New Woodpecker?

Someone has a fireplace going

Nice weather for our morning forest hike.  Dr. K, Willow and I did the regular circular route:  up the steep mountain behind the cabin, southwest along the crest peak trail we created, and then down a series of switchbacks worn over the years by deer and elk, many of whom we've seen during the past decade.  After the trek Dr. K and I drove down to Alamogordo to dump garbage, get groceries at Lowe's Signature Market, fill up Red the CR-V and head back up the mountain to Willow who was waiting patiently in the cabin.  P.S.  the female Northern Flicker IS a new woodpecker for me.

Willow on her morning constitutional

This & next:  female Northern Flicker (Red-shafted)

Robber Fly wearing Ray-Bans

Willow on break during a forest hike

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, I think

 

Sun's Back

A little frost on the pumpkin

Compared to yesterday it was nice and warm this morning; that is, until a chilly wind blew strongly against us.  Dr. K, Willow and I handled it well nonetheless, doing our regular forest route.  I got a few fairly decent photos of birds during the trek, some of which are posted here.

Willow on our driveway

This & next 2:  Western Bluebirds

Forest

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

Mountain dog Willow

Somewhere in Hayne's Canyon

Golden Crownbeard on its last leg

White Sands National Park from 7,000 feet

 

Elk Convention

1st 8:  elk on our property

Before we were even finished with our breakfast this morning we had to marvel at the large elk herd on our property, eating their hearts out.  All the photos I took of the elk were through our cabin windows.  I had a second cup of coffee in order to give the elk time to vacate the premises before taking Willow out on her morning constitutional during which we kicked up a small herd of deer.  Dr. K, Willow and I didn't encounter any critters during our trek in the forest, but we did see elk across the valley, and we heard one very vocal bull bugling for his tribe to follow along.

Sacramentos

Haynes Canyon

 

Three-leaf Sumac in autumn

Mid-hike vista

Willow in the mountains

Deer and Flicker

This & next four:  Mom and two young doe mule deer

Low 40s at the start of our morning hike here in the mountains.  I worried a bit that we might run into the mother and two young doe mule deer that held Willow and me up as we were leaving for her morning constitutional; they were up near the pumphouse as we were leaving the cabin.  They darted into the forest above our road when they heard us coming.  Best part of taking photos so far today was getting images of the Northern Flicker who was eating juniper berries in a tree on our property.

This & next 7:  Northern Flicker eating juniper berries

 

Last of the Golden Crownbeards

Willow in the high country

Mock vervain

Haynes Canyon

Elk prints (heard a bull bugling this morning)

Chilly Mornings

Wils

Regular hike this morning for Dr. K, Willow and me; we followed the familiar route.  It was a bit chilly at first (44F), but things warmed up quickly due to brilliant sunshine and no wind.  When we got home I fired up the furnace, the first time we used it this fall season.

Dainty Sulphur

Southwest of Tortugas Mountain

A barrel cactus in hand is worth two in the bush

Willow and Dr. K in the right branch arroyo

Part way up the hill west of the right branch arroyo

Hill east of the right branch arroyo

Waning Crescent 19.3% illuminated