Poche Foto

1st 2:  Soaptree Yucca fruit

Pretty good morning hike with Willow and Dr. K.  Weather was warm with something of a breeze.  We followed our regular route seeing one hiker and a dog trekking southward along the high ridge east of us.  We're headed for a high of 89F this afternoon with a good chance of rain in the early evening.  We sure need the precipitation.

Willow between the left and right branch

Find the barrel cactus

This & next:  why it's called Allthorn

In the right branch arroyo looking northward

 

Warm Wind

1st 2:  artsy birds

It was a bit humid and hot when Dr. K, Willow and I took our regular hike in the desert this morning; to add to the slight discomfort a warm wind blew most of the time.  There's a chance of rain over the next few days; we'd like to get some because we always need it here.  Saw nobody else out and about in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.

This & next:  pics from the right branch arroyo

Willow relaxing in the right branch arroyo

Looking southwest from the right branch arroyo

Crossed swords

 

Welcome Back

Backlit Black-throated Sparrow

Just Willow and me on the daily hike in the lower desert this morning; Dr. K had to prep for a meeting.  It was our first trek since returning from the cabin yesterday afternoon.  Unfortunately we're returning to a short heatwave, the temperature heading for a high of 96F this afternoon.  It already felt pretty hot when Wils and I were out there, and she took plenty of shade breaks to prove it.  We saw no other nature enthusiast while we followed our regular route, though the Pickup-Truck-Lady's pickup was parked at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch lot when we were leaving.

House finch doing the split

Willow in ocotillo shadow

Said ocotillo

Somebody's got a new pad

 

HIgh Country Birds

Sacramentos

We've had an incredible number of cicadas up at our cabin this time, more than we've ever had before--at least in our recollections.  It's because there are so many, I believe, that a large number of birds are present.  I photographed all of the Western Bluebird juveniles after Dr. K, Willow and I returned from our morning forest hike.  After the hike we made the mandatory trip down to Alamogordo to do our shopping at Lowes Signature Market where we also put gas in Red, the CR-V.

On to something

Forest

One of several Western Bluebirds (juvenile)

Ash-throated Flycatcher

This & next 6:  Western Bluebird juveniles

 

Willow doing one of her favorite things

Sprinkles

Just before mountain sunrise

Just as Dr. K, Willow and I started off on our forest hike this morning it began to sprinkle.  We each were hit by four or five drops before the rain stopped; no precipitation for the rest of the trek after that.  The weather conditions were cool due to cloud cover, but the sky began to clear by the end of our outing.  I did a little work around the property after the hike.

Here comes the sun

Willow just above the curve in our road

From the driveway

Beargrass (Nolina microcarpa) beginning to bloom

Closeup of Beargrass flowers

Willow worried about the weather

The way forward

Willow and Dr. K

I think it's Gordons' Bladderpod (Physaria gordonii)

 

Sacramentos

Beargrass

Last 2:  Sacramentos from our Back 40

Day Two

New Growth

We had an OK hike in the forest behind the cabin this morning.  I was hoping for some wildlife activity, but we only saw and heard a few birds--oh, and one cottontail rabbit.  The temperature was 60F at start, so conditions were quite pleasant despite the lack of sunshine.

This & next:  Wils in the mountains

Prickly Pear blooming at 7,000 feet

This & next:  ancient juniper

Cloudy start to the morning