Back on the Sunset Side

West side of Tortugas Mountain

Becca and I got a fairly early start on a relatively warm February morning, getting in a long hike--partially in the outback--before running into our pals JC, Olivia and Jimmy on the inbound last leg of our trek.  We stood gabbing for a while until Jimmy headed for the mountaintop and the rest of us returned to the cars at the trailhead.  JC and Olivia have only a few days left before wrapping up the Las Cruces portion of their trip.  Then they're heading up to northern New Mexico for a bit before returning home to Fairbanks, Alaska.  The time they spent here--from Thanksgiving to now--seems to have evaporated quickly.

What's coming out of the Ocotillo tip?

Flower bud or leaves?

Definitely flower buds on a Hedgehog Cactus

Ocotillo leaves

One-spot profile

Loggerhead Shrike

Torrey Yucca head

Large, oddly shaped yucca

Ocotillos and the Organs

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) on a dead yucca

More Ocotillo leaves

Becca spots a runner on the side of the mountain

Looks like an Ocotillo flower bud