After Significant Rain

Soaptree Yucca and the mountains

50F at the start of our hike today, but the humidity was 97%; so it felt quite warm except when a cool breeze picked up several times during the outing.

The four of us did our regular route this morning, seeing only the guy and woman hikers with their Bassets in the distance across the Tellbrook Arroyo.

After the trek we drove down to the small post office on Union Avenue to mail a bill.

Clouds over the Organs

Prickly Pear

This & next 2:  clouds pressing down on the Organs

This & next:  Frio and Willow

Tortugas and the Organs

This & next:  Desert Sumac in Right Branch Arroyo

Distant view of Tortugas and the cloud-blanketed Organs

 

All Fogged Up

All but the last 2:  fog in the desert this morning

Dr. K went shopping this morning so Willow, Frio and I did our regular hike in a foggy northern Chihuahuan Desert today.  It felt rather eerie out there through two-thirds of the trek, but a light breeze picked up then and the sunshine began to burn off the moisture.

Stopped to get gas at our local Circle K convenience store on the way home.

2 1/2 X 2 1/2-inch web with fog drops

Frio and Willow in the middle branch

 

Four For the Road

From LDR-A arroyo

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I did our regular hike this morning.  That is all.

Lenin

Frio and Willow crossing over to the middle branch

Yucca portal

Soaptree Yucca

Dr. K with Willow and Frio

This & next:  Desert Sumac

The long view

 

American Kestrel Redux

First 2:  views from LDR-A arroyo

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I did our usual hike on a warmer than usual morning; we're supposed to reach 72F today, about 12 degrees above normal.

The Heelers were particularly well behaved during the outing, never exhibiting any urge to lurch forward on the trail; of course we didn't see any critters that would make such lurching compelling.

I photographed the same (I'm almost positive) male American Kestrel I photographed yesterday in the exact same place.  Today's images of the falcon were a bit better, but I wish I could get a closer shot with better lighting.

Frio and Willow

This & next:  Soaptree Yucca

Heelers

Artsy Organs

Probably the same male American Kestrel from yesterday

Better than the previous image?

 

Good Company

First 2:  Loggerhead Shrike

Dr. K accompanied Willow, Frio and me this morning for a normal hike; she wore workout shoes rather than boots, and that gave her some relief from the soreness in her right foot.

The weather was quite pleasant for our outing, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.  Especially pleasing was the excellent behavior of the Heelers, who spent a lot of time off lead.  I noticed that Frio kept looking back at me whenever the impulse to dash ahead came over him.

We saw, and I photographed, several birds of interest during the trek; the images are posted here, and I wish they were a bit better.

House Finch

Willow and Frio

View to the northwest

Looking down the right branch

Willow and Frio

Who's that at the top of the Ocotillo?

Why it's an American Kestrel (this & next)

Chipping Sparrow?

Deep into Right Branch Arroyo

American Kestrel