Heat, Humidity, No Breeze

Desert Marigolds are back

Brother was it ever humid out in the desert this morning during our daily trek.  It crossed my mind once that we might shorten the hike, but we opted to do the entire regular route--with plenty of shade and water breaks of course.  The ant population out there is incredible, and we're always eyeing the desert floor to make sure Willow doesn't plop down on or step into a crowd of them.  She's been bitten several times in the past and it's no joking matter.  The last few occasions we've given her Benadryl to blunt the allergic reaction.  A breeze would have gone a long way to ameliorate the heat today, but it wasn't in the cards.

An ocotillo we've know since it was a tyke

Willow in the Statue of Liberty's shadow

This & next: you can see hundreds of ocotillos in the foothills

Tall ocotillos

 

After Another Big Rain

Morning sky

After yesterday's afternoon storms, the second batch in as many days, this morning's atmosphere was saturated with humidity; it was noticeably uncomfortable out there.  Nevertheless we did the regular route and completed a full hike.  After we returned home I showered and left for my weekly shopping adventure at Albertsons.  Loads of fun. 

Rainwater ran hard down LDR-A during yesterday's storm

Haze

A young mockingbird

Picacho "Peak" (can you make out birds at top of image?)

Willow praying ants won't bother her

Almost at the cross trail

Tellbrook Arroyo had a lot of rainwater in it yesterday

I'm going with Sleepy Orange

Clown

 

Broiled Shrimp

LDR-A arroyo

Yesterday afternoon's heavy downpour left a lot of residual moisture in the atmosphere.  Dr. K, Willow and I felt it big time on today's hike.  Blazing sunshine added to the discomfort.  An intermittent breeze helped somewhat, but we couldn't rely on it for evaporative cooling.  Despite the minor inconvenience it's always good to get beneficial rain in the desert.

Rain bugs (Red Velvet Mites) come out after the rain

Willow on a recently moistened sand bed

This & next 3:  rainwater flooded arroyos yesterday

A mocking bird on ocotillo branch for good measure

 

Rattler and Cardinal

At the trailhead

Heavy overcast when Dr. K, Willow and I started our hike this morning; conditions remained the same throughout the trek.  On the way down LDR-A arroyo we spotted a medium-sized Western Diamondback rattlesnake at the side of the trail.  It wasn't perturbed until I moved a skosh nearer to photograph and video it; then it gave me the traditional warning:  "Back off!"  I complied.  A bit later I was able to photograph a Pyrrhuloxia (aka Desert Cardinal), but the lighting was really poor.  It sat on the same creosote branch for a very long time.  After our outing we took a long drive.

This & next:  Western Diamondback we spotted

Desert Marigold

Willow on a bed of sand

This & next 2:  Desert Cardinal

Prickly Pear cactus loaded with fruit

Little barrel cactus with buds

 

Howdy Tex

Headed down LDR-A

It rained overnight so the morning was cool and humid; the sun came out and became an impediment to complete comfort, but conditions weren't too bad for our regular outing.  Had the good fortune again to come across a Texas Horned Lizard; most people wouldn't consider these critters pretty, but we do.  After the trek we took a long drive around several different areas before heading home.

Desert/Sky

This & next:  Texas Horned Lizard

Wilsie

Happy flora in an arroyo

Mockingbird on ocotillo branch

Last 2:  Tortugas and the Organs

 

Regular Route

Fishhook Barrel Cactus

Dr. K, Willow and I had a bit of cloud cover when we started our hike this morning, but it wasn't long before the sun broke out to heat things up.  Fortunately a consistent breeze kept us from roasting; it became a wind shortly before we finished the trek.  There's chance of rain later this evening, but only in the 20% + range.

Willow and Dr. K

In a favorite sandy spot

Say's Phoebe of the Opera

Same Say's Phoebe

Eastern Side-blotched Lizard

Faces

Willow in yucca shadow