Cactus Wren and Western Kingbird

1st 2:  Cactus Wren on yucca saber

Dr. K, Willow and I had a pleasant morning hike in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert; we saw evidence of the Basset hounds passing before us (dog feces), but saw none of the depositors.  We followed our regular route, doing a short bushwhack out of the right branch arroyo to pick up a ribbon of plastic that was attached to a creosote branch.  Dr. K put it in her pocket, where it may well remain.

Western Kingbird

Willow looking slightly agitated

I've got a lovely bunch of yucca fruit

Deadwood

New pads for the prickly pear

Not quite open for business

 

Humdinger Hummer

Skeleton Plant

It was a bit cooler this morning when Dr. K, Willow and I did our regular hike.  Midway up the left branch arroyo the Pickup-Truck-Lady's dog came running down toward us, its leash dragging behind.  P-T-L was bringing up the rear, and Dr. K had to advance to convince P-T-L's dog to back off, which it did.  P-T-L managed to get her dog under control, and Dr. K went forward to speak to her.  P-T-L said her dog was excited, but friendly; when she asked Dr. K if Willow was friendly, Dr. K said, "No."  P-T-L then took her now-leashed dog directly eastward off the trail.  As an aside I have to say I wonder about people who let their dogs run loose with the lead attached around its neck.

Willow in Dr. K's shadow

Last 3:  Black-chinned Humming bird

 

Monday Morning Breeze

Bad photo from distance; male Lesser Goldfinch?

After yesterday's disGUSTing windstorm it was good to get out into the desert on a slightly breezy morning.  Dr. K, Willow and I saw--during our regular trek--the Basset people and their hounds and Pickup-Truck-Lady and her dog; no encounter with either.

New growth on prickly pear

Yucca fruit twins

Faxon Yucca fruit

Willow in yucca shadow

Ocotillo leafing out

Willow and Dr. K next to our favorite yucca

Curve-billed Thrasher next to our house

 

Swainsy on High

Ocotillo on hill just east of LDR-A

Dr. K, Willow and I beat the wind by quite a bit this morning, doing our regular hike in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert in fairly pleasant weather conditions.  The only other outdoor enthusiast we saw was a guy running with his dog on LDR.  We took a long drive after the trek listening to Matt and Myron on the Sunday Morning show as is our custom.

Northern Mockingbird?

This & next:  Bullock's Oriole?

Ocotillo finally getting leaves

Willow on break

This & next 3:  Swainson's Hawk

Mormon Tea flowers

Last 2:  Black-chinned Hummingbird

 

Bird Fest

1st 2:  Black-throated Sparrow on ocotillo

Dr. K is attending an all-day annual meeting of the American Association of University Women so it was Willie and me on the morning hike.  We started off following the Basset people and their hounds by several hundred yards before veering off into the LDR-A arroyo and following our regular route.  Pickup-Truck-Lady and her dog were out there far east of us, but we had no semi-close encounter.  Not a bad trek today, but the horrible winds come tomorrow.

White-winged Dove

Scott's Oriole from about 150 yards

Willow in yucca shadow

Faded flowers and fruit of the Faxon Yucca

Willow in the same shadow

Scott's Oriole (different perspective, still 150 yards away)

 

Ocotillo Morning

Ocotillo west of 4210 hill

Back to the lower desert hike for Dr. K, Willow and me this morning.  It felt warmer, but not too much to bear.  We followed our regular route  As we were climbing the hill out of the right branch arroyo we noticed a Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus with three blossoms that weren't fully opened.  Therefore Willow and I went back after lunch in order for me to photograph the fully opened flowers.

This & next 4:  ocotillo flowers

This & next 3:  enjoying ocotillo flowers

 

This & next 2:  Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus

Feather Dalea

Longleaf Jointfir (Ephedra trifurca)

Flowers fade, fruit comes (Faxon Yucca)

Sparrow or House Finch?