Very Windy Hike

1st 2: morning moon

The wind got started in earnest just before Dr. K, Willow and I got going on our morning outing; we did another forest trek today.  It actually felt a bit cool with partially cloudy skies and a wind that contained some chilly air.  After we finished our hike I did yard work around the property, mowing what little grass we have along with a few weeds.  I wanted to do it this morning when conditions were still quite cool, and before rain (which we could get today and tomorrow) nourishes new growth.

Hazy Haynes Canyon

Puffy clouds

Willow on our driveway

Sacramento Mountains long view

Another ancient juniper

Willow in the forest

Looking down at the Lincoln National Forest

Looking across the forest from the Back 40

 

Deer and Elk

Elk cow on our property

Early this morning we saw on our property something we'd never seen before;  elk and mule deer grazing and browsing together.  Not surprising, I guess, where their ranges overlap; and elk are, after all, members of the deer family.  A short while later Dr. K, Willow and I took a hike up the mountain behind the cabin.  We had a nice outing despite the elevated humidity; trees and passing clouds provided plenty of shade.

Mule deer and elk were browsing together

Can he see me?

Elk cow and elk ears

Elk cow

This & next 4:  young mule deer buck

 

Dr. K and Willow in the forest

Turkey Vulture

Trunk and rocks

Lizard

Artsy hummer

Black-throated hummer

Sacramentos

Sitting Willow

Sacramento Mountains

Why do they call us "mule deer"?

Resting Willow

Splintered tree

Near the cabin

Change in Elevation

Nest in the Desert Willow in our backyard

Dr. K, Willow and I did our usual hike in the lower desert this morning before returning home to finish packing for a trip to the high country where we are now.  Best thing about being up here:  it's cooler, but not breathtakingly cooler.

This & next:  small bird emerging from nest

 

This & next 2:  Nipple Beehive Cactus under mesquite tree

Willow leading the way

Dayflower

Black-throated Sparrow

Organ Mountains and environs looking quite green

Hawk in Tree

1st 5: after much agonizing I'm going with Cooper's Hawk

Having just turned right off our street I saw a hawk fly up into a neighbor's tree; I was able to get some fairly decent photos of the raptor.  Pretty sure it's a Cooper's Hawk.  Finished our drive out to the trailhead and did our regular route.  We heard somebody on a dirt bike while we were out there, but we saw no one in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  The weather was bearable:  hot and humid, but with a somewhat consistent breeze.

Twin-spotted Spiny Lizard

Looking up the arroyo we just came down

Willow hearing something

Down the middle branch arroyo

Looking north at Tortugas Mountain from the right branch