Marty’s photo of the day #5059: This is a Galapagos tortoise (also known as a giant tortoise), photographed on Santa Cruz Island. At the time of this photo, the tortoise was migrating from the humid highlands to the dry lowlands and had stopped at a waterhole for a soak. (Photographed in the Galapagos Islands.)
Bald Eagle
Marty’s photo of the day #5058: Deb and I are returning to Vancouver Island in the fall. I photographed the bald eagle the last time we were there.
Red-Winged Blackbird
Marty’s photo of the day #5057: Red-winged blackbird, photographed in he Bitterroot Valley of Montana.
Great Blue Heron Up Close
Marty’s photo of the day #5056: Great blue heron, photographed earlier this year in the Galapagos Islands.
I’m a New Tree Daddy
Deb and I own thousands of trees on the Essen Wildlife Refuge. Nevertheless, the trees aren’t always in the right place. A gravel road passes by on the far side of our property, and I’m getting tired of the dust from vehicles passing by. So this year, I’m transplanting trees from one side of the […]
Pissed Off Hippo
Marty’s photo of the day #5055: Canoeing with a pissed off hippo in Zimbabwe. Not that being pissed off is unusual for hippos. It’s pretty much their happy place.
The Beautiful But Unappreciated Tree Swallow
Marty’s photo of the day #5054: People seldom point and exclaim, “Look! There’s a tree swallow!” as they might do with an eagle, parrot, or pterodactyl. Well, here’s a second look at this common bird. You just have to see them at the proper angle to appreciate their beauty. (Photographed in the Bitterroot Valley of […]
Surviving a Hippo Attack
Marty’s photo of the day #5054: This is Deb and me, laughing after canoeing down the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe and being attacked by a hippo. The hippo bit through the middle of our canoe, lifted us six feet into the air, and dumped us on the muddy riverbank. Deb ended up black-and-blue all along […]
Arrowleaf Balsamroot
Yellow-Billed Stork
Nineleaf Biscuitroot
The flowers are blooming on the Essen Wildlife Refuge! The common name for this tiny flower is a nineleaf biscuitroot. It is part of the carrot family, and, apparently, its taproot is edible.
Magnificent Frigatebird
Marty’s photo of the day #5052: This is a magnificent frigatebird. (Photographed in the Galapagos Islands.)
The Call of the Columbian Ground Squirrel
Marty’s photo of the day #5051: The call of the Columbian ground squirrel. (Photographed in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana.)
The Correct Tool for the Job
Marty’s photo of the day #5050: I appreciate and use the latest technology for many things in my life. But sometimes technology leads us backwards. For instance, while now many people forgo stereo systems to listen to their music with earbuds or a tiny Bluetooth speaker, they miss so much compared to what they’d hear […]
A Tiny, Tiny Flower
The flowers are blooming on the Essen Wildlife Refuge! I wasn’t able to identify this flower because it is so small—the size of the head of a pin! For the photographers out there, I used a Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS macro lens plus a 31mm extension tube to get close enough. And a lot […]
Blue Lupine Bloomin’
Yellowfin Parrotfish
Marty’s photo of the day #5049: This is a yellowfin parrotfish, photographed last year in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.
The Tip of Your Pinky Finger
The flowers are blooming on the Essen Wildlife Refuge! This tiny spiny sandwort is roughly the size of the tip of your pinky finger.
Ornate Butterflyfish
Marty’s photo of the day #5048: These are ornate butterflyfish, photographed last year in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.
Flower Dog
The flowers are blooming at the Essen Wildlife Refuge, so I took some time today to photograph them. Nellie thought she was a far better subject.



















