Heat and Humidity

Willow the sand potato

Kind of a drag being back in the lower desert, especially when it's hot and humid.  For Willow's sake--but for Dr. K and me, too--we cut the hike short by a third.  We still had plenty of time to observe birds and a lizard while we were out there catering to Willow's need to lie down in the shade every ten feet.

Guess who slept here last night

White-winged Dove

Common Side-blotched lizard

This & next 2:  Black-chinned Hummingbird

Yellow flowers of White-thorn Acacia

Headed south in the right branch arroyo

Last 2:  Say's Phoebe

 

A Wrap

Thicket Hairstreak

We did a forest hike this morning before returning to the cabin to pack and head down the mountain to the lower desert where we are now.

Willow with Dr. K's feet

Last 2:  Juniper Titmouse

 

Busy Morning

1st 2:  washboard clouds over the Sacramentos

Warmer for our morning hike due to the presence of sun; it wasn't hot by any means, though.  However, the humidity was a bit high owing to yesterday's rain.  We could get more today.  Dr. K, Willow and I did our regular route, and my knees held up pretty well.  After the trek Dr. K and I drove down to Alamogordo to do some grocery shopping at Lowe's Signature Market, get gas and make a quick stop at Home Depot to buy Flex Seal for a touch up at our lower desert home.

Willow on her morning constitutional

Interesting clouds this morning

Wils on break

Morning light on hedgehog cactus

Break #?

One way down

Mountain vista on the way back

Mountain Mang

Pines

 

Overcast and Cool

Sacramentos

Very cool and cloudy when Dr. K, Willow and I got started on our hike.  We took a different route to the top of our "mountain," but we couldn't stay long because thunder convinced Willow that we should head down immediately--which we did.  Going straight down was a bit hard on my gimpy knees, but we made to the bottom without any further auditory disruptions.

 

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays (juveniles)

Heavy overcast

Turning her back on us

Living in the high country

Sacramentos vista

New growth

A look into Karr Canyon

Right before Willow heard thunder

Willow and Dr. K

 

Mountain Morning

Side yard in orange

It was cooler this morning for our forest hike; a little breeze and fewer flies made the trek more bearable.  We did our regular route, seeing few noteworthy subjects to photograph.  Only saw a bird or two on the wing.  We enjoyed our excursion nonetheless.

Haynes Canyon

B&W forest

This & next:  looking down

Lay down juniper

Willow on break in the forest

Taking a breather

What a trio:  yucca, pine, prickly pear

Willow and Dr. K

Mountain doggy

 

Thanks to Shade and Wind

Sacramentos early

This morning's hike in the forest behind the cabin was surprisingly good; Dr. K, Willow and I had the benefit of the shade from junipers and pines, and a steady light wind that provided decent evaporative cooling.  We did our regular route, my gimpy knees not complaining too much.  We delighted in seeing a Flame Skimmer dragonfly or two during the outing, and I got a photo of a New Mexico Whiptail.  All in all a very good outing.

Mountain dog

This way

Come what may

All dragonflies are Flame Skimmers

New Mexico Whiptail

This & next:  Willow catching flies

Sun through huge juniper