Great Plains Pillows

Oklahoma

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

Incoming Pelicans Egrets and Gulls by Debra Martz Great way to start the early morning by bird watching from my campsite during fall migration in northern Oklahoma. The Great Plains Salt Lake flows through the spillway into the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River directly behind the Riverroad Campground. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211001-DSC_6507 Great Salt Plains State Park near Jet and Cherokee, Oklahoma

Norfolk, NE.

Go team go!

Tree of Vultures by Debra Martz It was the end of September and fall migration was in full swing. I go to the Great Salt Plains State Park quite often for bird watching and I've taken some photos of birds in this old, neatly shaped dead tree in the past. But this was the first time I had seen it outlined with the migrating Turkey Vultures. Scientific Name: Cathartes aura ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20210928-DSC_6186

This portion of the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River in Oklahoma is just below the spillway of the Great Salt Plains Lake. The upper portion of this image is the Riverroad Campground where we like to spend time especially during Spring and Fall bird migration. Was odd to see the campground completely empty on this January day as there are usually at least a few campers even when not the best weather. On the lower bank of good ol' Oklahoma red dirt are 3 American White Pelicans and a lone Great Blue Heron reflecting in the water. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210121-DSC_3072.NEF

American White Pelican Golden Hour by Debra Martz The colors of the early morning light reflecting beautifully on the water as this White Pelican slowly glided by me. Captured at the spillway of the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20210929-DSC_6200

North Dakota Map

Bald Eagle In Flight by Debra Martz Just as we decided to call the day of bird watching done and pulled out onto the highway to head home, I spotted a Bald Eagle in a tree. We were crossing a bridge and as soon as we made it to the end we pulled off of the road. I jumped out and headed across the bridge by foot in hopes that it would still be there but it wasn't. However, I turned to look out over and across the river and saw it making circles in the sky! ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 3" 20211202-DSC_9874

Sand Creek Bay Bird Blind Black and White by Debra Martz I've spent many many hours in this bird blind since discovering it after our move to northern Oklahoma in 2019. There are a few ducks out there this morning. BUT fall migration is spectacular when thousands upon thousands of Sandhill Cranes, Geese and Ducks of many varieties and shore birds arrive to spend some time here before moving on south for the winter. Located in the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge along the Eagle Roost Trail. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20220131-IMG_8944 Bird Blind-Edit.tif

The license plates of South Dakota, show off your love of this beautiful state with this design!

Large Gathering of Cormorants by Debra Martz After I made my way all the way to the top steps of the spillway and looked beyond toward the dam, I was quite surprised by this Gulp of Double-breasted Cormorants! Yes, I knew this was part of their fall migration but I had not seen them gathered on the edge of the dam like this previously. A group of cormorants has many collective nouns, including a "gulp", "flight", "rookery", "sunning", and "swim" of cormorants. Captured at The Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211101-DSC_8186

Posing Turkey Vulture by Debra Martz There is a sidewalk and stairs along each level of the spillway that I walk while bird watching. Rarely are there birds on the railings with the exception of the Turkey Vultures especially during fall migration. There were 4 here together but 3 flew immediately upon seeing me. This one, howeve, decided to just hold its own spot which allowed me a few closeup up photos. Great Salt Plains State Park is located near Jet and Cherokee, Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211001-DSC_6624.NEF

The license plates of South Dakota, show off your love of this beautiful state with this design! Let everyone around you know which state you call home.

Disorderly Conduct by Debra Martz Sort of looks like a chaotic mess of birds with no rhyme nor reason as to their movements. Some leaving by air, while some were landing and others moving across the water in all directions. All I know is that there were large numbers of Double-crested Cormorants and Ring-billed Gulls on the move during fall migration. There could be some other Gulls in this mix as I had seen Franklin and Herring Gulls earlier. Captured at the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211101-DSC_8219.NEF

Devils Tower is a national monument in Wyoming where rock climbing and the great outdoors can be enjoyed! A laccolithic sculpture in public lands and the national park of the northern plains Indians or indigenous people.

Grand Island, NE.

Ink drawing of a Buffalo by Tim Jeffs

Morning Flight of the Sandhill Cranes by Debra Martz Just to the left of this landscape is the Sand Creek Bay where 1000s of Sandhill Cranes were wading in the water in the very early morning. Many of them flew before there was ample light for photographs. The light and colors are from the sun rising in the east highlighting the western sky and landscape. Taken during fall migration in early November at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge where just a short hike will lead you to the bay and a very nice bird blind for photographers and bird watchers. The refuge is located in northern Oklahoma near the towns of Jet and Cherokee. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211101-...

What was it like to live and work here? Wonder how old the house is? Sometimes you have to go off the main highways and see the Country. See where we have come from. Imagine what others had to do that we forget about today.

Beautiful Snowy Performance by Debra Martz I could not believe what I was seeing on this particular morning. I've watched Snowy Egrets "fish" for many years. They position themselves in an area and watch the water closely before probing for a fish as they see it go by them. But on this morning, several Snowies were leaving the peninsula and half running, half dragging their feet while stirring up some fish and then would nab on the go! It was a most spectacular sight to witness! ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211003-DSC_7110.NEF Captured below the spillway of the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma.

American Avocet Minimalism by Debra Martz While I was busy keeping my eye tuned to a few certain Pelicans, I saw something coming from the corner of my eye. Two small Avocets flying into the scene; so small compared to the huge White Pelicans but so similar with their underbody of white and black wing tips. Captured at the spillway of Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma during fall migration. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20210929-DSC_6352.NEF

Clouds Loom Over the Oklahoma Salt Plains by Debra Martz On a second trip to the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, we drove as far as allowed on the marked "road" onto the salt flats. We didn't stay long as the salty, sandy, clay substance is not somewhere you want to be driving if the rains come, even in 4-wheel drive it felt like we could easily get stuck! Located in northern Oklahoma near the towns of Cherokee and Jet. Several digital filters applied to my original photograph for a somewhat painterly effect. ©Debra Martz 20191001-DSC_7340-Edit.tif

Kearney, NE.

wild and free buffalo

After two weeks of below freezing weather, I was surprised to see the American White Pelicans at the Great Salt Plains Lake. I had previously been made aware that there were some resident ones that did not migrate but I really thought they might have headed somewhere else. Most of the lake was still frozen, so they were all in the only area that had thawed. They were already showing signs of breeding season with the yellow plate which forms on the top of the bills of breeding adults. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collections "Feathered Friends2" "Digital Art" 20210223-DSC_4153-Edit.tif

Morning Arrivals Joining the Flock by Debra Martz Mostly American White Pelicans and a few Double-crested Cormorants herding fish together. More Pelicans started dropping in on the feast along with one curious seagull flying in as well. Captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma during Fall Migration in early October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved

Illustrated realistic cartoon bison head

Scissor-tailed FlycatchJust as I turned off Oklahoma hwy 38 onto the gravel road that leads to the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, I had the treat of Scissortails on both side of the road. I preferred this side with the golden fall grasses as a backdrop as the other side they were on power lines. They are the Oklahoma State Bird yet they are also a migratory bird and will be heading south soon. Captured Oct. 15th in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends" 20201015-DSC_1016.NEF

This litle Carolina Chickadee was singing beautifully deep in the trees. I followed its sounds until it appeared to be closer. At first I didn't see it until I looked straight up high in the treetop. Captured at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge along the Eagle Roost trail located in northern Oklahoma. Digital filter and soft digital brushes applied to my original photograph for a slight painterly effect. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galleries/Collections: "Feathered Friends2" "Digital Art Photography" 20210328-DSC_2655-Edit

Sun Peeking Over the Dam ©Debra Martz I had been standing and watching the changing colors and light of the sky for 30 minutes or so when the sun finally made its appearance over the dam. Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved

Cormorant On The Rocks ©Debra Martz A lone juvenile double-crested Cormorant sat quietly and watched the others depart. Captured this image at the Great Salt Plains state park in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: Feathered Friends 3 20220401-DSC_1145.NEF

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

Northern Flicker Cross ©Debra Martz When I first saw this Northern Flicker I thought immediately that it was the Red-shafted male due to the red mustache. But, then looking at it on my computer I noticed a red patch on its nape which is something the Yellow-shafted variety has. So I've concluded that this is a cross of the two subspecies (Red-shafted x Yellow-shafted Intergrade). The two Northern Flicker subspecies are the red-shafted and the yellow-shafted of which both can be found in Oklahoma. The male red-shafted has a red mustache while the male yellow-shafted has a black mustache and a red patch on the nape. Observed at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge near Jet, OK. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Galle...

Great Blue Heron In Flight Over the Spillway by Debra Martz I go to the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma quite often for bird watching. The spillway is usually my first stop as more than likely birds will be either in the water fishing for food or in flight as they head downstream to the river. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20210622-DSC_3997