Seems I spend a lot of time watching Sonoran Desert birds, occasionally I see a rabbit, and there’s still some flowers blooming in the ever increasing temperatures at the end of March.
After a week boondocking in the Sonoran Desert I had to go to town for fresh fruit. Took advantage of a strong enough signal in Ajo to load a video about my drive from Owl to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Yes, I’m weeks behind real time on the YouTube channel and here on the blog. I returned to the same camp, because I like it.
One morning, motion caught my eye as a giant Jackrabbit, not a bunny really, bounded past camp. Easter early but no eggs left behind.
Motion usually means Sonoran Desert birds, like a Flicker hiding in a Palo Verde tree.
Or a Roadrunner catching a lizard.
The desert floor was heavily carpeted with purple Phacelia, also known as Scorpion Weed it’s prickly fuzz causes an itchy irritation to the skin.
Seems most plants in the Sonoran Desert have a bite. Some of the critters too but I’ve not seen any snakes or scorpions, yet.
Seems the Sonoran Desert birds mostly bite bugs so I’m safe, at least from the Mockingbird.
And unless it’s something dead the Turkey Vulture won’t bite.
I went for short walks that lasted several hours watching out for cactus that bite if you get too close and keeping an eye out for Sonoran Desert birds.
The Saguaros are captivating in their various shapes.
I found a small patch of blooming Globe Mallow, but not like in past years when they were more dense.
The Ocotillo flowers and fruit also bring in Sonoran Desert birds.
The black-throated Sparrow was a new Sonoran desert bird for me to see.
Good thing I went out the previous day, as Tuesday was cloudy and in my mind at only 66° cold with high winds including 40mph gusts.
Many RV neighbors left. I’d rather be parked in high winds than driving. Gave me time to work on writing and processing photos for the last blog post.
Plus, even though I didn’t get outside, I sure saw a lot of pretty right through my windows, including sunset.
The crazy wind set off the trail-cam all day and night with moving flowers and trees. But it also caught a coyote after dark.
More clouds the next day even brought a little rain, a special treat in the desert.
And yet another beautiful sunset, this time looking east.
The following day was clear with no wind and 65° suddenly felt warm enough to sit outside in the sun enjoying my desert views. Must have been calm enough for the Sonoran Desert birds too.
I checked the trail-cam in the morning and discovered coyote had been by again, several times over the night.
Saturday I had company. Paul Gill, well-known Arizona Highways photographer, was on this way to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to shoot cristate cactus and blooms. We took a short walk but mostly sat in camp comparing notes and catching up.
Blister Beetle
Paul left before sunrise and I wasn’t too far behind on my way northward to Owl for the night and beyond to a water site the next day.
Struggling to catch up, almost a month behind, and am now four places past this location. Hard to keep up when there’s so much cool going on.