Ahead of Polo

Waning gibbous (95-97% illuminated)

Cooler, but humid at the start of the hike for Dr. K, Willow and me this morning.  Sun broke out later to heat things up.  Then the advance clouds from the remnants of Hurricane Polo began to slide in.  Now, in the early afternoon, we've already had a few sprinkles from the coming storms.  There are flood watches and warnings for much of the state including the southern area in which we live.

Desert Marigolds and Dayflowers

Tortugas and the Organs

Desert Marigold bouquet

This & next:  Sacred Datura

Two arroyos converge in a desert wood

One of Willow's favorite spots

This & next:  Desert zinnia

 

Exploring a garden in a side arroyo

Sacred Datura again

Remnants of Hurricane Polo are coming

Barrel cactus with new fruit

This & next:  Curve-billed Thrasher

Organ Mountains

Good Sunday

Willow sees Basset Hounds

Good weather for our morning hike today; Dr. K, Willow and I all enjoyed the outing.  Nothing of particular interest to note, although we did have a semi-close encounter with the Basset people and their hounds; the Bassets (hounds, not people) only barked at us a few times.  After the outing we took a long drive around several different areas because that's what we do on a Sunday morning.

Ocotillos and Faxon Yucca

Left branch arroyo

Cross over trail (right)

Desert dog

Barrel cactus and three-headed barrel

View from the middle branch arroyo

This & next:  Tortugas and the Organs

Double barrel, creosote bushes and ocotillos

 

Swainson's Hawk Encounter

1st 3:  Swainson's Hawk

Weather conditions were pleasant for Dr. K, Willow and me on our morning hike.  Not long after we started down the LDR-A arroyo I spotted a raptor perched atop a Soaptree Yucca trunk.  The telescopic lens on my camera confirmed it was a Swainson's Hawk, one of my favorites.  Got one decent photo of it even though I took about 20 pics.  The bird I photographed later in the creosote bush took me quite a while to ID later at home.  With the help of AI I confirmed it was an immature Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow; not sure I've ever seen one before.  We took a long drive after the trek.

Willow thinks she sees something

This & next:  immature Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow

Same Swainson's Hawk, different location

Variegated Meadowhawk

Twin-leaf Senna

Distant Curve-billed Thrasher on ocotillo branch

 

Cloudy Organs

Down LDR-A

Dr. K, Willow and I had a full regular hike under partly cloudy skies this morning.  The temperature was 62F at start and only warmed a bit while we were out there.  We didn't see any nature enthusiasts today, but several cars were parked at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch lot at various times; and we heard dogs barking.  We have a chance of rain later today, but the odds are much less than in recent days.

Tortugas and the Organs

Very green ocotillo

LDR-A (foreground) and LDR

This & next:  cloudy Organ Mountains

Lovely large clump of Desert Marigolds

Happy ocotillos

Cactus Wren on Soaptree Yucca stalk

Tortugas and the Organs

 

Low Clouds

Yesterday's early evening moon

The desert was soaked this morning; Dr. K and I decided it must have rained quite a bit again overnight.  The amount of moisture in the air made for low clouds that transformed into fog in many places.  Lots of ants out due to the precipitation, so we only let Willow lie down a few times and not for very long.  We did the entire trek today because the weather conditions were so cool and overcast.  We were all pleased to do our daily hike because yesterday's rain out was quite disappointing.

Rain was running hard down LDR-A

Low clouds became fog in some places

Desert shrouded by fog in spots

Willow in the arroyo

Having a lie-down in wet sand

Rain ran hard the past two days

Cactus garden

House finches on ocotillo

Beyond the flank of Tortugas the majestic Organ Mountains