Little Lizard

Cuddle buddies

Dr. K and I decided early on that we'd do half a hike due to hot weather, but Willow had another plan:  we'd head north across the Tellbrook Arroyo and explore some side arroyos before heading back.  Which is what we did.  Mileage probably was the same as doing our entire regular route, but who's tallying?  We saw some interesting sights and critters along the way.

Half a dozen of the other (house finches)

Willow having a rest

This & next:  Sacred Datura

Artsy arroyo

Two arroyos diverged in a desert wood

Tellbrook Arroyo

Arroyo coming from the north

Zebra-tailed Lizard

 

Dove on ocotillo branch

White-winged Dove on sumac branch

Dry with Flowers

Looking southwest from LDR-A

Because it was somewhat overcast with an occasional slight breeze Dr. K, Willow and I decided to do the entire route this morning.  Even though it was partly cloudy the 80F temperature combined with high humidity made us feel pretty sweaty by the time we finished the hike.  We enjoyed ourselves, though, and I was able to get some decent photos of plants and insects in our arid environment.

Barrel under bush

Who's a little sand potato?

Barrel with flowers and buds

Stinging Serpent (Cevallian sinuata)

This & next 3:  male long-horned bee on Stinging Serpent

Triple barrel cactus

Willow and Dr. K are in there somewhere

Fishhook barrel cactus

Distant view of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

 

Blazing Star

View from LDR-A

Half a hike this morning for Dr. K, Willow and me due to adverse weather; too hot to enjoy ourselves.  I got a few nice photos to make it worth the effort to get out there today.  Can't wait for cooler temps to arrive.  I'm getting too old not to be bothered by the heat.

Adonis Blazingstar (Mentzelia multiflora)

This & next:  Desert Marigold

Ocotillo leaves are yellowing

This & next:  Fishhook Barrel Cactus

Wils on break

Looking down the right branch at Tortugas Mountain

 

Setting a Record

1st 2:  female Pyrrhuloxia (aka Desert Cardinal)

It felt really hot out there for Dr. K, Willow and me this morning; I wouldn't be surprised if we set a new record for high temperature today.  We decided early on to do only a half hike due to weather conditions, and I had to do my weekly shopping stint at Albertsons.  The best part of today's outing was the chance for me to photograph a female Desert Cardinal, which I always like to do.

Down LDR-A arroyo

Guess who's taking a break

This & next:  Texas Horned Lizard

Don't fade away

Artsy Blackfoot Daisies

This & next:  barrel cactus

The long view

Artsy Say's Phoebe

 

Low Desert Redux

Yellowing ocotillo

About 75F when Dr. K, Willow and I began our morning hike down here in the lower desert.  About midway through the trek conditions began to feel pretty uncomfortable.  We left it up to Willow to decide whether to cut the outing short, and that's just what she decided to do.  None of us felt particularly unhappy about the decision.

Willow the sand potato

Where rainwater ran

Prickly pear pad with fruit

Whiptail

Another yellowing ocotillo