Caterpillars

Double Barrel Cactus

Partly cloudy and humid morning when Willow, Frio and I started our hike up to First Arroyo.  It was quite busy out there today; we encountered a single woman hiker, Mr. and Mrs. Big Hat and Mr. and Mrs. Runners.  We chatted briefly with all but the Big Hats.

Other interesting encounters were with a Greater Earless Lizard, a Lark Sparrow (I think) and several White-lined Sphinx caterpillars, which, at first, I thought were colorful flowers because I saw them from the corner of my eye.

Such a pleasure going and coming in the car when we don't have to drive through ongoing road construction.

Organ Mountains

This & the next 3:  Desert Zinnia bouquets (2 in B&W)

Greater Earless Lizard

I think this is a Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)

This & the next:  Willow and Frio in First Arroyo

This & the next:  Soaptree Yuccas in First Arroyo

Dayflowers and the Organ Mountains

A small Fishhook Barrel Cactus

Soaptree Yucca, Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

At first I thought these were flowers

White-lined Sphinx caterpillar

 

Butterfly and Hummers

Headed down LDR-A

Willow, Frio and I trekked up to Second Arroyo this morning, stopped in for a lengthy shade break--during which we drank water--and then headed back.  We saw nobody else in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.

Road construction crew was working hard when we were coming and going, but it wasn't too bad because they had one lane blacktopped from yesterday's labor.  They'll be off during the weekend.

Both Frio and Willow were very well behaved today, and I greatly appreciated their cooperation.

This & the next 4:  Desert Zinnia bouquets

This & the next:  Willow and Frio in Second Arroyo

Some type of Sulphur

Soaptree Yuccas

Frio and Willow

This hummer and the next were waging war

Adolescent or female Rufous?

Getting some shuteye

Barrel Cactus with red flower

Last 3:  small Barrel Cactus

 

Breeze Glorious Breeze

This & the next 2:  views along LDR-A

The first part of our morning trek was a bit tough on Willow, Frio and me; hot, humid and sunny conditions were present.  But the last half of the hike was made more than bearable by a steady, cool breeze coming in from the south.  Don't know where the coolness came from, but it was greatly appreciated.

We saw no hominid nature enthusiasts out there today, but plenty of desert denizens were about.  A few are pictured here.

As expected the paving of the road was underway when we drove along Tellbrook early today.  Don't know how much they're going to do, but I hope not much.

Dayflower

I've IDed this beetle before, but not today

Yellow and white

This & the next 2:  Barrel Cactus

Horned Lizard

First Arroyo

Frio and Willow

Flax?

Could be a female Rufous

Weird clouds

Great camouflage

Morning moon

Tellbrook Arroyo

This & the next:  Gambel's Quail

Unicorn Plant