Cycle of Nature

This and the next:  Black-throated Sparrow

Becca and I took a moderately long hike west of Tortugas Mountain this morning, bushwhacking through one of the sandiest sections of desert to reach a spot where Soaptree Yuccas were finally starting to bloom.  They always blossom after the flowers of the Torrey and Banana Yuccas have long faded, the latter replaced by fruit.

The Lark Bunting pictured below took me forever to identify because I don't believe I've ever seen one before in the desert here, and the books I have on the birds of New Mexico didn't mention them.  Nevertheless, I was more than happy to get some images of this beautiful bird, a breeding male, who, apparently is part of the sparrow family.

I got a few decent photos of other birds as well:  the Black-throated Sparrow and the Loggerhead Shrike.  The sparrow was singing its lungs off, but the shrike was looking to make a strike on some unsuspecting insect.

This and the next:  Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus

Lark Bunting (breeding male)

Same Lark Bunting (sparrow)

The long view

Soaptree Yuccas in a sandy section of desert

Soaptree Yuccas

Break

Soaptree Yucca

Typical northern Chihuahuan Desert scene

Soaptree stalk and flowers

Becca sees people on the mountain road

Floral harikiri

Soaptree Yucca flower impaled on its own stiletto

The Torrey Yucca flowers are long gone

Torrey Yucca fruit has replaced the flowers

Two view of Tortugas and the Organs

#2

Across to the Organs

Prickly Pear blossom

Another break

Really not much shade

Some typical northern Chihuahuan Desert flora

Ocotillos and Soaptree Yuccas

Three views of a Loggerhead Shrike

Soaptree Yucca stalks old and new