Last Cold Front?

Waiting in a little shade

The cold front ushered in on yesterday's wind storm may well be the last of the spring season.  It lowered the temperature significantly.  I started out of the house sans jacket, but made an abrupt U-turn to get one.  Things warmed up nicely, though, once we got on the trail, and the desert was filled with signs of spring:  buzzing hummingbirds, the singing of Scott's Orioles (I don't think I've ever seen so many this time of year), and the wind whispering through the desert trees--as well as the countless flowers beginning to blossom out.

Gray Flycatcher

In the middle of nowhere

Dust in the air almost obscures the view of the Organ Mountains (right)

Packrat and the Beckster

Lots of hummingbirds were about this morning

Hummingbird derriere

Ocotillo prison

Peace

Yet another shade break

What an Ocotillo flower might look like on Mars

Enticement for birds and insects

Scott's Oriole on Ocotillo wand

Rumination Tuesday

Starting off

I spent a good portion of this morning's hike composing in my head the cover letter I'm going to write to a publisher.  Even though the pre-planning makes the task easier when I eventually get to it I hate wasting desert time like that.  Fortunately, my trusty "in-the-here-and-now" dog, Becca, keeps me grounded, alerting me to all manner of desert fauna.  Today it was two different mammals, a Desert Cottontail and a Black-Tailed Jackrabbit.  Not to split hares here, but the latter isn't really a rabbit.

Becca spots something



At first I can't see what she's looking at



I zoom in to discover a Desert Cottontail

Simultaneously we see a Jackrabbit dashing for safety

After putting distance between us it's still leery

It stops

Eats a little bite of Prickly Pear Cactus pad



Then scampers away



The buds on the ends of Ocotillo wands are starting to flower

The Ocotillo always flowers before leafing out when there's enough rain

Moonwalk Monday

White-Wing Dove sitting on an egg at our hacienda

This morning was the first day I hiked in a short-sleeve shirt and shorts even though a breeze made it feel rather cool at first.  That changed quickly with physical exertion, and less than a quarter-mile into the hike it felt perfectly fine.  We are headed for 87 F today (30.5 C) before another cold front sweeps in, lowering the temperatures into the mid-70s.  Pretty soon I'll have to switch over from the furnace to the evaporative cooler--not a fun proposition, which requires climbing onto the roof.

Claret Cup flower in our backyard



Along Tortugas Mountain's western flank



Small Mesquite Tree in  large arroyo

Becca at the leaning tower of Yucca

In the foothills

Sunrise Side

Dr. K, Becca and I did a moderately-long hike starting from the Monte Vista side of Tortugas Mountain this morning.  The weather was chilly enough for us to keep jackets on throughout the trek.  We saw only a few distant mountain bikers, but we ran into nobody.  There weren't even any cars in the Monte Vista parking lot when we got back--surprising because it was such a nice morning.  We three had a very nice stroll through the wonderful Chihuahuan Desert.

Killer Rabbit

Bowing in obeisance

The Desert Cottontail pictured here didn't seem very upset by our presence.  That missing chunk from its left ear led me to believe it was a real fighter.  Additonally, the intimidating look it gave me after I took four photos convinced me that we should be moseying along before things escalated into a brawl.  I had to explain all this to Becca as I led her away from a potentially-unpleasant confrontation with a member of the Leporidae clan.

What do you mean "What happened to my ear?"

You're getting on my nerves

Becca spots a mountain biker

Yucca in bloom

Torrey Yucca flowers and Tortugas Mountain

Study area "N" and the Franklin Mountains

Becca on the mountain road

Becca spots a jogger

Soaptree Yucca in the sandy desert

Ocotillo budding out

A Cheerful Song

High on the upper foothills trail

35 F when we hit the trail this morning, with a stiff breeze that made it feel even cooler.  About two-thirds of the way through the hike we came upon this young Scott's Oriole who was singing his head off.  He didn't seem particularly perturbed by our presence, though Oriole's are usually fairly flighty.  This one took off for a bit, then returned to the same spot after a short absence.  I shot several short videos of him, but the one posted is the best.

In the red sand

Chihuahuan grassland

Looking south toward the Franklin Mountains near El Paso

Tortugas (Tortoise) Mountain

Claret Cup Hedgehog

What's over this hill?

Bright sunlight

Scott's Oriole on an Ocotillo wand