Shooting Shortened Excursion

Arroyo

Because somebody--probably a dove hunter--was shooting in the area we were heading to we decided to cut the hike short this morning.  Mourning Dove and White-winged Dove hunting season begins September 1st, runs through late October and opens up again in November through late December.  I prefer shooting birds with my camera.

1993 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, 12-seater

Zebra-tailed Lizard

This & next:  Variegated Meadowhawk

Last 2:  helicopter surveying the area this morning

 

Bit Cooler

The way we came down LDR-A arroyo

It was slightly cooler for Dr. K, Willow and me as we started our early morning trek.  Whenever the sun broke through the clouds the conditions warmed some, but it never felt too hot.  We did about half our regular route for two reasons:  Willow chose the way forward, and I didn't mind cutting it short because I had my weekly shopping to do at Albertsons, which I did after our outing.

Long view of Tortugas and the Organs

Male house finch

Wils on a bed of sand

Organ Mountains getting a bit of sun

Black-throated Sparrow

Last 2:  Organ Mountains from the trailhead

 

Lunedi Giro Solo con Willow

Long way to Tortugas

Dr. K had a meeting this morning so it was Willow and me on the daily trek.  We took a slightly different route down to the Tellbrook Arroyo, turned toward the Organ Mountains on the east/west cross trail, and then headed up the left branch arroyo until we reached the junction with the right.  Willow chose the right branch arroyo route, but three-fourths of the way up I decided to alter our regular path forward by heading southeastward up the steep hill and then following the ridge trail back to the CR-V.  It was a good outing, but the temperature is still too hot for our liking.

Getting closer

My hiking partner

This & next:  Zebra-tailed Lizard

White-winged Doves on yucca stalk

Far west of the mountains

 

Bathing Day

Morning moon

Dr. K, Willow and I purposefully chose to do half a hike this morning so we could take a long drive afterward in order to get back with plenty of time left before noon to give our little sand potato a much-needed bath.  Of all the dogs we've ever had she is the absolute best at being bathed.  The bathing was a success and now Willow will be clean for a day or two.

Fluffy cactus wren

The long view

Willow in the sandbox

This & next 2:  probably a Variegated Meadowhawk

Bush pilot

Double barrel

Last 2:  closeups of double barrel cactus flowers and buds

 

Nada Especial

Enjoying the hike?

Dr. K and I had decided early on that we'd probably do half a hike this morning, but we got overruled boy Willow who wanted to do the full regular route.  Hard to tell if she was really enjoying the trek, though, because she stopped repeatedly, even a few more stops than she usually takes.  No worries, though, we all enjoyed the shade and water breaks.  Took a long drive after the outing.

Who spent the night here?

Harbinger of desert autumn

This & next:  Allthorn fruit (small ball bearing size)

This & next:  White-thorn Acacia

Triple barrel cactus

 

Little Lizard

Cuddle buddies

Dr. K and I decided early on that we'd do half a hike due to hot weather, but Willow had another plan:  we'd head north across the Tellbrook Arroyo and explore some side arroyos before heading back.  Which is what we did.  Mileage probably was the same as doing our entire regular route, but who's tallying?  We saw some interesting sights and critters along the way.

Half a dozen of the other (house finches)

Willow having a rest

This & next:  Sacred Datura

Artsy arroyo

Two arroyos diverged in a desert wood

Tellbrook Arroyo

Arroyo coming from the north

Zebra-tailed Lizard

 

Dove on ocotillo branch

White-winged Dove on sumac branch