Don't Get Rattled

Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

50F at the start of our hike this morning, felt like 46F due to a 9 mph wind.  Sunny, though, so it didn't feel cold.  Dr. K, Willow and I followed our regular route noticing that the air was quite dusty from yesterday's all-day wind.  We saw several other outdoor enthusiasts and their dogs in the distance east and west of us.  Most notable thing about today's trek was the small rattlesnake (Western Diamondback) that Willow and I walked right next to; we didn't see it until Dr. K pointed the rattler out.  It was warming itself in the sun and wasn't at all bothered by our presence.  We took an extra long drive after our outing today.

t

Desert Marigold

Artsy Ash-throated Flycatcher

This & next:  Willow on break

This & next:  young, very small Western Diamondback

This & next: Walkingstick Cactus (Cylindropuntia spinosior)

Walkingstick Cactus flower bud

 

Last 2:  Tree Cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata)

Sunday Symbiosis

Little puff clouds

Nice morning for a hike:  about 50F at start.  Dr. K, Willow and I followed our regular route; we spotted a few other outdoor enthusiasts during our trek.  After our exploration we took a semi-long drive around several different neighborhoods.

Distant hikers bushwhacking through the desert

Probably a flower by afternoon

Threadleaf Groundsel and range ratany

Willow, relaxation mode

Pretty prickly pear

This & next:  prickly pear flowering

Desert Marigolds

Checkered White?

 

Mockingbird

Artsy mockingbird

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Friday Photos

Has-beens

Warmer this morning as Dr. K, Willow and I did our daily hike; less breezy, too, although it's quite windy this afternoon.  Headed for a high of 80F, but we have another brief cool down coming thanks to a cold front blowing through.  Only thing to note about today's outing:  we bushwhacked over to the Soaptree Yucca that's blooming west of the right branch arroyo.  We'd meant to trek over to it yesterday, but forgot.

Cactus Wren on ocotillo

Willow relaxing in the left branch arroyo

Ocotillo flowers

Barrel cactus, range ratany, desert marigolds

This & next 4:  Soaptree Yucca in bloom (1 pic w/Dr. K & W

 

Pitayas and Prickly Pears

Black-chinned Hummingbird

All of the flower pics were taken yesterday afternoon; I went back out after the morning hike in order to capture some images of what I suspected would be blooming cacti.  I wasn't disappointed.  The photos of the Swainson's Hawk on a distant yucca and the one of Willow were taken on today's morning trek.  Dr. K, Willow and I followed our regular route noticing that all the flowering cacti blossoms from yesterday had yet to open for today.

Prickly Pear blossoms

This & next:  Strawberry Pitaya growing beneath a yucca

This & next:  Adonis Blazingstar

Strawberry Pitaya

Prickly Pear flowers

Pitaya and Prickly Pear

This & next 4:  Prickly Pears in bloom

 

This & next 2:  is it Swainsy back again?

Wils on lead

Green Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus beneath a yucca