Prickly Pear Morning

Let me see you shake your tail feathers

I intentionally cut the morning hike a little short today because Becca and I did a long one yesterday.  She seemed fine afterward, both "ayer" and "hoy," though she took an extended break in a sandy area west of the mountain during our journey.

There were a lot of birds and rabbits out and about in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert, but the most notable sight was of the many Prickly Pear blossoms beginning to flower or flowering everywhere.  I think the abundant rainfall we got this past winter will result in an abundance of flowers; I've already noticed how many Soaptree Yuccas are putting up flower stalks, even multiple flower stalks.  Really looking forward to those showy blooms.

We're headed for a high of 85F, with hotter temps on the near horizon; that's why I have a worker from Sun City Plumbing and Heating here right now to change over our furnace to our evaporative cooler.  Once we get into the high 80s and low 90s we're pretty much there to stay.

This and the next:  yellow Prickly Pear flowers

Claret Cups

Claret Cup

Prickly Pear flower in process

Best hiking companion

This and the next:  Ash-throated Flycatcher

Scott's Oriole

Northern Mockingbird

Becca on break

Soaptree Yucca stalk and the moon

She took a long break this morning

Up comes the Soaptree Yucca stalk

Closer look

This and the next 6:  Prickly Pear blossoms

Range Ratany

Ocotillo flowers

This Soaptree Yucca will be spectacular in bloom

Black-throated Hummingbird

Ocotillo flowers

Soaptree Yuccas

Prickly Pear with showy flowers

Prickly Pear flowers

I've looked at Loggerhead Shrikes from both sides now

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