Labor Day Lesson

"Rabbit Ears" in Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument

What were we thinking?  Our plan was to drive out Dripping Springs Road, take Baylor Canyon Road north along the west side of the Organ Mountains, hit Highway 70 and exit at Aguirre Spring National Recreation Area on the east side of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.  We knew it was Labor Day and it might be crowded out there, but we didn't think it would be THAT crowded.  So we enjoyed our jaunt over, turned around and drove back to the Sierra Vista Trail (northern trailhead) where we did an abbreviated hike because the heat was on.  We were fortunate enough to spot a Red-tailed Hawk that sat at the top of a Torrey Yucca while I took numerous photos of it.  That hawk stayed in one place longer than any other raptor I've had the pleasure of photographing; and it wasn't as if it didn't see us.  Several times it stared right at us, and once I thought I saw it give me the wing.

This and all other raptor photos:  same Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

This is the longest a Red-tailed Hawk has stayed in one spot for me

Haze from fires in Oregon and Washington State

Male Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

Barrel Cactus flower

This and the next two:  Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)

Barrel Cactus flowers

Barrel Cactus flowers

Patience of Job

After a long morning of driving and hiking