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

 

Woody et al.

1st 3:  male Ladder-backed Woodpecker on ocotillo branch

Dr. K, Willow and I took a slightly different route this morning, but pretty much did the entire trek we usually do.  We saw a pickup truck on the long dirt road just on the far side of the Tellbrook Arryo, but we didn't see any driver nor any other hikers in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  We spotted some other subjects of interest, most notably a male Ladder-backed Woodpecker on several different ocotillo branches.  I even made a short video of him which is so shaky you'd think I'd been drinking beforehand.

Huge pencil cholla

Somehow this ancient Soaptree Yucca has survived drought

Seed pod of the Desert Unicorn-plant

This prickly pear has recovered from consumption and drought

Hedgehog cactus

Eastern Side-blotched lizard

 

Cool and Humid until . . .

Sun rays across the west face of the Organ Mountains

The first two-thirds of this morning's hike felt fine even though the humidity was noticeably high; after that, though, the sun appeared from behind the huge cloud pictured in images #2 and #4 causing Dr. K, Willow and me to broil.  We got a few moments of respite after that, but the final third of the trek was quite unpleasant.

Huge cloud over the Organs

Organ Mountains in partial sunlight

Huge cloud transformed by wind

Bluntscale Bahia

Willow and Dr. K

Next 3:  prickly pear fruit

Faxon Yucca shadow next to Soaptree Yucca

 

Two-Thirds Trek

Desert Marigold

We cut the hike short this morning due to unpleasant heat and humidity; we all were in agreement to abbreviate the outing.  We saw no other nature enthusiasts in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  After the trek we returned home and I got ready to leave for Albertsons.  Did my weekly shopping stint and returned with the goods.

Some kind of hover fly

Not much of a shade break, Willow

Interesting rock

Black-chinned hummingbird

No sign of survivors

Narrow, deep arroyo

Last 3:  Swainson's Hawk