Faintest Hint of Autumn

1st 2:  morning sky

It was partly cloudy and cool this morning when Dr. K, Willow and I set off on our daily hike.  Combined with a cool breeze, weather conditions felt almost like the beginning of fall.  It was pleasant relief from recent hot days.

We did our usual trek not needing to stop as many times due to absence of brutal sunshine.  Another factor that kept us moving was the relative abundance of ants; they usually come out after rain, which we had last night.

When we were about to climb the steep hill out of the right branch arroyo Willow picked up a strong scent from over the hilltop.  When we scaled the summit we saw what she had picked up:  a single javelina heading down LDR-A,  I took several photos of it.  Shortly after that we saw another javelina to the south speeding across the desert to get away from us.  It was running full out, and Dr. K said she didn't realize javelina could move so fast.  I had seen them galloping like that in the past.  A little research on my part revealed these startling facts:  a javelina can broad jump six feet from a standstill and can run as fast as 35 mph.

Tortugas and the Organs

 

Arroyos were running last night

New growth from old

Picacho (in shadow) and environs

Loggerhead Shrike

Ridge with yuccas and the Organ Mountains

Desert and sky

This & next:  ocotillos

Picacho (in sunlight) and environs

Whitethorn Acacia flowers

Willow heading up the right branch trail

This & next 3:  prickly pear experiment

View from the right branch arroyo

This & next 2:  same javelina

Different javelina at full gallop