Clouds to Sun

First 2:  clouds blocking the sun over the Organs

Although we're under a Red Flag warning again this afternoon the morning hike was fine.  Started off with high cloud cover giving way to partial sun.  Made for some interesting photos.

Did the same trek we've been doing:  LDR-A arroyo, east/west cross trail, up the left branch, down the middle branch, and up and out of the right branch arroyos.

We had one dicey encounter with a jackrabbit that got both Frio and Willow revved up and ready to chase; but I called them off, and they responded fairly obediently.  I say "fairly" because they're never completely willing to give up on the possibility of pursuit.

Ocotillos and the mountains

Ocotillos

This & next:  clouds trending west

This & next 2:  Soaptree Yucca putting up flower stalk

This & next:  Swainson's Hawk

Willow and Frio

Swainson's Hawk again

Yucca fruit

Sky

Last 2:  Tortugas and the Organs

 

Breaking Wind Temporarily

Typical Chihuahuan Desert scene

Nice hike this morning with the two crazy Heelers.   A bit cool at first, and then quickly warming up.  No breeze to speak of.

Down LDR-A instead of the arroyo, east on the cross trail, up and down the left branch of the new arroyo, and then up and out of the right branch.

The weather was distinctly better than yesterday's; we could even see blue sky.  Unfortunately we're under another Red Flag warning again this afternoon, and now (1:30 pm) the wind is really picking up.

Wild clouds

Heading down LDR-A

How long until it's doing pushups?

Tortugas and the Organs

A second bird flying in the middle distance might be a hawk

Our buddy Swainson's Hawk in the same place as yesterday

Crazier clouds

Heelers

Cactus Wren with breakfast.

D'Artagnan

Yucca with fruit basket

Frio and Willow

Swainson's Hawk again

This & next:  our favorite mesquite

Willow and Frio

The long view

This & next:  view to the base of Tortugas Mountain

Heelers on break

Extrude X

 

Hawk Fail

Yet another bad air day

Air was terrible again this morning.  Willow, Frio and I did our usual hike, and, again, I was trying to get a decent long-range photo of the Swainson's Hawk who seems often to occupy the same perch.  The disappointing results are posted here.

Heelers were very good today, although somewhat pully when they caught scent of desert critters.  But I was able to call them off fairly easily.

They were also well behaved during the drive home, not snarling or barking at other dogs who were walking their people in the neighborhoods.

Swainson's Hawk

Heelers

Another shot of bad air

How distant the Swainson's Hawk was

Sky to the southwest

Last 3:  Swainson's Hawk (middle image w/Dry Brush filter)

 

Another Bad Air Day

Quality of the air this morning

Dr. K accompanied us on our morning trek today, in part as a celebration of her very special day.  It was a fest for us all.

We did our normal hike down LDR-A arroyo, east on the cross trail, up the left branch and down the middle branch before heading up and out of the right branch.

We saw some beautiful desert birds, but all at great distances:  Swainson's Hawk, Pyrrhuloxia and a Black-throated Sparrow.  Got a few decent images of them.

After the outing we took a drive around several different neighborhoods a few miles from ours; it was a pleasant ride.

Looking to the north

This & next 2:  Swainson's Hawk

This & next 3:  Pyrrhuloxia

Flowering Prickly Pear

Willow and Frio

Prickly Pear buds

Black-throated Sparrow