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A Tiny, Tiny Flower

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 […]

My New Pet Tree

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

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

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. […]

The Memory of Hummingbirds, Ver 2

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 […]

Cinnamon Teal Eye

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

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 […]

Baby Ground Squirrels

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!