Change in Elevation

Nest in the Desert Willow in our backyard

Dr. K, Willow and I did our usual hike in the lower desert this morning before returning home to finish packing for a trip to the high country where we are now.  Best thing about being up here:  it's cooler, but not breathtakingly cooler.

This & next:  small bird emerging from nest

 

This & next 2:  Nipple Beehive Cactus under mesquite tree

Willow leading the way

Dayflower

Black-throated Sparrow

Organ Mountains and environs looking quite green

Hawk in Tree

1st 5: after much agonizing I'm going with Cooper's Hawk

Having just turned right off our street I saw a hawk fly up into a neighbor's tree; I was able to get some fairly decent photos of the raptor.  Pretty sure it's a Cooper's Hawk.  Finished our drive out to the trailhead and did our regular route.  We heard somebody on a dirt bike while we were out there, but we saw no one in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.  The weather was bearable:  hot and humid, but with a somewhat consistent breeze.

Twin-spotted Spiny Lizard

Looking up the arroyo we just came down

Willow hearing something

Down the middle branch arroyo

Looking north at Tortugas Mountain from the right branch

 

Already Hot

Soaptree Yucca and ocotillo

Already hot and very humid when Dr. K, Willow and I set off on our morning trek; buggy, too.  Very little wind until the last section of the hike south up the right branch arroyo.  After we got home I left for my weekly shopping stint at Albertsons.  A little while ago Dr. K left for her weekly shopping stint at Target.  We've got it down to a science.  I always appreciate a waiver, though.  :)

Willow on shade break

This & next:  cactus wren on ocotillo branch

Ratany and prickly pear

Desert view

 

Not Brutal, but...

How many doves?

It wasn't unbearable for Dr. K, Willow and I this morning, but it was damned close:  hot, sunny, humid, nary a breeze.  We followed our usual route, nonetheless, seeing no other lunatic nature lovers while we trudged through our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.

Twin-leaf Senna

Dr. K and Wils

Yucca

Willow in shade

Whitethorn Acacia and hedgehog cactus

Ocotillo toddlers

 

Hot, Hazy, Humid

1st 4:  Twin-spotted Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus bimaculosus)

Rather uncomfortable for Dr. K, Willow and me this morning; it was hot (because it never cooled off much overnight), hazy (due to strong winds) and humid (because a moist air mass is moving in).  Those impediments didn't stop us from doing our daily hike.  Afterward we took a long drive listening to Matt and Myron on their Sunday Morning show.

Barrel cactus and ocotillo

This & next:  Willow in ocotillo shadow

As green as new ocotillo leaves

Whitethorn Acacia and ocotillo

Ocotillo up in the right branch arroyo

 

Rising Temps

1st 3:  views up the left branch arroyo

We'll probably get close to hitting the century mark today; it sure felt toastier than yesterday when Dr. K, Willow and I were out in the desert for our morning excursion.  We saw no one else while we followed our regular route.  Took a long drive after the outing during which I took the photos of the century plant (Agave americana) pictured below.

South up the right branch arroyo

Willow having a lie-down

Way up in the right branch

Upper desert

Last 2:  century plant in a neighborhood yard