A Nice Bushwhack

Mourning Dove on nest in our backyard

We didn't plan on it when we set off on our hike this morning, but we did a fairly long bushwhack primarily to get around to the front side of Swainsy the Swainson's Hawk who I spotted not long after we crossed the Tellbrook Arroyo.

We were able to make a long loop around the hawk so that I could take some full monty photos from the east.  Swainsy was fully cooperative, never flying off while I snapped a bunch of pics.  We made a point of not approaching too closely, again not to spook the raptor.

After the photo-ops we backtracked, making the long loop back across the Tellbrook Arroyo to the left branch arroyo from where we finished the rest of our usual trek.

Morning moon

Desert Willow beside our house

Flank of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

Willow on shade break in LDR-A arroyo

Soaptree and the mountains

Swainsy from the rear

Trekking up a side arroyo

Bushwhacking view:  Tortugas Mountains and the Organs

Soaptree on the bank of a large side arroyo

This & next 2:  Swainson's Hawk

Southwest of Tortugas Mountain

Swainsy

White-winged Dove on ocotillo

Ocotillo flowers

Wils in Dr. K's shadow

Headed down the middle branch arroyo

Swainsy