Good Bird Day

Branch of the Tellbrook Arroyo

Dr. K, Willow and I did our morning hike on a slightly cooler day, deviating from our normal route by bushwhacking over to the Tellbrook Arroyo so I could get a photo of the Desert Cardinal we heard singing there; got one decent pic.  Later, while heading up the right branch arroyo we saw our first hummer of the season.  I couldn't get any good photos, though, due to distance and bad backlighting.  Pleasant outing this morning.

Desert Cardinal

Morning moon

Willow in the left branch

Ocotillo, jet, moon

This & next:  Black-chinned Hummingbird

Flowering ocotillo

 

A Little Rain

Clouds above the ridgeline

We got a bit of rain late last night and the humidity was still quite high when Dr. K, Willow and I did our morning hike.  We saw other outdoor enthusiasts in the desert:  Basset People and their hounds, Two-White-Dogs-Lady, her dogs and a hiking companion.  After we got home I left for my weekly shopping stint at Albertsons, the duration of which was about an hour; I like to get in and out as quickly as possible.

This & next 2:  hover fly on Desert Marigold flowers

This & next:  yucca blooming on a hill west of the Organs

Prickly pear and Desert Marigold

Wils

Northwest down an arroyo

Looking east toward the Organ Mountains

 

Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus

Sky to the southeast as we were leaving

Adonis Blazingstar

Organ Mountains

Just Willow and me on the morning trek; Dr. K had a meeting to attend.  It was surprisingly cool out there even though the temperature was 49F.  I could have used gloves.  It warmed up once we were through three-fourths of the hike.  Saw a few other outdoor enthusiasts while we followed our regular route.

Willow on lead

This & next:  Soaptree Yucca putting up a flower stalk

This & next:  Adonis Blazingstar with Range Ratany

Ocotillo leafing out

Willow off lead

Desert Sumac

 

Saddle Up

Honey Mesquite flowering

Bit of a chilly wind this morning when Dr. K, Willow and I did our daily hike.  Also, the sun was playing hide-and-seek with the clouds, keeping the temperature down.  Nevertheless we had a good outing here in the lower desert, pleased at the number of plants leafing out and blooming.

Claret Cup with Purple Mat and wooden flute

Soaptree Yucca and Claret Cup

Claret Cup as seen above

Mysterious mouse

Ocotillos leafing out

This & next:  ocotillo flowers

Wils

Siamese Desert Marigolds

Ocotillo west of the mountains

 

Wind!

Wind-driven clouds

Really strong wind blew all through the night and didn't back off at all this morning.  Dr. K, Willow and I took a forest hike in far less than ideal conditions; we finished the trek nonetheless.  Afterward we packed and left for our trip down into the lower desert where we are now.

Willow on the trail

Only three buds have bloomed since yesterday

Here's one of the new claret cups

Surprise!

 

Forest Friday

Mountain road

Dr. K, Willow and I had a nice hike in the forest behind the cabin this morning.  Our out-of-the-way detour to the mountain hedgehog paid off; we found one bud had blossomed.  Perhaps we'll go there tomorrow morning to see if others have flowered.  After the trek Dr. K and I drove down to Alamogordo to Lowe's Signature Market to pick up items we need up here at the cabin.

This & next:  Sacramento Mountains views

Red-winged Blackbird

Another mountain vista

Please tell me that bear isn't headed our way

Willow enjoying our mountain hike

This & next:  yucca blooming at 7012 feet

Another yucca blooming in the same area

 

What manner of beast is this?

Last 2:  at least one bud bloomed