Bushwhacking for Hawk

All red flowers are Claret Cup Cactus

Due to the presence of a Swainson's Hawk on a distant yucca I decided that the three amigos would try to get as close as we could to the raptor before it took off.  We did quite well.

Although I was hesitant about bushwhacking through grassy areas to get near the hawk we did it anyway.  We were rewarded--at least I was--with an opportunity to get some pretty good photos of the Swainson's.  It took flight not long after we approached.

Willow, Frio and I explored an area of the desert we'd not been in before, and it was a really beautiful section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  We were out there a lot longer than we have been in recent days, but at least the temperature was bearable and there wasn't much wind.

This & next:  will it still be there when we get closer?

Buds on Prickly Pear

This & next 2:  we were able to get fairly close

Swainson's Hawk

This & next 3:  panoramic views

Huge Torrey Yucca

This & next 2:  more panoramas

Close to Tellbrook Arroyo

Organ Mountains