Desert Packrat

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Unplanned Bushwhack

Getting started on the west side of Tortugas

Becca and I did some unplanned bushwhacking after stopping at the Electrical Lineworkers school grounds to photograph a noisy Ladderback Woodpecker. I spotted the white chest of a raptor in the distance, and we closed in on the bird--a Red-tailed Hawk-- to take some photos. It sat still for quite a while before taking off. Hoping it had flown to a nearby perch we did some hill climbing and dale dipping in search of the raptor. I didn't see him in the near distance at first, but when I did we made some slow-motion maneuvers in his direction so I could snap more shots of the magnificent creature. He was very cooperative, sitting on an Ocotillo while we closed in. I thought he was hunting for a meal, but after he finally took off we discovered the feathers of a pulverized White-winged Dove close to where the raptor was perched, no doubt the breakfast he recently had feasted on.

Hikers heading up a steep mountain trail

Don't look directly at the sun

The Soaptree Family

Heard pecking from these poles at the Electrical Lineworker school

It was a Ladderback Woodpecker

Quite a handsome individual

Striking across to the west

Pastel mountains

Narrow arroyo west of the mountain

Heading west

Old dirt road

Crazy clouds over the mountains

Becca spots three mountain bikers

The western vista

Can't get over these nutty clouds

More distant view of the clouds

Hikers headed up the mountain road

Flank of Tortugas Mountain and the Organ Mountain peaks

My favorite yucca and the Organ Mountains

Another view of my favorite yucca

Somebody has ridden a bicycle down this arroyo

Spotted an unmistakable white breast in the distance

A little closer look at the raptor

A beautiful Red-tailed Hawk

This is where we were when we spotted the hawk

Same Red-tailed Hawk who flew to another perch

Thought it was hunting for breakfast

Majestic raptor

Nice profile

The Ocotillo he perched on

Uh oh

Scratching his face

Guess I took enough photos of him

One more

Apparently he'd already eaten a White-winged Dove

The area of the outback we bushwhacked through

Heading back to the mountain

Pleasant morning view

Yep, we're going all the way up there

Looking back the way we just came

Looking back in black-and-white

Wild clouds this morning

Normal-looking clouds

Friday, February 2, 2018

Fake Memo Friday

This morning's moon

Becca and I got a really early start on our trek this morning, staying on the west side of the mountain as we clung to the upper foothills trail before dropping into the lower desert. We encountered a man and woman hiking with their German Shepherd, a threesome we often see out in this section of the Chihuahuan Desert; they're always very pleasant in their morning greetings. We also had the pleasure of bumping into our buddy Jimmy just as we were getting back to our car. I had Becca on the leash, and she nearly ripped my arm off at the shoulder running to greet him. Jimmy is by far her favorite hiker pal.

Sky at start

Becca doing her normal scouting routine

One view of the trail to the sky

Almost to the upper foothills

Contrail clouds

Mounds of Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus

View of Tortugas's west side from the high foothills

Down to the lower desert

Barren Soaptree Yucca flower stalks

Crazy Ocotillo

Smudgy contrail clouds

What's doing that to the clouds--wind?

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Giro di Giovedi

Just past full and photobombed by a distant bird

Ciao a miei cugini in Germania se loro ancora leggere questo blog. :)

Becca and I really extended our hike (uno giro o una camminata) this morning west of Tortugas Mountain. We headed far out on the road that goes back toward the city, looped around to the south, and then struck up an arroyo that runs out of the western flank of the mountain. When we reached the portion of the wash that's intersected by the Crosscut Trail we turned south again until we hit the outer loop road, which we followed back to Tortugas. After heading south for about a half mile we climbed east on the trail that leads into the upper foothills. Our most interesting encounter was early on with a Roadrunner in the high foothills. I'm fairly certain it's the one we often bump into in this section of the desert. He (I'll say) isn't spooked by us at all. He was on the far side of a Prickly Pear Cactus when Becca passed within three feet of him. It wasn't until he moved slightly that I noticed him. He's quite a ham, too, posing while I took several photos of him.