Sun-Drenched Sunday

Dayflowers

Today would have been as bad as yesterday for Dr. K, Willow and me had it not been for a fairly consistent breeze that blew throughout our morning hike.  We followed our regular route, stopping every time Willow wanted a shade break.  In the shadow of the ancient Soaptree Yucca in the left branch arroyo we stopped for water; Willow had a quaff.  After the outing we drove over to our local Circle K to gas up the CR-V before taking a short ride around various neighborhoods.

Flycatcher

Outta here!

Swainson's Hawk

Willow taking a break between arroyos

Sun through ocotillo

Long-distance relationship

Adonis Blazingstar (Mentzelia multiflora)

White-thorn Acacia

 

Saturday Slog

Looks like a Say's Phoebe

Conditions were nearly as brutal as they were yesterday for Willow and me; this time Dr. K got to experience the hot weather.  Almost no breeze accompanied by blazing sun made the morning hike less than satisfying.  We took many shade breaks because Willow insisted, and we stopped for shade and water at the ancient Soaptree Yucca in the left branch arroyo.  There was a white SUV parked at the Tellbrook/Sonoma Ranch lot when we got out there today, but we never saw the occupants.  We did spot the elderly lady with hiking sticks trekking across the desert far to the north of us.

Big old ocotillo

This & next 2:  Texas Horned Lizard

Horned driftwood

This & next:  ocotillo flower

Crazy Willow

Mesquite bean eater

 

Near Brutal

1st 3:  same Roadrunner in two different ocotillos

Just Willow and me on the morning hike; Dr. K had stuff to do.  The Wilster and I followed our regular route under pretty brutal conditions--totally unlike the weather we had yesterday.  No clouds today, no breeze, blazing sun.  Bugs were flying into our faces the entire time.  We saw no other nature lovers during the trek.  I took some decent photos while we were out there, but none of particular note.

Wils in the LDR-A arroyo

Desert Marigold flowers

Dayflowers

Greater Earless Lizard

Blackfoot Daisy

Willow in the right branch arroyo

Beautiful clouds over the desert

 

Glorious Clouds

Humid and cool at start

Dr. K, Willow and I remained cool throughout our morning hike; significant cloud cover kept the weather conditions cool and humid.  This was a nice break from yesterday's near-brutal heat.  We followed our regular route and spotted no other nature lovers while we were out there.

James' Holdback (Pomaria jamesii)

Velvety Nerisyrenia

Poor photo of a Pyrrhuloxia (aka Desert Cardinal)

Willow on break

Blackfoot Daisy

This & next:  Desert Unicorn-plant

Dr. K and Willow in the right branch arroyo

Viscid Four O'clock

 

Heat Abbreviation

16 White-winged Doves

It was so uncomfortable out there this morning for Dr. K, Willow and me that we shortened the hike by a third.  Willow especially didn't seem to be enjoying herself due to the heat even though we stopped repeatedly for shade and water breaks.  We were all glad to get out of the desert before it heated up even more.

A female Scott's Oriole on Soaptree Yucca stalk

Another large ocotillo

Willow looking alert

Dayflowers

Desert Marigolds

Couldn't ID it

 

Grocery Day

Desert Unicorn-plant (Proboscidea althaeifolia)

75F already when Dr. K, Willow and I hit the trail this morning.  A persistent breeze/wind kept us from feeling the brunt of the searing sunshine.  We did our regular route, only spotting other outdoor enthusiasts--Pickup-Truck-Lady and her dog--when we were driving down Tellbrook Road on the way home.  After we got back I took a quick shower and then headed over to Albertsons for my weekly shopping stint.

Desert Marigold bouquet

Wils in sand

Hazy morning mountains

Round-tailed Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma modestum)

Very large (15 to 18 foot) ocotillo

Desert Marigolds again

Small White-thorn Acacia tree