Friday Photos

Has-beens

Warmer this morning as Dr. K, Willow and I did our daily hike; less breezy, too, although it's quite windy this afternoon.  Headed for a high of 80F, but we have another brief cool down coming thanks to a cold front blowing through.  Only thing to note about today's outing:  we bushwhacked over to the Soaptree Yucca that's blooming west of the right branch arroyo.  We'd meant to trek over to it yesterday, but forgot.

Cactus Wren on ocotillo

Willow relaxing in the left branch arroyo

Ocotillo flowers

Barrel cactus, range ratany, desert marigolds

This & next 4:  Soaptree Yucca in bloom (1 pic w/Dr. K & W

 

Pitayas and Prickly Pears

Black-chinned Hummingbird

All of the flower pics were taken yesterday afternoon; I went back out after the morning hike in order to capture some images of what I suspected would be blooming cacti.  I wasn't disappointed.  The photos of the Swainson's Hawk on a distant yucca and the one of Willow were taken on today's morning trek.  Dr. K, Willow and I followed our regular route noticing that all the flowering cacti blossoms from yesterday had yet to open for today.

Prickly Pear blossoms

This & next:  Strawberry Pitaya growing beneath a yucca

This & next:  Adonis Blazingstar

Strawberry Pitaya

Prickly Pear flowers

Pitaya and Prickly Pear

This & next 4:  Prickly Pears in bloom

 

This & next 2:  is it Swainsy back again?

Wils on lead

Green Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus beneath a yucca

Cactus Wren and Cactus Flowers

1st 3:  our first sighting of Swainson's Hawks (2) this season

About 50F at the start of the hike this morning; a stiff breeze made it feel quite chilly out there.  Dr. K and I both complained about the weather conditions, but Willow had no gripes.  We did our regular route, noticing other nature enthusiasts in the desert:  hikers with dogs.  Best part of today's outing was seeing two Swainson's Hawks hunting for breakfast; they're the first we've seen this season.

Cactus Wren on yucca saber

Adonis Blazingstar

Prickly Pear flower opening

Last 2:  tree cholla flowers

 

Tuesday Trekking

Early morning sky

Dr. K, Willow and I took a morning hike on our regular route today.  It was a bit humid, but ever so slightly chilly.  By the time we finished the trek, though, both Dr. K and I were a bit warm beneath our Marmot PreCip jackets.  Willow--who almost never complains about the weather--didn't complain about it again.  Pretty sure I've positively ID'd the Sputnik-type flowers I photographed yesterday; found another group today and discovered they're called Fineleaf Woolywhite (Hymenopappus filifolius).

Clouds over the Organ Mountains

Desert Marigold and friend

This & next:  another Fineleaf Woolywhite

aka Hymenopappus filifolius

This & next:  same flowering prickly pear cactus

Strawberry Pitaya making progress

Willow and Dr. K in the right branch arroyo

Artsy view of Magdalena Peak

 

Trail Trio

White-thorn Acacia

Dr. K was back on the trail with Willow and me this morning; she was no longer under the weather, but had climbed back onto an even level with it.  We pretty much followed our regular route with the exception of an early detour to avoid oncoming hikers with dogs.  We were lucky to get our trek in before the winds came.

This kind of start

Long way to the Organs

Tortugas and the Organs

Clouds over the Organs

Picacho and surroundings

Soaptree Yucca stalks old and new

Hymenopappus filifolius(?) with Red Milkweed Beetle

Strawberry Pitaya blooming under a yucca

Threadleaf Groundsel

 

Mockingbird on yucca fruit

Adonis Blazingstar

Purple mat