Hello Birdies

Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)

It was overcast and quite chilly when Becca and I hit the trail west of Tortugas Mountain this morning; and even though the sun tried to make several appearances the temperature stayed in the low 50s for our entire trek.  The area wasn't very populated with outdoor enthusiasts, perhaps because of the weather.  We saw no one in the outback, but on our inbound leg we waved a greeting to a runner on the upper foothills trail, and a guy wearing a bright orange shirt hiked several hundred yards in front of us heading back to the parking area.  When we got home I showered and drove over to Eyemart Express to have my new prescription filled; I picked the new glasses up this afternoon.  I'm certain I see into reality more clearly now.

Three sisters (actually, one Torrey Yucca)

The Beckster on the squiggly trail

What's that I see at the top right of the yucca?

Why it's a Loggerhead Shrike seeing us

Check out that beak

Going inside the yucca for a snack

Loggerhead Shrikes are notorious for impaling insects

This insect seems to be an impaled grasshopper

The "what-are-you-looking-at?" stare

Or is that chunked chicken it's eating?

Handsome bird

Another look at the high-altitude cactus garden

All spikes and no cactus

Looking toward the summit of Tortugas Mountain

Flowers still in bloom on December 1st

Chihuahuan sun through overcast sky

The reddish section is this past spring's newest growth of Ocotillo wand

Single barrel cactus fruit

Becca's casting-call photo

Typical Chihuahuan Desert scene