Sunny Sunday Trek

Desert Globemallow

Dr. K, Willow and I took a nice early morning hike today, crossing the Tellbrook Arroyo to explore some of the side canyons we enjoy exploring.  Encountered a jackrabbit who didn't mind posing for photos.  After the trek we took a long Sunday drive before heading home.

Fruit of the Tasajillo

Black-throated Sparrow on ocotillo branch

Sacred Datura

Desert Dog in a side arroyo

This & next 5:  Black-tailed Jackrabbit (aka Desert Hare)

 

Tortugas and the Organs

So Much Yellow

Early light across Las Cruces

The amazing thing about this morning's hike was the sheer number of yellow flowers blooming--in October!  Dr. K and I appreciated the beauty; Willow was into scents.  We humans have never seen so many wildflowers in bloom this late in the season, the spectacle, no doubt, due to the abundant rainfall we've had in summer and fall.

Desert Marigolds

This & next:  Roadrunner

Willow and Dr. K

Yellow flowers on 4210 hill

Wils!

Saddle west of the Organ Mountains

Surprised to find this triple barrel blooming

 

Greenery

Early light

The weather was quite pleasant this morning for our daily trek; Dr. K, Willow and I enjoyed it immensely.  We saw no other nature enthusiasts out and about in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert; no vehicles, either.  We did our usual route stopping as many times as Willow wanted, which were a lot.  Not too many ants around, which is always good news.

Clouds to the southwest

Long view of Tortugas and the Organs

House finch

Far up into the left branch arroyo

 

Tortugas and the Organs

Desert is very green

This & next:  Willow on the cross trail

Pebbles and rocks

Pleasant Extension

Soaptree Yucca in a very green desert

Dr. K, Willow and I decided to extend the hike this morning, crossing the Tellbrook Arroyo in a northerly direction and exploring many of the side arroyos we've explored in the past.  The temperature felt just right for such an outing:  mid- to high-50s and plenty of sunshine.  Dr. K and I both wore our Marmot PreCip jackets to stay warm.  Willow wore her regular coat.  By the time we were ascending the right branch arroyo we started to warm up a bit too much; but by then we were almost finished with the trek.

This & next 2:  White-crowned Sparrows

Artsy Loggherhead Shrike

Golden Crownbeard

Lengthwise Willow

Desert garden in side arroyo

Bushwhacking toward Tortugas and the Organs

Nipple Beehive Cactus

 

After Polo

East to the Organs

Dr. K, Willow and I had a good hike this morning.  We got quite a bit of rain yesterday from the remnants of Hurricane Polo, but it wasn't as bad as some had predicted it would be.  The arroyos weren't cut nearly as severely as they might have been had the runoff been greater.  We saw a few other nature enthusiasts out there today.  What we didn't see were the coyotes that were yipping and yelping very close to us while we ascended the left branch arroyo.  I was disappointed not to have gotten a glimpse of them.

Headed down LDR-A

Tortugas and the Organs

Waning gibbous 82-87% illumination

Backlit barrel

Ocotillos and the Organs

Willow on the cross trail

Southwest of Tortugas