Feathered Friends

A male Gambel's Quail

The rain we got yesterday in the late afternoon left a touch of humidity in the air which we experienced on this morning's hike; neither Dr. K, Willow or I minded it due to the persistent light breeze that kept conditions feeling cool.  We saw no other human or canine nature lovers out there during our explorations, but we did encounter quite a few different birds.  There seemed to be more of our feathered friends out and about than usual; did yesterday's rain have anything to do with the increased numbers?

Interesting sky

This & next:  same female Scott's Oriole

Curve-billed Thrasher

I think it's an adolescent Mockingbird

Willow on break in the left branch arroyo

Another pencil cholla pic

Curve-billed Thrasher on Faxon Yucca

This & next:  the same Say's Phoebe

 

A male Scott's Oriole

Wednesday Mishmash

Morning sky

Just a bit warm and humid on our morning hike today.  Dr. K, Willow and I were satisfied with the weather conditions.  We saw one other outdoor enthusiast and her dog--Pickup-Truck-Lady and fido--hiking southward along the ridge east of us.  Good hike and good exercise for us out there today.

This & next:  Soaptree Yucca fruit

Wils on break

Some type of Sulphur

Pencil cholla buds

This & next:  male Gambel's Quail

Climbing milkweed

Desert bird of paradise (native to South America)

 

Monday Mission

Willow leading the way

Good hike this morning for Dr. K, Willow and me.  We followed our regular route seeing no other nature enthusiasts in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  So far the weather conditions have been fairly nice in the early morning hours, warming up quite a bit as the day goes on.  We're headed for a high of 88F this afternoon which is bearable, especially now that we have our swamp cooler ready to go.

I'll just hide behind this stick

This & next:  same White-winged Dove

Long view from here to Tortugas

Willow in ocotillo shadow

Looking northwest

Desert Checkered-Skipper

Willow and Dr. K

Willow and me

 

This & next:  Velvety Nerisyrenia

Dove tree

Yucca Fruit

Soaptree Yucca in the upper flatland area

Good hike this morning for Dr. K, Willow and me.  Not too hot.  We were fortunate to see the Scott's Oriole family foraging together again, this time just off LDR-A.  I got a few fairly decent photos of them.  Not much else of note out there today; we spotted no other nature enthusiasts during our outing.  When we got home we gave Willow a bath; she was very good about it.

A male Scott's Oriole foraging

A female Scott's Oriole foraging with the male

Adolescent Scott's Oriole foraging with mom and dad

Soaptree Yucca growing fruit

Soaptree Yucca fruit

Artsy Black-chinned Hummingbird

Pencil chollla about to flower

When I say I don't want a bath I mean it

 

Las Aves

Willow near the ancient Soaptree Yucca

The best thing about this morning's hike was the Scott's Oriole family we spotted foraging together in the right branch arroyo.  The male and female were accompanied by three adolescents.  They were so busy feeding that I was able to get some fairly decent photos of them along with a Black-chinned Hummingbird who seems to like spending time in said arroyo.  It wasn't too hot this morning so the trek was highly enjoyable.  After the outing we took a long drive.

Ocotillo leaves

Grey-checkered Whiptail lizard

I believe it's an adolescent female Scott's Oriole

This & next:  female Scott's Oriole (Mom?)

Angry Black-chinned Hummingbird

This & next 3:  male Scott's Oriole

 

This & next:  Black-chinned Hummingbird

The male Scott's Oriole again

Kate and Willow on the right branch arroyo trail