Bug Brigade

1st 2:  ocotillos and clouds

After yesterday's rain it was so buggy out there we considered abbreviating our hike.  We all were pestered mercilessly; they especially went after Willow's ears and face.

We stuck it out, though, following our normal route.  We saw no other nature enthusiasts of the human or canine kind, but we did spot some desert denizens:  hummingbirds and Pyrrhuloxia; I didn't get decent photos of any.

Needless to say all three of us were happy to get back inside the CR-V after our outing.

A bit of Tortugas and the Organ Mountains

 

Pyrrhuloxia, aka "Desert Cardinal"

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Sky almost looks angry

Same Desert Cardinal as above

Barrel cactus

From inside the middle branch arroyo

Heading down the middle branch

Looking back up the middle branch

A healthy Whitethorn Acacia

Desert/sky

My favorite barrel cactus mandala

Heading up the steep hill just west of the right branch arroyo