Hike Sans Hummers

Tellbrook Arroyo

This morning, just to have a little change of scenery, we headed north from the east/west cross trail, crossed the Tellbrook Arroyo and did a bit of exploring in one of the side arroyos.

I took a few photos in order to have some variety from those I've been posting of late.

Afterwards we retraced our steps and trekked up the left branch arroyo, stopped briefly at the spot in the middle branch where hummingbirds have been congregating recently, and then headed down to the confluence of the right branch.  We saw no hummers while we were out there today.

A huge Desert Willow

This & next 3:  side arroyos just off the Tellbrook Arroyo

Variegated Meadowhawk dragonfly

Wils

Last 2:  yuccas on 4210 hill

Hummer Altra Volta

Tortugas and the Organs in the distance

The weather was pleasant this morning, though slightly warm; this ongoing heatwave is a real drag.

We had to alter our usual hike due to a man with two dogs descending LDR from the north.  We bushwhacked to the east across to the right branch arroyo, descended it to the left branch, ascended the left branch to a spot where we've often bushwhacked from in the past.

We bushwhacked over to the saddle and then up onto the crest of 4210 hill; afterward we retraced our steps to the left branch and then followed our usual route hoping that the Rufous Hummingbirds we've seen the past few days would be visiting the late-blooming ocotillos when we reached the plants growing in the middle branch arroyo.  As you can see below they were there.

Three wise men looking desiccated

Canine face?

Willow taking a breather

Long view to the mountains

Another long view of the mountains

This & next 4:  hummers again

Ocotillo and yucca buddies

Willow and Dr. K in the right branch arroyo

Last 2:  Dove Tree

Hummer Redux

All hummer pics: 3 different Rufous females or young males

Dr. K, Willow and I did our usual hike this morning spending an inordinate amount of time on the short crossover trail between the left and right branch arroyos.  That's where the late-blooming ocotillos have attracted Rufous Hummingbirds to the bright red flowers.

We were hoping the hummers would be there and they were:  three young'uns who were engaged in a battle royale over the late season nectar.  Of course when I refer to "late season" I'm talking about our summer which seems never to end.  We were 98F yesterday and we'll be 95F today.  El Paso hit 100F yesterday, the latest century mark day ever recorded there.

Wils on break

Three-headed barrel cactus

Hummer Friday

1st 2:  cottontail taking it easy

Dr. K, Willow and I had a good hike this morning even though it was a tad toasty out there; we're headed for a high of 98F.  Geez!

Yesterday when we discovered late-blooming ocotillo flowers I felt fairly certain that they would be visited by hummingbirds; I was hoping I'd get a chance to photograph a few.  Turns out one very persistent female Rufous Hummingbird was feeding there today.  I got a few decent photos of her.

When we got home I took the Jeep Commander to the Circle K on the corner of Telshor and Missouri to get it washed.  When I got home I installed new windshield wipers on it, though I had a heck of a time taking the wipers off and putting the new ones on.

Long view of Tortugas and the Organs

Little Wils

Soaptree and the mountains

Tortugas and the Organs again

Barrel cactus bud trying for flowerhood

All hummer pics are the same female Rufous

Antsyphus

Deadwood

Ocotillo leaves and prickly pear