The flowers are blooming on the Essen Wildlife Refuge! These are blue lupines.
Blue Lupine Bloomin’
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Month: May 2026
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.
My New Pet Tree
This is Woodena, my new pet tree! She is a rescue tree. My spring project has been to move some of the tiny spruce trees on the far side of the Essen Wildlife Refuge and transplant them along the gravel road that passes by Deb’s and my house. I have been busy watering them and […]
A Giant Clam
Marty’s photo of the day #5047: This is a giant clam. And if you are of a certain age, you will now be stuck on “Rock Lobster” for the rest on the day. (Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
An American Coot
Marty’s photo of the day #5046: The word “coot” means someone who is odd, eccentric, or unreasonably stubborn. There are also American coots, like the one in this photo. Although, thankfully, that’s not an actual straw in his mouth, it looks like one. A bird drinking with a straw would, indeed, be odd and eccentric. […]
Mother and Chicks
Marty’s photo of the day #5045: Gadwall ducks, mother and chicks. So much better than Trump and his dicks. (Photographed in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana.)
The Memory of Hummingbirds, Ver 2
Marty’s photo of the day #5044-B (perched version): Because of the warm weather, I moved my writing room outside to the porch earlier than usual. The memory and intelligence of hummingbirds astounds me. Not only can they remember exactly where the feeder was last year, but they also know that humans need to fill it […]
The Memory of Hummingbirds
Marty’s photo of the day #5044: Because of the warm weather, I moved my writing room outside to the porch earlier than usual. The memory and intelligence of hummingbirds astounds me. Not only can they remember exactly where the feeder was last year, but they also know that humans need to fill it up and […]
A Whale Shark Approaches
A whale shark approaches from the cloudy water. Whale sharks are the largest fish to ever inhabit the Earth. They can reach 60 feet long; this one was between 30 and 40 feet long. (Photographed last year in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
Look Mom!
Marty’s photo of the day #5043: “Look Mom! I can stretch out my neck too!” (Canada geese, photographed in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana.)
Cinnamon Teal Eye
Marty’s photo of the day #5042: I woke up at 4:00 a.m. this morning. When I realized I wasn’t going to fall back asleep, I packed up my camera gear and headed for the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge for the second time this week. I didn’t shoot as many photos as I did on […]
Photographing the Yellow-headed Blackbird
Marty’s photo of the day #5041: This is a yellow-headed blackbird, photographed earlier this week. The bird was across a pond, at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, approximately 90 feet away. I normally don’t mention products (other than my books, because well . . . that’s what authors do), but I’ve been having fun […]
Greed and Nature are Incompatible
Marty’s photo of the day #5040: I shot this photo yesterday, shortly after sunrise. In the foreground is a cinnamon teal duck and reflected in the water are the upside-down Bitterroot Mountains. Isn’t nature grand? If you agree, never ever vote for the Party of Trump. Greed and nature are incompatible.
Baby Ground Squirrels
Marty’s photo of the day #5039: I reached the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge (in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana) shortly after sunrise this morning. I photographed birds for a couple hours, and then, as I was leaving, I spotted a group of six baby Columbian ground squirrels. They were adorable!
Penguin and Crab
Marty’s photo of the day #5038: There are fewer than two thousand Galapagos penguins in the wild. And even less photographed with a Sally Lightfoot crab. (Photographed earlier this year in the Galapagos Islands.)
Humphead Parrotfish
Marty’s photo of the day #5037: As the largest species of parrotfish, humphead parrotfish can reach 4 feet-long and weigh 100 pounds. A single humphead parrotfish can produce up to 200 pounds of sand a year by digesting coral and excreting it, helping to create tropical beaches. (Photographed earlier this year in the Galapagos Islands.)
Sea Lion or Sea Dog
Marty’s photo of the day #5036: Some people call sea lions “sea dogs,” because they are so doglike. No matter what anyone calls them, they put a smile on my face. This rather artsy photo is of a Galapagos sea lion. (Photographed earlier this year in the Galapagos Islands.)