Cool Enough

Piece of rainbow at center

Much cooler for Dr. K, Willow and me on the morning outing:  63F when we started off.  We did the complete regular route today, taking measures to shy away from the prickly pear thorn clumps lining part of the trail in the middle branch arroyo.  The most interesting thing we took note of today was the partial rainbow that stayed in the clouds to the west during our entire trek.

Headed down LDR-A

A look at Tortugas and the Organs

Dove on ocotillo

Curve-billed Thrasher on Ocotillo branch

Desert Marigolds, one with Honey-tailed Striped Sweat Bee

Partial rainbow

Wils in the sandbox

Huge Desert Marigold

Looking south up the middle branch arroyo

 

Willow and Dr. K on the cross trail

Ocotillos still green after recent rains

Picacho in artsy mode

Last 2:  Doña Ana Mountains

Dia de las Flores

Golden Crownbeard

Dr. K, Willow and I got an early start on our morning hike.  It was a bit cooler out there, though still noticeably humid.  Not much of a breeze to speak of.  We descended LDR-A arroyo and headed northward across the Tellbrook Arroyo.  Recent rains have caused the desert flowers to bloom again, and they were a beautiful sight.  After the trek we drove to our local Circle K to gas up Whitey ($43) for slightly less than three-fourths of a tank, $4.19 per gallon.  Nevertheless, we took a drive after the outing in keeping with our normal routine.

Sunlight on ocotillos

Sun through Dayflower

Honey-tailed Striped Sweat Bees on Marigold flower

Four O'Clock

Sacred Datura flower opening

Guess who slept here?

Wils!

Hairy False Goldenaster

Bicolor Fanmustard (Nerisyrenia camporum)

 

Nada Especial

Sky west

One thing was special this morning after all:  Dr. K was back hiking with us having returned from Santa Fe yesterday afternoon.  Willow and I were really happy to have her back.  The humidity was very high during the trek with little breeze to provide evaporative cooling.  We did the equivalent of a normal hike, cutting out the middle branch arroyo which is filled with loose thorny clumps of prickly pear cactus scattered on the ground.  After the outing we took a long ride around several different areas before heading home.

Desert Marigold

This & next:  chinchweed (Pectis papposa)

Western flank of Tortugas Mountain

What's that expression?

Nevermind

Fruit of the Tasajillo (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis)

Willow ready to go

Distant hiker

 

Another Storm

Morning clouds

Another storm last night knocked our power out again; since Willow and I were already sleeping we have no idea how long the outage lasted.  The result of the rainfall:  high humidity during our morning trek.  We did a shorter one as compensation for the extra long hike we took yesterday.  Most interesting encounter was a male Wilson's Warbler that I only got two images of, one unusable and the other that appears here (which is disappointing).

Halfway decent photo of a Wilson's Warbler

Desert to the southwest

East to the mountains

Southwest of Tortugas Mountain

One ancient Soaptree Yucca soldier fell down

Cloud blanket

Willow on break in a wet left branch arroyo

Tortugas and the Organs

More southerly section of the Organ Mountains

 

Extended Trek

Old barrel hanging with the young yucca gang

Big storms last night knocked power out for almost two hours; Willow and I had already gone to bed before it came back on.  This morning the result of all that moisture in the atmosphere made for a very cool start to our daily trek.  The problem with cooler conditions in the latter days of summer is that it encourages us to take longer explorations, which we did today.  Ground was still noticeably wet from the heavy downpours.  We were rewarded for our extra effort by sighting several desert denizens who we love to see.

Tellbrook Arroyo looking west

Willow in a different wide arroyo

Twin-leaf Senna in front of chinchweed

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Different perspective on Tortugas and the Organs

Six-inch-tall barrel cactus

Ladder-backed Woodpecker on ocotillo branches

Little Willow looking majestic

Devil's Head cactus (Echinocactus Horizonthalonius)

 

Willow having fun

An arroyo we explored

Common Raven