Ant Bite

Mutant cholla

Poor Willow.  Not exactly a pleasant hike for her this morning.  She got bitten by an ant about halfway through the trek and was plagued with a stinging bite for the duration.  Lots of stopping to lick her paw, but we kept her moving so we could get home and give her a dose of Benadryl, which has, in the past, always worked fairly quickly to relieve symptoms.  Now--late morning--she seems to have pretty much recovered.

Willow and Dr. K (pre-bite)

Down near the Tellbrook Arroyo

Stinging Serpent plant (Cevallia sinuata)

Cactus bee on Stinging Serpent (Cevallia sinuata)

White-winged Doves on ocotillo branches

Willow (post-bite)

 

Satisfied

Black-throated Sparrow

Normal starting time for Dr. K, Willow and me on this morning's hike.  Felt quite a bit warmer out there today.  We followed our regular route seeing no other nature enthusiasts while we were exploring.  Took a long drive afterward.

Say's Phoebe (point camera at where it might be and click)

Black-throated Sparrow otra vez

Ashie says, "This is how I part my hair"

Ash-throated Flycatcher

3D-ish

Willow relaxing

This fly tastes good

Faxon Yucca crown sans birds

Pencil cholla

 

Willow and Dr. K in the right branch arroyo

White-winged Dove

Same dove taking flight

Feathered Friends

A male Gambel's Quail

The rain we got yesterday in the late afternoon left a touch of humidity in the air which we experienced on this morning's hike; neither Dr. K, Willow or I minded it due to the persistent light breeze that kept conditions feeling cool.  We saw no other human or canine nature lovers out there during our explorations, but we did encounter quite a few different birds.  There seemed to be more of our feathered friends out and about than usual; did yesterday's rain have anything to do with the increased numbers?

Interesting sky

This & next:  same female Scott's Oriole

Curve-billed Thrasher

I think it's an adolescent Mockingbird

Willow on break in the left branch arroyo

Another pencil cholla pic

Curve-billed Thrasher on Faxon Yucca

This & next:  the same Say's Phoebe

 

A male Scott's Oriole

Wednesday Mishmash

Morning sky

Just a bit warm and humid on our morning hike today.  Dr. K, Willow and I were satisfied with the weather conditions.  We saw one other outdoor enthusiast and her dog--Pickup-Truck-Lady and fido--hiking southward along the ridge east of us.  Good hike and good exercise for us out there today.

This & next:  Soaptree Yucca fruit

Wils on break

Some type of Sulphur

Pencil cholla buds

This & next:  male Gambel's Quail

Climbing milkweed

Desert bird of paradise (native to South America)

 

Monday Mission

Willow leading the way

Good hike this morning for Dr. K, Willow and me.  We followed our regular route seeing no other nature enthusiasts in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  So far the weather conditions have been fairly nice in the early morning hours, warming up quite a bit as the day goes on.  We're headed for a high of 88F this afternoon which is bearable, especially now that we have our swamp cooler ready to go.

I'll just hide behind this stick

This & next:  same White-winged Dove

Long view from here to Tortugas

Willow in ocotillo shadow

Looking northwest

Desert Checkered-Skipper

Willow and Dr. K

Willow and me

 

This & next:  Velvety Nerisyrenia

Dove tree