The Aftereffects of a Big Storm

Coy Cottontail

We had several hours of thunderstorms yesterday which dumped a lot of much-needed rainwater on our parched desert.  It's always interesting to see which critters are out and about after heavy storms.  Ants were around in abundance.  We saw many rabbits.  When Becca passed too close to a millipede it curled into a mandala.  There was a chalky Horned Lizard who looked pretty grumpy, and a mother quail who was squawking out a warning to her youngsters about us.  And, of course, numerous birds were out filling the desert air with beautiful song.

Climbing up the foothills trail

Desert sans sun

Tortugas (left) and the Organ Mountains

Watchdog

Road through a sunless desert

A hint of sunlight

This arroyo ran with water yesterday

Chalky-white Horned Lizard

Defensive posture of a Millipede

Heading back toward Tortugas

Mama Quail started making a racket when we approached

Scott's Oriole on a Yucca leaf

Sun returning to the Chihuahuan Desert