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Majestic Young Eagle Departure by Debra Martz For me, even at a young, sub-adult age, this Bald Eagle appears majestic. It became the highlight of a day of bird watching. We had decided it was time to head home but why not make one more drive by the lake area behind the cabins? What a great decision! We were turning right into the parking area and stopped quickly at the sight of this Eagle on the bare tree branches. I very quietly exited the truck and was so appreciative that this regal beauty stayed at the top of this dead tree long enough for me to snap about a dozen images before and during its departure. Beautiful end to the day of bird watching. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Fri...

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...

Hostiles - A Day on Set No1 by Debra Martz While spending a few weeks in Chama, NM during September 2016, a filming/studio crew arrived in town. For a week or so, we would go by the Chama train depot to see the design crew at work. They were painting signage for buildings and revamping some older train/passenger cars for what would be a day on set of filming for the movie Hostiles. From early morning until the end of the day, these extras repeatedly did their parts in staging for the scene. Finally, January 2018 the film came to the movie theaters! After going to see the movie, I came home and went through some of the pictures I took that day of filming. The train depot portion is at the end of the movie and while weeks of prep and an ...

Graceful Flight of a Herring Gull by Debra Martz While the activity of birds was heavy on the water, I took to watching this young Herring Gull making lazy and graceful circles in the sky each time coming just a bit closer to me. In a few more years it will be a white gull with a yellow beak sporting a red dot. Captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma during fall migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20211107-DSC_8586.NEF

Red River of Northern New Mexico by Debra Martz The Red River of New Mexico is a short river which flows from the north slope of Mount Wheeler in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It flows west through the towns of Red River and Questa and then south where it converges with Rio Grande. Within the Norte Del Rio Grande National Monument ( a Bureau of Land Management property) one can take in the view of the convergence from the Lajunta Campground. This scene, however, is from a foot bridge which crosses the river just behind the Eagle Rock Lake between Red River and Questa. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection "New Mexico" 20200629-DSC_0772

Eye to Eye With A Damselfly by Debra Martz After a full morning of bird photography, it was back to the campground to rest for awhile. So, I put my camera with the long lens away and got out my camera with a macro lens and began looking for smaller things in nature. This blue damselfly presented itself to me but I had to get down on its level; down to the ground I went and it waited for me! ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Butterflies Bees Insects" 20211002-DSC_5445

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I love walking around the Taos Plaza in New Mexico and surrounding area. It’s full of shops, places to eat and every summer it is bright and cheerfully filled with colorful, beautiful flowers in gardens and hanging baskets! It’s so delightful, to me, to stroll by Sunflowers and Hollyhocks that tower over my head! Copyright Debra Martz In my Gallery/Collections: “Flora” "Digital Art Photography" 20210720-DSC_4233

Pelican Togetherness by Debra Martz These two appeared to be paired together and still looking a bit dreamy eyed on this early morning. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211003-DSC_6958.NEF

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

Dropped A Bite by Debra Martz While hiking along the Big Tree Trail I first spotted this squirrel on the ground digging, looking for a nut or some type of food. It found what it was after and ran up the side of this leaning tree. But, oops, it dropped a good portion of its food find. Captured at Aranasas National Wildlife Refuge in south Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Wildlife" 202220160304-DSC_2830-En

Kayaking to the Spillway by Debra Martz If you read my descriptions on my bird photography, you might recall my mention of the spillway as the location. It is one of my favorite places to bird watch in this state park. But after the birds do their morning feedings and preening in the water, they all but disappear until evening. I only see one lone seagull in this image myself. Just like the birds possibly, I was back to my comfortable place taking a break just after high noon. I had a quick lunch then went back outside and saw this couple kayaking so went back in the RV for the camera. The people give the image a sense of scale and the textures on the flowing water and those reflections were shining bright and very picturesque to...

Take a stroll on the Riverwalk of New Orleans for the beautiful scenery or for the unique sights you might see. This is a small portion of love locks on a gated pier along the Mississippi River. Love Wins! Love Lock Tradition ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210512-DSC_4749-Edit.tif

White Prickly Poppy Pollinator by Debra Martz I find bird watching to be a great hobby. It gets me outside, on long walks and enjoying the nature that is all around me. Captured in March in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in southern Texas. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: "Flora" "Wildflowers" "Digital Art" 202220160304-DSC_3067

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

When seen at a distance, they appear black but close up and with the sun shining on them they are beautiful. And though they may be beautiful, they can be a pest, especially when they arrive at backyard feeders in large groups. They are not native to the USA but they are the most abundant of all songbirds with a range from Alaska to Mexico. 100 birds were set free in New York's Central Park in the early 1890s by a group who wanted America to have all the birds that Shakespeare ever mentioned. Unbelievable that now there are more than 200 million European Starlings! ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20210215-72D_3941-Edit.tif

When I stepped into the second room of the old train Depot museum at Uptop, Colorado, this vintage pitcher and basin in the window caught my attention. I especially like that I could angle the composition to get the Chapel of the Wayside as background. ©Debra Martz 2021-09-18 All Rights Reserved

Cow Parsnip Infrared by Debra Martz While hiking the Goose Creek Trail near Red River, New Mexico, one couldn't help but notice how lush the nature of in the forest was. While I saw the one large insect, my main focus was that of the white blooms of the Cowparsnip. Once I zoomed in on my computer to view, I was surprised at just how many insects were enjoying this wildflower! With this image, once did an infrared conversion and used a smudge tool, most of the insects justs blended in except the larger one on the right. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20200629-DSC_0739-Edit-Edit.tif

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

While on a short road trip, we stopped at the Meridian State Park in Texas and drove the scenic roads through the park. On the west side of the lake, there was an "arm" of water filled with the tall, emergent Water Lotus. Several digital filters and brushes have been used to create this work from my original photograph. ©Debra Martz

Port Aransas. Texas is a wonderful birding area during spring and fall migration. This was the first time I had seen the Philadelphia Vireo on its Spring Journey heading north to its breeding grounds in Canada. ©Debra Martz In My Gallery/Collection "Feather Friends2" 20190512-DSC_0482.NEF

Seeing these gas station attendant caps was a huge throw back in time for me. I remember the attendants dressed in uniforms with button shirts, caps and some even wore bow-ties in the very early days! Not to mention they would check your oil, water levels and wash the windshield! But in these current days the majority of gas stations are self-service with the full service the exception rather than the rule in most USA states. While traveling through Oregon a few years back, we noticed there were no self-service stations and the same for New Jersey; customers are not allowed to fill their own tanks in these two states. The caps were just some of the gas memorabilia inside the Classical Gas Museum located in Embudo, NM. ©Deb...

This group of Ruddy Ducks couldn't have turned and departed any faster. They were close to the bank when I stopped but took off before I could get out of the truck. So a lake scene it became instead of a Duck image! Great Salt Plains Lake is located in northern Oklahoma and I visit often for my hobby of bird watching. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210121-DSC_3154.NEF

Ice Piled by the Winds by Debra Martz After a while with below freezing temps, the south winds and warmer weather arrived in northern Oklahoma in January. The previously ice covered lake had almost melted with just piles of ice on the shoreline, broken and pushed by the high south winds. The lake at the Great Salt Plains State Park near Nescatunga and Jet, OK. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Oklahoma" 20220113-DSC_0492.NEF

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

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

Flower Fly by Debra Martz I was sitting outside at the campground taking a break from a day of bird watching when I started noticing some of the insects around me. Not sure the exact ID of this one; some type of Hover Fly I think which some of them are also known commonly called Flower Fly thus the title. Feel free to drop a comment as to the correct ID if you know it. Captured in October at the River Road Campground in northern Oklahoma. Great Salt Plains State Park. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20211003-DSC_7178

Pelican Togetherness by Debra Martz When North America's second largest bird, with an average wingspan of 9 feet, flies in a tight-knit group like this, I wonder how they do it with such grace! But they do and I enjoyed watching 1000s of them flying all over and around the Great Salt Plains State Park and the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in northern Oklahoma during fall migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20210929-DSC_6331

Just a Sliver of the Moon by Debra Martz Heading out for an early morning of bird watching and watching the moonset. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20211202-DSC_9350

While the snow on the branches is gone the temps are brutal getting below zero at night. One method for birds to stay warm is to fluff their feathers to hold in warm air. We have supplied steady food and water during this crazy, cold winter system and at some points as many as 60-70 of these American Goldfinches have been present. They come and go all day; daylight until dark. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20210213-DSC_3715.NEF

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

Squiggly Lines in the Sand by Debra Martz I was walking along the Sandpiper Trail when I noticed those squiggly lines near the waters edge.. I have no idea what living creature made it but thought it looked cool. Just the simplest of things in nature intrigue me and set my mind to wondering. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Nature Treasures" 20211008-DSC_7631-Edit.tif

While walking the New Orleans Riverwalk, I noticed a garden bed with these Agapanthus flowers in the budding stage. They were far enough apart that I could isolate just one. I've blackened the green background and created a multi-depth purple vignette/frame to where it appears the flower is moving out of the frame. AKA African Lily, Lily of the Nile, Agapanthus praecox, Blue Lily, Common agapanthus ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210512-DSC_4771-Edit.tif

Oh the memories as a kid ready and willing to help Mom lick and stick those stamps in the redemption books! Just another treasure of memorablia in the Classical Gas Museum in Embudo, New Mexico. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "New Mexico" 20210720-DSC_4326-Edit.tif

Early Morning Arrival of Egrets by Debra Martz It's that time of year; fall migration of birds passing through northern Oklahoma. Camping at the River Road campground at the Great Salt Plains State Park is a great place to watch the birds as they start moving in early in the morning. These Great Egrets along with one Snowy flew in and landed directly behind our campsite at dawn, their white feathering reflecting beautifully on the water of the Salt Fork River. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211001-DSC_6487

We were strolling the main street through Red River, NM admiring all the flowers. Flowers seem to love the mountain air, growing tall and beautiful! The little bee seemed to be enjoying the flowers, also, but took flight just as I took this shot. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collections: "Flora" "Digital Art Photography" 20210819-2021-08-19-IMG_4895