Forty-Four For Starts

Ocotillo

Willow, Frio and I did the same hike as yesterday, descending LDR-A to the Tellbrook Arroyo, turning east for a bit, and then striking up an arroyo that has its head in the hills near the corner parking lot at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch intersection.  A quarter way up we branched off to the right and followed that arroyo up into the high country.

The Basset lady and her hounds were out there when we were, heading down LDR just as we were dropping out of the upper flatland.  Her dogs saw me and mine and the Bassets got to barking and braying, which upset Willow to no end.  Fortunately we soon were hidden by desert brush and the Bassets stopped with their near incessant complaining.

They were long gone by the time we made our return, ascending LDR into the upper flatland and our waiting CR-V.

Prickly Pear

Soaptree Yuccas

Frio and Willow

This & next:  same Prickly Pear

Desiccated Prickly Pear fruit

This & next:  hill west of the Organ Mountains

Mesquite bean pods

Soaptree and the mountains

Desert grassland

Hedgehog Cactus

Black-throated Sparrow

Frio and Willow at rest

Desert Sumac

Same Black-throated Sparrow as above

Deadwood sticks

Soaptree Yucca and the long view

This & next:  Organ Mountains

Turkey

Might be a Lesser Goldfinch