Post Deluge

I'm going to say "immature male" Scott's Oriole

We got several hours of heavy rain last night--.97 inches recorded at the Farm & Ranch Museum--and this morning was just about as muggy as it's been for ages here in the northern Chihuahuan Desert.  The swarms of insects were honestly really clouds of bugs.  Very unpleasant for a trek west of Tortugas Mountain this morning.  Nevertheless, both Becca and I enjoyed ourselves during the hike.  There was evidence of the heavy rain out there:  all the plants seemed greener, the desert earth was wetter, and in a few select places there were even tinajas filled with rainwater.  From the looks of the day so far it's easy to say it could rain again later on.

Look how wet the trail is still

This and the next two:  tinajas

Even greener after the rain

Alternate view

Ocotillo and hedgehog cacti on a steep slope

Hedgehog at the base of an Ocotillo

Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus

Hot and humid

Either a female or a young male Scott's Oriole

View from the west side of the mountain