Swainson's Hawk Encounter

1st 3:  Swainson's Hawk

Weather conditions were pleasant for Dr. K, Willow and me on our morning hike.  Not long after we started down the LDR-A arroyo I spotted a raptor perched atop a Soaptree Yucca trunk.  The telescopic lens on my camera confirmed it was a Swainson's Hawk, one of my favorites.  Got one decent photo of it even though I took about 20 pics.  The bird I photographed later in the creosote bush took me quite a while to ID later at home.  With the help of AI I confirmed it was an immature Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow; not sure I've ever seen one before.  We took a long drive after the trek.

Willow thinks she sees something

This & next:  immature Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow

Same Swainson's Hawk, different location

Variegated Meadowhawk

Twin-leaf Senna

Distant Curve-billed Thrasher on ocotillo branch

 

Cloudy Organs

Down LDR-A

Dr. K, Willow and I had a full regular hike under partly cloudy skies this morning.  The temperature was 62F at start and only warmed a bit while we were out there.  We didn't see any nature enthusiasts today, but several cars were parked at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch lot at various times; and we heard dogs barking.  We have a chance of rain later today, but the odds are much less than in recent days.

Tortugas and the Organs

Very green ocotillo

LDR-A (foreground) and LDR

This & next:  cloudy Organ Mountains

Lovely large clump of Desert Marigolds

Happy ocotillos

Cactus Wren on Soaptree Yucca stalk

Tortugas and the Organs

 

Low Clouds

Yesterday's early evening moon

The desert was soaked this morning; Dr. K and I decided it must have rained quite a bit again overnight.  The amount of moisture in the air made for low clouds that transformed into fog in many places.  Lots of ants out due to the precipitation, so we only let Willow lie down a few times and not for very long.  We did the entire trek today because the weather conditions were so cool and overcast.  We were all pleased to do our daily hike because yesterday's rain out was quite disappointing.

Rain was running hard down LDR-A

Low clouds became fog in some places

Desert shrouded by fog in spots

Willow in the arroyo

Having a lie-down in wet sand

Rain ran hard the past two days

Cactus garden

House finches on ocotillo

Beyond the flank of Tortugas the majestic Organ Mountains

 

Rain's Coming

New game:  find the honey bee

Dr. K, Willow and I hiked down LDR-A arroyo this morning, crossed the Tellbrook Arroyo and explored side arroyos we have trekked through quite a few times in the past.  We finished the morning outing by retracing our tracks to the east/west cross trail and heading up the right branch arroyo to the base of the steep hill, which we scaled to get back to Whitey the CR-V.  After we got home I left for my weekly shopping stint at Albertsons.

Tortugas and the Organs

This & next:  Sacred Datura flowers

Fruit of Sacred Datura (aka Thornapple)

Side arroyo near the Tellbrook

Soaptree Yucca and hedgehog cactus

Willow relaxing in a side arroyo

Willow and Dr. K in the right branch arroyo

 

Cool Enough

Piece of rainbow at center

Much cooler for Dr. K, Willow and me on the morning outing:  63F when we started off.  We did the complete regular route today, taking measures to shy away from the prickly pear thorn clumps lining part of the trail in the middle branch arroyo.  The most interesting thing we took note of today was the partial rainbow that stayed in the clouds to the west during our entire trek.

Headed down LDR-A

A look at Tortugas and the Organs

Dove on ocotillo

Curve-billed Thrasher on Ocotillo branch

Desert Marigolds, one with Honey-tailed Striped Sweat Bee

Partial rainbow

Wils in the sandbox

Huge Desert Marigold

Looking south up the middle branch arroyo

 

Willow and Dr. K on the cross trail

Ocotillos still green after recent rains

Picacho in artsy mode

Last 2:  Doña Ana Mountains