Wind and rain brought Spring in the Sonoran Desert

Second week boondocking near the Kofa Mountains brought Spring in the Sonoran Desert.

February moved on and March blew in like a lioness—it’s my birthday month after all—so guess that means it will go out like a ewe lamb similar to last year.  Gifts of clouds, rain, puddles, and birds made for some exceptional photography.

Bath day

On Caturday, February 25th, the first propane tank emptied after one week using a lot for heat.  We crossed fingers and paws the next tank would last a little longer so I could stay and shoot the moon.  It rained that night.

Though I didn’t wake up to puddles or noticeably wet ground the bird song, and sightings, were a treat that felt like a sign of Spring in the Sonoran Desert.  The Loggerhead Shrike with black eye mask might be seen as mean because it impales caught lizards and rodents on the spikes of desert plants.  The Common Flicker often nests inside Saguaro cactus.

Cactus Wren’s are the most melodious, and Ravens the most commonly seen.

I set up a time-lapse in the window and then went for a little walk.  It seems somebody bumped the tripod.

The next day I took another walk and spotted a bird still unidentified, so feel free to ID please.

I took mostly video that day that I’ll put together eventually.  It’s not easy to take both stills with the big camera and video with the phone.  The prominent flowers and not in abundance were the yellow Bladderpod.

Increasing wind blew February out of the way with amazing clouds leaving light and shadow on the land.

The house was rocking and a sometimes southern wind on the door kept me inside.  But that doesn’t stop me from taking photos through the windows.

March blew in with increasing gusts and the rain began about 2pm remaining pretty steady throughout the afternoon.

Wow, reflection!

A gentle rain that made some puddles, definitely a special gift of Spring in the Sonoran Desert.

Instead of a colorful sunset, clouds danced over the Kofa Mountains while rain fell below making for a happy desert.  I wondered if they would bring snow to the peaks.

Loggerhead Shrike

By morning under clear blue skies the puddles were almost gone and I couldn’t see snow on the peaks, though someone else said there was some, and it had snowed in Tucson.

I got busy inside working on a video about safe boondocking during southwest winter weather and the moon snuck up over a Saguaro.

With barely a breeze and warming temperatures I enjoyed sitting outside in the sunshine and felt Spring in the Sonoran Desert while I listened to the Mockingbird.

Caught the late afternoon moon trying to hide behind a Saguaro and looked forward to several more nights before the actual full moon.