rose, it is of medium size. Genus: Rosa Variety: 'JACmcady' It was stated that it Blooms First Year and Butterflies love it. I took the original photograph at the Botanical Gardens of Corpus Christi, Texas in the rose garden, of course. Digital layers and brushes have been used to create a painterly effect. ©Debra Martz 20190517-DSC_7235
Description: On The Purple Side of Pink by Debra Martz Just one of the many beautiful, exotic and enchanting Orchids at the Corpus Christi, Texas Botanical Garden. What I loved about this one was the color range from salmon, pink and moving toward purple and the gold centers! ©Debra Martz 20190517-DSC_7038
Description: Triple Flowing Fountain by Debra Martz At the entrance to the Botanical Gardens in Corpus Christi, Texas sits this fountain made of three bowls, or planter pots, with water spouts. A very nice addition mixed into the surrounding plants and offers soothing sounds. Digitally painted from my original photography. ©Debra Martz 20190517-DSC_7152
Description: Flowing Orchids - Purple Flowers by Debra Martz A beautifully full and flowing Orchid growing in the Orchid Conservancy at the Corpus Christi, Texas Botanical Gardens. When I read orchids are the largest family of blooming flowers with over 25,000 species and over 100,000 varieties I stopped trying to narrow the type down to the specific. Instead I found different meanings of the orchids based on color. Purple orchids symbolize admiration, respect, dignity and royalty. Digital painting created from my original photography. ©Debra Martz 20190517-DSC_7007
Description: Shrimp Plant aka Justica Brandegeana by Debra Martz The beautiful and unique flowering of the Shrimp Plant captured at the Botanical Garden in Corpus Christi, Texas. A terrific tropical shrub to use in pots on patios, or feature in entryways. In comes in varying color of bright rosy-pink to salmon and in south Texas it blooms almost all year. Digital enhancements to make the bloom pop and a light texture added to the background. ©Debra Martz 20190517-DSC_7089
Description: Carolina Chickadee On Photo Painted Trees by Debra Martz I retained most of the natural detail of the Chickadee. The background of heavy tree foliage was softened by using several techniques to create a photo painting. Captured this image at South Llano River State Park near Junction, TX. Scientific name: Poecile carolinensis ©Debra Martz 20190429-DSC_6663
Description: Acadian Flycatcher Photopainting by Debra Martz The first few weeks of May were great for bird watching at Leonabelle Birding Center in Port Aransas, Texas. There were tons of migratory birds and birds returning for their summer residence. After so many rainy days, there were plenty of insects for this tiny flycatcher to zip in and out of the tree and catch them on the fly! Cool Facts from All About Birds Curiously, no information exists on the ability of the Acadian Flycatcher to walk or hop. It is an excellent flier, though, extremely maneuverable and able to hover and even fly backward. It has been observed bathing not by standing in water, but rather by diving into water from above, hitting the water with its chest, and then ret...
Description: Colorful Brown Pelican by Debra Martz The great thing about North Padre Island, Corpus Christi, Texas, is that beach driving is still allowed. So somedays I spend just driving and stopping along the beach to watch the coastal shore birds. I've had a little fun with this closeup by doing a colorful, digital painting of my Brown Pelican photograph which I captured just at liftoff from the water's edge. ©Debra Martz 20190619-DSC_1723
Description: Yellow Wildflower Dancers by Debra Martz The movement and bend of their yellow "skirts" immediately made me think of dancers, ballerinas. This Rudbeckia was growing around the path into Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center in Port Aransas, Texas. ©Debra Martz 20190509-DSC_006 Coneflower, Blackeyed Susan
Description: Side Entrance Historic Baker Hotel Mineral Wells Texas by Debra Martz We stopped while traveling through Mineral Wells, Texas recently and walked around the crumbling but historic Baker Hotel which opened in 1929 just two weeks after the great stock market crash. It was 14 floors and was considered to be the first skyscraper outside of a major metropolitan area. The hotel was named after and developed by T.B. Taker and cost $1.2 million to build and included progressive amenities such as an Olympic size swimming pool, air conditioning, circulating ice water for guest rooms, even automatic lights that would turn off as guests left their rooms and more. The Baker Hotel was successful through the mid-30s but had many financial difficult...
Description: Common Gallinule at Edge of Water - Painterly by Debra Martz It's not often that I see the full length of the colorful legs and feet of the Galinule (Gallinula galeata) so I was quite pleased as this one posed on the outer edge of the water. I, also, liked the patterns made by the movement of the brackish marsh water at Leaonabelle Birding Center of Port Aransas, Texas. This was taken from the new boardwalk that runs in a different direction from the one that was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. Digital enhancements have been applied for a painterly effect. ©Debra Martz 20190514-DSC_0920
Description: Hackberry Emperor and Huisache Daisy Wildflowers by Debra Martz The trails at South Llano River State Park (near Junction, Texas) were lined with an abundance of wildflowers all along the trails and therefore have attracted a variety of butterflies. Nature at its finest in the colorful Spring with yellow, orange and green! Hackberry Emperor (Scientific name: Asterocampa celtis) Huisache Daisy (Scientific name: Amblyolepis setigera) ©Debra Martz 20190425-DSC_5378
Description: The Great Kiva Interior Aztec Ruins New Mexico by Debra Martz The Great Kiva was a sanctuary and a place for people to meet for community events. This large and restored Kiva is located in the area known as the West Ruins plaza. Archeologist Earl Morris excavated it in 1921 and rebuilt it in 1934. But why named Aztec Ruins? From the brochure, "Don't be fooled by the name. These structures were not built by the Aztec Indians of central Mexico buy by ancestral Pueblo people who lived here centuries before the Aztec empire prospered. Inspired by popular histories about Cortez's conquest of Mexico, and thinkin that the Aztec built these structures, Anglo settlers named the place Aztec!" Digital Art from my original Photography ©...
Description: Red-Tailed Pennant by Debra Martz I was out doing some bird watching which is slow in Port Aransas, Texas in June. But, this beautiful dragonfly would zip out for an insect and return to the same spot giving me the opportunity to get this closeup capture from the boardwalk at Paradise Pond. Scinetific name: Brachymesia furcata ©Debra Martz 20190616-DSC_1691
Description: The Great Kiva Aztec Ruins New Mexico by Debra Martz The Great Kiva was a sanctuary and a place for people to meet for community events. This large and restored Kiva is located in the area known as the West Ruins plaza. Archeologist Earl Morris excavated it in 1921 and rebuilt it in 1934. But why named Aztec Ruins? From the brochure, "Don't be fooled by the name. These structures were not built by the Aztec Indians of central Mexico buy by ancestral Pueblo people who lived here centuries before the Aztec empire prospered. Inspired by popular histories about Cortez's conquest of Mexico, and thinkin that the Aztec built these structures, Anglo settlers named the place Aztec!" Digital Art from my original Photography ©Debra Mart...
Description: Verdin Snagging Insects From the Agarita by Debra Martz Many songbirds enjoy the fruits of the Agarita plant and/or the insects which the plant attracts as well and we were fortunate enough to have one in our campsite. I was able to watch this Verdin come and go from the comfort of my lawn chair at South Llano River State Park...a park located near Junction, Texas in the Hill Country. Scientific Name: Auriparus flaviceps ©Debra Martz In My Gallery/Collection "Feathered Friends" 20190426-DSC_5996
Description: Royal Tern Catching the Sunlight by Debra Martz The Royal Tern flies over water with bill pointing down and plunges into water to catch fish. Several flew by me while I was walking the beach of North Padre Island, Texas. This one turned just right to catch the beautiful sunlight. Scientific name: Thalasseus maximus ©Debra Martz 20190619-DSC_1755
Description: Painted Bunting -Painterly by Debra Martz It just seemed to me that with a bird this vibrant and named Painted Bunting that it should be processed with a painterly effect. To see this effect better, hover over the image and click to zoom on specific areas. Captured this image after completing a 4 hour bird watching hike and returned to my campsite. That's right, this handsome male flew right to the tree in front of me as I was preparing to unload and sit in my chair to rest. South Llano River State Park near Junction, Texas. ©Debra Martz "Feathered Friends" 20190425-DSC_5441
Description: Balcony of Historic Baker Hotel Mineral Wells Texas by Debra Martz We stopped while traveling through Mineral Wells, Texas recently and walked around the crumbling but historic Baker Hotel which opened in 1929 just two weeks after the great stock market crash. It was 14 floors and was considered to be the first skyscraper outside of a major metropolitan area. The hotel was named after and developed by T.B. Taker and cost $1.2 million to build and included progressive amenities such as an Olympic size swimming pool, air conditioning, circulating ice water for guest rooms, even automatic lights that would turn off as guests left their rooms and more. The Baker Hotel was successful through the mid-30s but had many financial difficulties...
Description: Mimosa Blooms by Debra Martz The Silk Tree, aka Mimosa or Silky Acacia is a non-native tree of the U.S. and people seem to either love it (for its beautiful puffball blooms and fern like leaves) or hate it for seed pods that come after the blossoms and the mess it makes long after the beauty of the flowers are gone. I once read that the best way to prune a Mimosa was with a chainsaw!! I would say that one definitely hates the tree! LOL ©Debra Martz 20190610-DSC_1451
Description: Butterfly On An Autumn Day by Debra Martz Not just any ordinary Autumn day as I had made the drive to south Texas for some bird watching. The weather is normally quite nice in late November but not this time...rain and colder than normal all 3 days. Buy hey, I was there to be outdoors and look for birds and enjoy nature on a whole and so I did. I started noticing a number of butterflies up in the trees and also on tall grasses...too cool for them to fly. This particular Queen was on the grass stem along with rain drops of which some were jewel like where the spider webs held them in place. Even on a bad weather day there is beauty to be found. ©Debra Martz 20181124-DSC_1828.NEF
Description: Easter Lilies - Painterly by Debra Martz These white trumpet shaped beauties are growing in my neighbors yards. Lilium longiflorum is known as the Easter Lily because in Christianity, it is a symbol of the resurrection of Christ, which is celebrated during Easter Season. Digitally enhanced for painterly texture. ©Debra Martz In My Gallery/Collection "Flora" 20190510-DSC_0073
Description: Historic Baker Hotel Lamp Post by Debra Martz One of several lamp posts that lead up both sides of the stairs to the main entrance of the Hotel located in Mineral Wells, Texas. Only a few had some remaining gold tone glass. Enhanced in Topaz Impressions. The Baker Hotel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Oh yes, and it is said to be haunted but I cannot confirm. ©Debra Martz 20190610-DSC_1474
Description: Red Poppy Wildflower by Debra Martz In the fall of 2018, major flooding ocurred along the Llano Rivers in the Hill Country of Texas near Junction. The spring that followed in 2019 brought "new to the area" wildflowers. The tall, beautiful Red Poppies were scattered across the park. This was along Buck Lake trail in the riparian area of the park. Hiking Texas' South Llano River State Park was a full of even more beauty this Spring! ©Debra Martz 20190426-DSC_5942
Description: Young Great Tailed Grackle Calling for Food by Debra Martz I had been to Port A back in early May when the Grackles and Blackbirds were nesting in the cattails and reeds. A trip back in June provided my first views of a young Great-tailed Grackle. And just like the adults, these young chicks are quite loud when they start begging the parents to bring them something to eat at feeding time. ©Debra Martz 20190616-DSC_1571
Description: Mimosa Radiance by Debra Martz The Silk Tree, aka Mimosa or Silky Acacia is a non-native tree of the U.S. and people seem to either love it (for its beautiful puffball blooms and fern like leaves) or hate it for seed pods that come after the blossoms and the mess it makes long after the beauty of the flowers are gone. I once read that the best way to prune a Mimosa was with a chainsaw!! I would say that one definitely hates the tree! LOL I've digitally enhanced my original photograph to creat a bit more flare of the Pink Mimosa Puff Balls ©Debra Martz 20190610-DSC_1465
Description: Common Gallinule at Edge of Water by Debra Martz It's not often that I see the full length of the colorful legs and feet of the Galinule (Gallinula galeata) so I was quite pleased as this one posed on the outer edge of the water. I, also, liked the patterns made by the movement of the brackish marsh water at Leaonabelle Birding Center of Port Aransas, Texas. This was taken from the new boardwalk that runs in a different direction from the one that was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. ©Debra Martz In My Gallery/Collection "Feathered Friends" 20190514-DSC_0922
Description: Lark Sparrow Early Morning by Debra Martz While having coffee outdoors at my campsite several mornings in a row, I had begun to notice the habits of the birds as they started their day. The Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) along with the Black-throated Sparrows would forage mostly from the ground but would also perch on this low snag. Meanwhile, Warblers, Vireos, Flycatcher, etc were busy deep in the trees catching insects. ©Debra Martz In My Gallery/Collection "Feathered Friends" 20190426-DSC_5795
