Sunny and Hot

1st 2:  Sacramento vistas

Dr. K, Willow and I knew immediately that this morning's hike was different from yesterday's; that's because it felt a lot hotter.  For that reason we chose another route that kept us among the trees and away from open areas exposed to the blazing sun.  Unfortunately the direction I chose to go was physically more difficult, though we all came through OK.

On our property

Willow near the pumphouse

This & next:  Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail

This & next:  Allthorn in bloom

Flame Skimmer hanging on

Willow on shade break

Another Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail

 

Forest Heat

1st 2:  almost same view of the Sacramentos

Not going to kid you, it felt hot in the forest behind our mountain cabin while Dr. K, Willow and I were out for a morning trek.  We did our usual route, stopping frequently in the shadow of trees for shade and water breaks.  All in all, though, it was a good outing; we got our exercise in while seeing a few interesting birds.  It was very hazy, probably due to wildfire smoke sifting in from the north.

Juniper berries apoppin'

Wils on our driveway

New Mexico Yellow Flax

Small bear approaches Willow (actually a tree stump)

Mountain Mang

Our old spare tires

 

Low, High

1st 2:  young mockingbird

A little more than half our usual hike this morning before returning home to finish packing for our trip to the high country where we are now.  Presently 80F here at 7,000 feet in the Sacramentos; 103F down in Las Cruces.  Nice to be out of that kind of heat for a few days.

Willow and Dr. K in the left branch arroyo

A flycatcher

Ripe prickly "pears"

Haynes Canyon

From our high country property

 

Bird, Snake, Flowers

American Kestrel

Dr. K, Willow and I did our regular route in hot conditions this morning; fortunately there was a slight, persistent breeze to help with evaporative cooling.  Because we noticed different Nipple Beehive Cacti with healthy buds I decided to go back out in the early afternoon to see if I could photograph some in bloom.  I was not disappointed.

Spectaclepod

Happy Willow

A small Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Sleepy Orange on Nipple Beehive Cactus flower

This & next 3:  Fishhook Barrel Cactus flowers

Largest Nipple Beehive Cactus I've seen (3'X4')

Another Nipple Beehive Cactus

 

Heat

Spectaclepod (White) and Dayflowers

The heat out there this morning was muy draining; that's why Dr. K, Willow and I cut our regular hike short again.  We saw no other outdoor enthusiasts braving the elements.  We took a fairly long drive after the trek, all three of us recovering, with the help of the CR-V's air conditioning.  By the time we got home we were pretty much back to normal.

Down LDR-A arroyo

This & next 2:  Roundtail Horned Lizard

Looking back down the left branch arroyo

Trailing Four O'Clock

Dr. K and Willow in the right branch arroyo

Wils on shade break

Prickly pear cactus loaded with fruit

 

Another Abbreviation

Wils in LDR-A arroyo

We cut out about half of today's morning hike because it felt pretty brutal out there, and it was obvious that Willow wasn't enjoying the outing.  Proof that I didn't like it, either:  I took only four photos today.  Since Dr. K agreed that we shouldn't do the entire regular route her vote iced it.

Prickly pear cactus

Dr. K and Willow

Looking back at the way we came up the right branch arroyo