HD is for Hump Day

A little less dust in the air

Dr. K, Willow and I did a hike this morning in reasonably warm weather conditions; apparently the wind is taking a Hump Day break.  It's not supposed to last, however, because Thursday and Friday are expected to be somewhat brutal.  Saw Mrs. Basset and her hounds in the desert far north of us when we started off, but spotted nobody else while trekking along our regular route.

This & next:  Willow at rest

The Lone Soaptree

Scarecrow

Perhaps it is a kit fox den (see following image)

Tiny canid footprints (kit fox?)

Near the burrows

Evening Primrose

Faxon Yucca flower stalks

Last 3:  Curve-billed Thrasher in mesquite tree

 

Minor Wind

Winter landscape

The wind wasn't nearly as bad as it got yesterday, but the weather conditions were not ideal this morning; nevertheless, Dr. K, Willow and I did our regular route today seeing no other nature enthusiasts out and about in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  I did my weekly grocery shopping at Albertsons after we got back home.

This & next 5:  Cactus Wren

This & next:  ethereal cloud over the mountains

Wils and her shadow

Triple barrel cactus and burrow mound (white in background)

Willow and an imprisoned Dr. K

 

Me and Willie McGee

1st 2:  ocotillos and clouds

Dr. K had an appointment this morning so it was Willow and me on the daily trek.  Rather than descending along LDR-A arroyo we did some bushwhacking to the north at the start of our hike; after that we followed our regular route.  We heard some dogs barking while we were out there, but we never saw them nor any human beings.  Fortunately we beat the wind by several hours.  It's pretty bad right now (12:39 PM).

Clouds over the mountains

Zipper cloud

To the southwest

Willow bushwhacking

Double barrel cactus

How many barrel cacti?

Southwest again

Picacho and surroundings

 

Wind Again

Blooming Faxon Yucca from distance

Even though high winds have made a return to our area it didn't feel all that cold during our morning hike today.  Dr. K, Willow and I did our regular route, spotting nobody else in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  We took a drive after the outing listening to Matt and Myron on their Sunday Morning show.

This & next:  cloud over the Organs

Ocotillos and yucca

Yuccas from the middle branch arroyo

Willow on break

 

Saturday Trek with Willow

Desert flora

Dr. K had an AAUW event to attend this morning ("Girls Can") so it was Willow and me on the morning hike.  She and I did our regular route without seeing anybody else in the desert.  Weather conditions were good:  sunny, windless, high 40s.

Flank of Tortugas

The Wilster

Spiky deadwood

What does Willow see?

White-winged Dove

Where are the four hikers?

This & next 8:  Faxon Yucca in bloom

Phacelia crenulata

Distant view of the Faxon Yucca in bloom