Kestrel Morning

Yucca in the middle branch arroyo

Warmer this morning with lots of sunshine and little wind; none of the rain we were predicted to receive.  Dr. K, Willow and I enjoyed our daily trek, following our regular route.  We saw vehicles at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch parking lot, but spotted no other outdoor enthusiasts in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  After the trek we took a long drive listening to Matt and Myron on their Sunday Morning show.

Triple barrel

Soaptree Yucca (looking west toward Picacho)

Sky with clouds and moon

Willow headed up the right branch

This & next 2:  American Kestrel

Kestrel and moon

 

Saturday's Sprinkle

Picacho and environs

Warmer this morning (45F), but cloudy with only sporadic sunshine; also a pesky cool breeze kept making its presence known.  We followed our regular route, and at one point we saw the Basset Lady and her hounds; as usual they (the hounds) were braying at something.  There were vehicles parked at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch corner lot, but we never saw the occupants.  Took a long drive after the hike listening to 600 ESPN out of El Paso which has had a lousy signal for over a week now.

This & next:  morning sky southwest

Some rain there

Tortugas and the Organs

Organ Mountains closeup

Willow leading the way

San Augustin Peak

Last 2:  long distance view of Tortugas and the Organs

 

Freeload Friday

Tortugas and the Organs from LDR-A

It was warmer for our hike this morning; Dr. K, Willow and I appreciated it.  We saw Mrs. Basset and four hounds heading east toward the mountains on Tellbrook as we were driving to the trailhead; and we saw them again later as they trekked northward along the ridge west of the Organ Mountains.  They were the only outdoor enthusiasts we spotted in our section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.

Dr. K and Willow with my shadow

4200 hill west of the Organ Mountains

Moon through ocotillo branches

Our girl, Willow

Faxon Yucca crown

West across the Mesilla Valley

Hedgehog Cactus

 

Thursday's Trek

This morning's moon

A pesky cold breeze made the first half of the hike this morning slightly uncomfortable; but it definitely weakened during part 2, and the bright sunshine made weather conditions pleasant.  We did our regular route seeing no one else out and about in this section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  Air quality was still slightly bad in the area.

Yucca bogeyman

Stand of middle-aged Soaptree Yuccas

Great hiking companion

 

Midweek

Young Soaptree Yuccas

It felt colder out there this morning despite the sunshine; a steady breeze had a real chilly bite to it.  Dr. K, Willow and I did our regular route, again spotting Two-White-Dogs-Lady in the desert to the northwest.  She and her pups were the only other nature enthusiasts out there when we were exploring.

This angle makes my butt look big

Willow on break

Barrel cacti

Soaptree Yucca, ocotillo, and Faxon Yucca

 

Tres Otra Vez

1st 2:  long-distance views of Tortugas and the Organs

42F when Dr. K, Willow and I set off on our morning hike.  We followed our regular route seeing no one along the way, although we did spot Two-White-Dogs-Lady bushwhacking across the desert far northwest of us.  No breeze and bright sunshine made for a very pleasant outing today.

Clouds or former contrail?

Brewer's Sparrow?

This & next:  cactus wren

Ridge west of the Organs

Peekaboo Pecker

Ladder-backed seems to be picking rather than pecking

Willow in underbrush

 

Dos

Squiggly clouds

Dr. K had a meeting this morning so it was just Willow and me on the daily trek.  We followed our regular route on a mildly chilly start; conditions weren't too bad.  While we were headed up the left branch arroyo we saw a guy and his dog striking northward through a valley east of us.  They were quite far away, and I doubt they ever spotted us.

Long view to the flank of Tortugas

Willow and my shadow

In an alternate arroyo

Those clouds again

Looking southwest

Interesting clouds

Last 2:  distant views of Tortugas and the Organs