Snake-free Day

1st 4:  Prickly Pear flowers, last 2 with a cactus bee

Best part of this morning's hike for us:  not finding the young rattlesnake in the same spot it occupied the past few days; I was actually worried about its welfare.  Dr. K, Willow and I followed our regular route getting only a distant glimpse of a few other outdoor enthusiasts.  It was definitely hotter out there today; we're headed for a high of 86F.

This & next 3:  Walkingstick Cholla flowers

Willow on-lead leading the way

 

Same Time, Same Place

Soaptree Yucca putting up new flower stalk

Pleasant morning for a hike; about 50F when we started off.  Dr. K, Willow and I followed our regular route, seeing, right from the get-go, the Basset People and their hounds, who, as usual, were braying in the distance (the hounds, not the people).  Our most interesting encounter was the one with the small, young Western Diamondback who was in the exact same spot as yesterday.

Desert Marigold

Willow

This & next: same young rattler, exact same spot as yesterday

This & next 3:  prickly pear cactus blossoms

White Tackstem with range ratany

Cactus Wren on ocotillo

 

Don't Get Rattled

Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

50F at the start of our hike this morning, felt like 46F due to a 9 mph wind.  Sunny, though, so it didn't feel cold.  Dr. K, Willow and I followed our regular route noticing that the air was quite dusty from yesterday's all-day wind.  We saw several other outdoor enthusiasts and their dogs in the distance east and west of us.  Most notable thing about today's trek was the small rattlesnake (Western Diamondback) that Willow and I walked right next to; we didn't see it until Dr. K pointed the rattler out.  It was warming itself in the sun and wasn't at all bothered by our presence.  We took an extra long drive after our outing today.

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Desert Marigold

Artsy Ash-throated Flycatcher

This & next:  Willow on break

This & next:  young, very small Western Diamondback

This & next: Walkingstick Cactus (Cylindropuntia spinosior)

Walkingstick Cactus flower bud

 

Last 2:  Tree Cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata)

Sunday Symbiosis

Little puff clouds

Nice morning for a hike:  about 50F at start.  Dr. K, Willow and I followed our regular route; we spotted a few other outdoor enthusiasts during our trek.  After our exploration we took a semi-long drive around several different neighborhoods.

Distant hikers bushwhacking through the desert

Probably a flower by afternoon

Threadleaf Groundsel and range ratany

Willow, relaxation mode

Pretty prickly pear

This & next:  prickly pear flowering

Desert Marigolds

Checkered White?

 

Mockingbird

Artsy mockingbird

Black-chinned Hummingbird

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