Shake, Rattle and Let's Roll!

Probably a raven feather

When you encounter an agitated Western Diamondback Rattlesnake not long after your begin your morning hike you tend to get a bit edgy on the rest of the trek--especially if you do any bushwhacking.  Becca and I had to make a detour around said rattler because it was too close to the side of the trail.  Of course I stopped to take photos and videos of the beautiful critter, and that seemed to agitate it only more.  Because two women were coming up behind us we stayed where we were in order to warn them about the snake.  They were grateful, though one was eager to take a photo of the rattler with her phone.

The rest of our outing was uneventful, with the exception of a surprising encounter on the very last leg of the journey:  a mature patchnose snake slithered between Becca and me as we approached the trailhead.  I knew immediately it was a harmless critter, but it gave me a start at first--primarily because of the earlier meet-up with the Western Diamondback.  That's what happens when you bump into an irritated rattler right off the bat.

Experimental towers

An early morning encounter

Fairly large Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Soaptree scene

White-winged Dove

This and the next 4:  scenes along the way

Becca on break

Chihuahuan Desert scene

Variegated Fritillary

West of the mountain

Cactus Wren

Probably a Big Bend Patchnose Snake