End of Week Trek

Desert Cottontail

The most interesting thing about our hike this morning was spotting a small herd of Mule Deer.  We had just bumped into Jimmy, and I put Becca on the lead so she wouldn't roam around while I was distracted.  I felt her pull on the line the way she does when she sees something interesting, and Jimmy immediately pointed out the deer, which were crossing the trail ahead of us.  He thought they might be headed to the NMSU golf course to get water.  They spotted us right away, but weren't overly concerned about our presence because we were a fair distance from them.  We counted eight individuals in the herd.

Becca on critter watch

Scott's Oriole in flight

Stopping for a morning snack

Sotol (aka "Desert Spoon") putting up its flower stalk

Pausing at the far point of the hike

Spectacle Pod (you'll see how it got its name in the next image)

Keeping an eye on you

Two roads diverged in the desert/and Becca took a shade break

Ocotillo flower

Soaptree Yucca west of Tortugas

Small herd of Mule Deer just west of Tortugas

Last glance before moving along

Another Cholla flowering in our yard

Chollas at the side of our house

Boat-tailed Grackle on a power line near our hacienda