Fourth Kind

Morning sky

Although it was 78F when Dr. K, Willow and I started our morning hike it felt cooler due to intermittent high clouds; also there was a light breeze at times.  We saw no other human nature enthusiasts out in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert, but we did encounter several arid country denizens:  a mockingbird, a Gambel's Quail and a young Western Diamondback rattler, the latter of whom we walked past at a distance of one foot; fortunately the snake wasn't aggressive.  It did flick its tongue out at me while I took several different photos.  All told, a pretty good trek today.

Mockingbird

Desert Marigold bouquet

Who's hiding in the desert willow?

Hundreds of blooming creosote bushes

Desert Dog

This & next 4:  young Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Happy ocotillo

 

Fluttery By

Nipple Beehive under a mesquite tree

Brutally hot out there this morning for Dr. K, Willow and me.  No breeze, blazing sun.  We took a lot of breaks, but still decided to cut the hike short for all of our sakes.  After we got home I left to gas up the Jeep at the local Circle K before heading off to Albertsons to do my weekly shopping stint.

The trail we came down

This & next:  Variegated Fritillary

This & next:  view from the right branch arroyo

Willow on break yet again

This & next:  Nipple Beehive still awake at 8:25 a.m.

 

Raptor Morn

Just west of LDR-A

The desert didn't feel as uncomfortable as it did yesterday morning; a steady breeze helped Dr. K, Willow and me bear the weather conditions better.  By the time we finished our trek, though, we were all desirous of the CR-V's air conditioning, which we put on full blast during the short ride home.  Wish I could have gotten better pics of the Swainson's Hawks that were flying around out there today.

Range Ratany

Desert Marigold

Willow and Dr. K in the left branch arroyo

Could be the same Texas Horned Lizard from yesterday

Creosote

Small bird (Western Kingbird?) attacking a Swainson's Hawk

From the middle branch

"Impressionistic" photos of a Swainson's Hawk

 

Sun-Drenched Sunday

Dayflowers

Today would have been as bad as yesterday for Dr. K, Willow and me had it not been for a fairly consistent breeze that blew throughout our morning hike.  We followed our regular route, stopping every time Willow wanted a shade break.  In the shadow of the ancient Soaptree Yucca in the left branch arroyo we stopped for water; Willow had a quaff.  After the outing we drove over to our local Circle K to gas up the CR-V before taking a short ride around various neighborhoods.

Flycatcher

Outta here!

Swainson's Hawk

Willow taking a break between arroyos

Sun through ocotillo

Long-distance relationship

Adonis Blazingstar (Mentzelia multiflora)

White-thorn Acacia

 

Saturday Slog

Looks like a Say's Phoebe

Conditions were nearly as brutal as they were yesterday for Willow and me; this time Dr. K got to experience the hot weather.  Almost no breeze accompanied by blazing sun made the morning hike less than satisfying.  We took many shade breaks because Willow insisted, and we stopped for shade and water at the ancient Soaptree Yucca in the left branch arroyo.  There was a white SUV parked at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch lot when we got out there today, but we never saw the occupants.  We did spot the elderly lady with hiking sticks trekking across the desert far to the north of us.

Big old ocotillo

This & next 2:  Texas Horned Lizard

Horned driftwood

This & next:  ocotillo flower

Crazy Willow

Mesquite bean eater