Sunday Trek in OMDPNM

I'm going to say "Cloudless Sulphur" on Red Yucca

Dr. K, Becca and I got a fairly early start to our Sunday-morning routine, opting to again hike the lower Sierra Vista Trail in Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.  Although there were a few trailer campers in designated sites no cars were parked in the lot at the trailhead.  Dr. K and I were impressed by all the work the BLM has done to improve the area.  We encountered three mountain bikers while we were headed south, but we saw only one distant hiker with his dog.  It was rather steamy out there this morning, so we cut the hike just short of Black Mountain.  Becca was grateful for the early turnaround as were Dr. K and me.  It was a pleasant enough outing, but we're ever more hopeful that the weather will break soon and start cooling down.

Female Rufous Hummingbird

Same female Rufous Hummingbird

They've made a lot of progress at the Sierra Vista Trail lot recently

Workers have done a great job restricting off-limit areas

Those distant Torrey Yuccas are as large, or larger, than these

Unripe Barrel Cactus fruit

Barrels still blooming along the Sierra Vista Trail

Closeup of Barrel blossom

Barrel Cactus and the Organ Mountains

The Organ Mountains

We were exploring this arroyo until . . .

. . . we hit a dead end

Nest in the arroyo

Chihuahuan Desert scene

More Barrel Cactus flowers and buds

"Whitey" at the Sierra Vista Trail parking lot