A Tad Toasty

Black-chinned Hummingbird on a Soaptree Yucca stalk

Same hike with a different type of excitement this morning:  both Frio and Willow took off after a large Black-tailed Jackrabbit from our resting spot in an arroyo.  We had stopped to have a drink of water in the shade of a large yucca when Frio spotted the hare and lit out for it.  Willow went right behind him.  Fortunately Willow listened to the "Come!" command Dr. K and I were yelling, and she didn't venture too far down the arroyo.  Frio must have been looking back at her because he returned shortly afterwards.  Perhaps he realized quickly that he wasn't going to catch the "Jack."

Our biggest concern at this time of year is encountering rattlers; neither of the Heelers have had a vaccination against snake bite because we haven't been able to get them in to see our vet.  And because Frio is nearly deaf we're pretty sure he won't hear a warning rattle; Willow will, but they have to be together for Frio to take advantage of her reaction.

We headed back for our waiting CR-V before the temperature got too high, although it already felt pretty toasty in our section of the northern Chihuahuan Desert.  We're heading for a high of 97F today.

Huge Soaptree Yucca

Same Black-chinned Hummingbird on a Torrey Yucca

This and the next 6:  Soaptree Yuccas

Willow and Frio in an arroyo (after the chase)

The arroyo we explored

This and the next 4:  Soaptree Yuccas

Cactus Wren nest in the left stalk

Closer look at the next

This and the last:  distant look at Tortugas and the Organ Mountains