Breezy and Windy

Willow and Frio on break

Not too chilly when we started off this morning despite the breezy/windy conditions.

We did our usual hike, but stopped a bit shy of heading all the way up the Left Branch Arroyo because we heard a dog barking there; when Willow got excited, thereby setting Frio off, I decided to turn around.

At the intersection with the right branch we turned west and then headed south up the arroyo, exiting atop the steep hill beside the road where we'd left the CR-V.

View from the left branch

This & next 2:  little mesquite

This & next 2:  female Mormon Tea

This & next:  our favorite mesquite greening out

Crazy tree

 

Best Intentions

Bird on mesquite, Organ Mountains backdrop

My plan was to take few photos this morning and share even fewer; however, best laid plans . . .

I didn't intend to pursue a completely different track this morning, but, deciding to follow a trail I spotted on one of my recent photos, the three amigos ended up doing a lot of bushwhacking through our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert.

The added exertion turned out to be worth it because we got to see sights we'd not seen before, especially the giant Torrey Yucca in bloom that is pictured here.  Also bumped into a tiny Black-chinned Hummer that looked very young.

We added miles to our usual morning trek, but there wasn't a peep of protest from the Heelers today.

A little hazy

He took his half from the middle

Doing a little bushwhacking

Hedgehog Cactus

Ancient stump

Next 6:  huge Torrey Yucca we bushwhacked to get to

This & next 2:  Claret Cups still blooming out there

This & next: looks like a young Black-chinned Hummingbird

Mesquite blooming

Desert dogs Willow and Frio

"Slim" in bloom

Ocotillo blossoms

 

Darling Companions

First 3:  powered paraglider

Dr. K, Willow, Frio and I did a usual hike in our section of northern Chihuahuan Desert this morning, and we all enjoyed a pleasant outing; the weather conditions were almost ideal:  sunny with a cool breeze.

We saw quite a few aviators out there today:  two powered paragliders, Swainson's Hawks, Turkey Vultures, a House Finch, assorted sparrows and a Pyrrhuloxia.  Wish I could have captured better images of all.

After our trek we took a drive around several different neighborhoods before heading home.

People photobombing a long-distance shot of the observatory

Paraglider near Tortugas Mountain

Used a Dry Brush filter on this image

Swainson's Hawk

This & next:  similar view of the Organ Mountains

House Finch on yucca

Ancient Soaptree Yucca

Yin/Yang

This & next 2:  fruit of the Torrey Yucca

This & next:  Ocotillo in front of the Organs

Willow and Frio

This & next 2:  Ocotillo buds and flowers

Pyrrhuloxia on Ocotillo branch