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.
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Year: 2026
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.)
Juvenile Lava Heron
Marty’s photo of the day #5035: This pretty bird is a juvenile lava heron (aka Galapagos heron). Photographed earlier this year in the Galapagos Islands.
Moon Test, Ver 2
Marty’s photo of the day #5034-B (cropped version to show detail): Provided that Donald Trump doesn’t fuck things up so much that international travel becomes impossible, Deb and I are heading to Tanzania for the Great Migration early next year. Many years ago, we backpacked across Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe, but this time […]
The Moon Test
Marty’s photo of the day #5034: Provided that Donald Trump doesn’t fuck things up so much that international travel becomes impossible, Deb and I are heading to Tanzania for the Great Migration early next year. Many years ago, we backpacked across Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe, but this time we’ll see different species. What […]
A Boy and His Phone
Marty’s photo of the day #5033: I rarely shoot people photos, but in this instance, I couldn’t resist. Deb and I were in New Guinea, visiting a tiny village. We walked over to the school, where the children—all dressed up—stood outside and sang a song for us. That’s when I spotted this boy, off to […]
The Artsy Red-winged Blackbird
Marty’s photo of the day #5032: Today we go artsy with this wing-shot of a red-winged blackbird. (Photographed in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana.)
Robust Sea Squirts
Marty’s photo of the day #5031: These are robust sea squirts. (Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
The Great Blue Heron Test Subject
Marty’s photo of the day #5030: Every time I visit the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge (in Montana), I return home with several photos I like. Last week, my goal was only to test some camera equipment and settings for a future trip. I really wasn’t trying for any “keepers.” Nevertheless, I got some, including […]
The In-flight Challenge
Marty’s photo of the day #5029: I love the challenge of catching birds in flight. I photographed this yellow-headed blackbird earlier this week at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge in Montana.
The Beachmaster
Marty’s photo of the day #5028: The beachmaster. . . . The Galapagos sea lion version of the current president of the United States—only smarter and more stable. (Photographed earlier this year in the Galapagos Islands.)
The Patient Osprey
Marty’s photo of the day #5027: I just missed photographing this osprey as it tried to grab a fish off the surface of the water. After that, I watched and shot photos as it sat on this branch, waiting for another opportunity. Alas, the bird had more patience waiting for another fish to surface than […]
Under a Porcupine
Marty’s photo of the day #5026: Deb, Nellie, and I visited the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge last night—enjoying pizza and beer by one of the big ponds and then heading over to the area where dogs are allowed. After Nellie enjoyed her walk and swim in the shallows at the edge of the Bitterroot […]
For Fuck’s Sake!
For all my book reader friends out there, I have a question for you. Suppose the protagonist in the novel you are reading is in a car, trying to escape the villain. He/she is racing down a country road and must slam on the brakes to narrowly avoid hitting something (a dog, a dead-end sign, […]
Nazca Booby
Marty’s photo of the day #5025: This is a Nazca booby. Photographed earlier this year in the Galapagos Islands.
The Nighttime Moose
This moose has been hanging out at the Essen Wildlife Refuge for at least three days. Last night, I took our dog, Nellie, outside for a final pee before going to bed. While she did that, I went into the garage to look for some gloves for my wife. I was in the garage for […]
That Huge Front Claw
Marty’s photo of the day #5024: This is a Galapagos land iguana. The species can weigh up to 25 pounds and live up to 60 years. I can’t stop staring at that huge front claw! (Photographed earlier this year in the Galapagos Islands.)


















