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| Getting started on the Sierra Vista Trail once again |
Dr. K, Becca and I got a pretty early start out to Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument this morning, and we thought we were going to be cold. It was 28F here at the house with a stiff wind when we left; but out at the monument it was sunny and warm, not a breath of a breeze. Within a short distance we were peeling off layers of clothing. We didn't get down to our skivvies, though, and it's a good thing. On the way back a cooling breeze picked up and we were glad we'd kept light jackets on. We ran into a few other hikers, the first two a man and woman with two dogs, one of which was a tiny replica of Becca. When I said to the man, "I see a strong resemblance," he said, "This is the new model just off the lot." The second man and woman were hiking with a beautiful German Shepherd. When the Shepherd passed Becca he tried to get over close to her when the woman said to her dog, "Mind your own business." Those were our only encounters, though there were quite a few campers in the campground, and we saw one man nearby walking a Great Dane. We see more and more campers out there every week. Obviously word has gotten out about our beautiful national monument.
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| Leafless Ocotillos |
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| Who's that in the Ocotillo? |
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| It's a Cactus Wren |
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| Looking very cute |
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| Final shot of the Cactus Wren |
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| Black-throated Sparrow |
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| Becca leading the way ahead |
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| Fishhook Barrel Cactus |
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| Closeup of the fishhooks |
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| Happy hiker |
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| Rolling grassland and the Organ Mountains |
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| Northern section of the Organs |
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| Shadow and light on the mountains |
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| Sagebrush Sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis) |
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| Sagebrush Sparrow |
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| Organ Mountains |
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| Getting closer to the mountains |
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| Closer still |
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| Curve-billed Thrasher |
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| Tree just north of Black Mountain |
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| Missed the bird, but I'm calling it an artsy shot |
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| Leafless Chinaberry trees at the side of Black Mountain |
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| Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus |
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| Same Rainbow Hedgehog, different perspective |
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| Dr. K and Becca |
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| Side of Black Mountain |
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| Sunlight barely touching columns of rock |
1 comment:
Beautiful photos of the four different kinds of birds. It was a lovely morning for a hike.
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