Description: "Green Heron Fluffed Crown Feathers" I waited and watched the Heron as it waited and watched for some prey in the water below. When it fluffed its feathers, I thought, finally, I'm going to get the photo of it taking off, but that wouldn't happen. It outlasted me, and I finally moved on along the walking path. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20250301-DSC_5270
Description: "Duck in Natural Habitat" A Mottled Duck with an expression that seemed like, "What Are You Looking At?" This one was in the vegetation just off the Laguna Madre in South Padre Island, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20250304-DSC_5690
Description: "Heron With Its Prize Catch" I am always amazed when birds catch such large fish, and this one was a prize catch! I also wonder how they manage to digest them. This Great Blue Heron sought out refuge in the wooded area of the lake, so I didn't get to watch the work it went through to chow down in this one. Photographed at Falcon Lake in Southern Texas in January. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 202520180125-DSC_5917
Description: "Marbled Godwits Resting and Reflecting" After a busy morning of feeding on the wetlands, it was time to rest. The air was still, making for calm waters and perfect reflections. Photographed from the boardwalk on the Nature Trail in Port Aransas, Texas, in October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251016-DSC_9039
Description: Splashes of Pink in the Wetlands" A large number of Roseate Spoonbills were already resting after a morning of feeding in the wetlands, while some were preening. Photographed from the boardwalk on the Nature Trail in Port Aransas, Texas, in October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251016-DSC_9028
Description: "Circles of Light at Sunrise" When the light of the sun seemed to bounce across the waves to the shoreline, I knew I had to go vertical to capture as many of those circular 'balls' of light as possible. Photographed this sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico from the beach in Port Aransas, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20251015-DSC_3443
Description: "Tricolored Heron and its Reflection" It was early morning, and not even a slight breeze was in the air which made for some perfectly mirrored reflections of the birds. Captured from the Nature Trail boardwalk in Port Aransas, Texas, in mid-October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251016-DSC_9005
Description: "Bird Wing Imprint in Snow" I was sitting outside in my backyard, getting photos of birds landing on the snow-covered limbs of trees. I was not ready for a bird trying to land on the slanted roof of our storage building. The Bluejay, as you can see, was not successful in sticking the landing, but it left a cool imprint of its wings! ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 202520240115-DSC_9141
Description: "Wren Singing Its Song" This Bewick's Wren is one of those small birds whose vocalizations are surprisingly big and loud. I most often hear Wrens before I spot them. This one was mid-song when I turned to find it had landed on a branch of a tree I had just passed on the trail. Image captured at Falcon Lake State Park in South Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 202520180126-DSC_6025
Description: "Flames In the Waves" It was a very peaceful start to a new day when the sun broke on the horizon. Once that big ball of fire rose above the horizon, the colors intensified, even coloring the splashes of a few breaking waves, which reminded me of flames. Ships seen on the horizon were awaiting entry into the Port Aransas, Texas, ship channel, which then continues into the Port of Corpus Christi, where they load and/or unload their products. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collections: "Coastal" 20251015-DSC_3416
Description: "Serene Sunrise with Ships on the Horizon" It was a cloudless, peaceful start to a new day as the sun broke on the horizon. Ships seen on the horizon were awaiting entry into Port Aransas, Texas, ship channel, which then takes them into the Port of Corpus Christi. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Coastal" 20251015-DSC_3393
Description: "Happy Turtle on a Log" I saw this Red-eared Slider sitting on a pile of dead reeds in the wetlands, and it appeared to be smiling. Was it happy to be out sunning, or was it enjoying the new feather it was sporting on its head? ;-) Photographed from the boardwalk on the Nature Trail of Port Aransas, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20251014-DSC_8522
Description: "Desert Landscape with Rainfall" This is the high desert of Northern New Mexico. This scene is within the Wild Rivers Recreation national lands north of Questa. The two levels of landscape are cut by the Rio Grande deep in the gorge. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 202520170917-DSC_0882 AI Text: A vast desert landscape is depicted under a dramatic sky. Rainfall is visible in the distance, creating a serene yet striking scene. Photography by Debra Martz
Description: "Common Gallinule Admiring Its Reflection" It stared so intently into the water that it appeared it was admiring its own reflection. Captured from the nature trail in Port Aransas, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251014-DSC_8499 AI Text: A gallinule with a striking red and yellow beak gracefully floats on calm waters. Its reflection creates a mirror image on the surface. Photography by Debra Martz
Description: "Young Cormorant Stare Down" Check out that look on this young Double-crested Cormorant after it resurfaced! It made me chuckle when I saw it on my computer later. Captured in Port Aransas, Texas, from a boardwalk over the water. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251014-DSC_8485 AI Text: A cormorant with a long neck swims gracefully on the surface of a rippling body of water. Its sleek, dark feathers contrast with the light reflecting off the water. Photography by Debra Martz
Description: "Elegant Wild Grass Stem" I enjoy finding the simple things in nature. This tall, bending single stem of grass looked elegant to me, as it caught the light and gently swayed with the light breeze. Seen along a hiking trail in Port Aransas, Texas, while out bird watching. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 202520170917-DSC_0866 AI Text: A single wild grass stem gracefully bends against a dark, blurred background. The delicate seeds catch the light beautifully. Photography by Debra Martz
Description: It is fall migration time and many birds have made their way to the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Northern Oklahoma. There were upwards of 10,00 Sandhill Cranes in the bay. This is one small grouping as they continued to fly out for the day. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251112-DSC_9297
Description: “Heart of The Tree” I discovered this tree top with the shape of a heart several years ago and then started photographing it in different seasons. It is along one of the gravel roads that goes through the marshlands of the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in northern Oklahoma. This image was taken in May of 2025. In June 2025, a high straight-line wind storm went through much of north-central Oklahoma. I returned to the refuge a few weeks after the storm to find many downed trees throughout, this one included. The storm also took down trees that had held Bald Eagle nests for years. So happy to have taken this photograph when it was nearly full of Spring leaves. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
Description: “Mountain Chickadee On A Tree Branch” I watched this Mountain Chickadee as it flitted through high branches, and at times even hung upside down like a Nuthatch, to pluck insects or seeds from cones. Photographed while hiking in Wild Rivers Recreation Area near Questa, New Mexico. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: “Feathered Friends” 202520170918-DSC_0891
Description: "Heron Stalking Amidst Reeds" Many Herons, like this Green Heron, are very patient and move slowly when in search of prey. This one was still watching and stalking, even when I finally turned to move on with my bird watching. Photographed at Paradise Pond in Port Aransas, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251014-DSC_8414
Description: "Vibrant Heart-Shaped Leaves" A beautiful vine with leaves of hearts that I noticed along a hiking trail in Port Aransas, Texas. I cropped the image for an elongated composition and applied a digital smudge filter to soften the background. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Trees Shrubs Nature" 20251014-DSC_8399
Description: "Flock of Sandhill Cranes in Flight' It is fall migration time, and many birds have made their way to the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Northern Oklahoma. There were 1,000s of Sandhill Cranes that arrive at the refuge's bay annually. This is one small grouping, as small flocks continued to fly out for the day. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251112-DSC-9368
Description: "Flock of Cranes At the Wetlands" Thousands of Sandhill Cranes, ducks, shorebirds, and some endangered Whooping Cranes use this important bird area, especially during Fall Migration. Every year, during November and early December, I make the short 45-mile drive to witness the many birds. On this day, I did see several of the endangered Whooping Cranes with the use of a scope as they were on the far back edge of the bay. Photographed at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Northern Oklahoma from the Eagle Roost trail in November. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collections: "Feathered Friends" 20251112-DSC_9330
Description: "Sandhill Cranes Soaring in Blue Sky" It fall migration time and many birds have made their way to the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Northern Oklahoma. There were upwards of 10,00 Sandhill Cranes in the bay. This is one small grouping as they continued to fly out for the day. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251112-DSC_9297
Description: "Outgoing Ship at Port Aransas Texas" I was originally happy that the two seagulls were on the beach to add to the overall composition of the outgoing ship, but, as always, I snapped off several pictures and was super happy when a third seagull flew overhead. This ship is nearing the end of the jetties of the ship channel at Port A, Texas. The ship channel leads to the port of Corpus Christi, where ships load and unload. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Coastal" 20251017-2016
Description: "Family of Canada Geese" Captured this moment in Spring when wildlife are raising and teaching their young ones. Canada Geese usually have 2 to 8 goslings per clutch, with 5 being the average, so four in this family is close to average. Photographed at the Great Salt Plains State Park in Northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20250501-DSC_7270
Description: Pelican Floating in The Ship Channel" I had been watching for Dolphins in the ship channel when this Brown Pelican landed and decided to float around for a while. Captured from the jetties along the ship channel in Port Aransas, Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20251013-DSC_8350
Description: “Reddish Egret Putting On A Show” This is the White Morph Reddish Egret putting on a show as it forages in shallow saltwater. These Egrets 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” 20251013-DSC_8336
Description: "Underwater Jellyfish and Seaweed" I was walking along a boardwalk over the wetlands in Port Aransas, Texas, looking for birds. The water was slightly deeper in some areas, and that is where I came upon several Jellyfish. I think this might be the Moon Jellyfish. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Coastal"
Description: "Dragonfly on a Spent Flower" A Black Saddlebag landed on a spent sunflower head along the nature trail in Port Aransas, Texas. Proof that being out birdwatching leads to many surprises in nature. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Butterflies Bees Insects" 20251013-DSC_8316
Description: "Underneath Horace Caldwell Pier" I was wishing for some large rolling waves to crash on the pilings of the pier, but it was a beautiful and calm day. But I did get a Pigeon top in the center that I had not counted on, so all was good. This pier is located on the Port Aransas beach in Southern Texas along the Gulf of Mexico. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Collection: "Coastal" 20252016-1909
