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Tag: wind

12 March 2023

Wind and rain brought Spring in the Sonoran Desert

Saguaro desert clouds on Kofa Mts King Rd BLM Kofa AZSecond week boondocking near the Kofa Mountains brought Spring in the Sonoran Desert.

02a Birthday month

https://geogypsytraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/02b-VID_20230225_171537883-time-lapse-clouds-King-Rd-BLM-Kofa-AZ.mp4

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.

Sierra grooming Gaelyn's eyebrowsBath 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.

Loggerhead Shrike Ocotillo King Rd BLM Kofa AZ

Common Flicker bird Saguaro King Rd BLM Kofa AZThough 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 bird King Rd BLM Kofa AZ

Raven bird King Rd BLM Kofa AZCactus Wren’s are the most melodious, and Ravens the most commonly seen.

 

https://geogypsytraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/06-time-lapse-with-me-Sierra-knocked-down-Kofa-AZ-g.mp4

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

unidentified bird Saguaro King Rd BLM Kofa AZThe next day I took another walk and spotted a bird still unidentified, so feel free to ID please.

yellow Bladderpod flowers King Rd BLM Kofa AZI 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.

Saguaro desert shadows Kofa Mts clouds King Rd BLM Kofa AZ

Saguaro light Kofa Mts clouds King Rd BLM Kofa AZIncreasing wind blew February out of the way with amazing clouds leaving light and shadow on the land.

Saguaro desert light clouds King Rd BLM Kofa AZ

Saguaro desert Kofa Mts clouds King Rd BLM Kofa AZThe 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.

Saguaro desert shadows Kofa Mts foggy King Rd BLM Kofa AZMarch blew in with increasing gusts and the rain began about 2pm remaining pretty steady throughout the afternoon.

puddle reflection Saguaro Kofa Mts clouds King Rd BLM Kofa AZWow, reflection!

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

Saguaro desert clouds on Kofa Mts King Rd BLM Kofa AZ

Saguaro desert clouds on Kofa Mts King Rd BLM Kofa AZ PanoInstead 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 bird Saguaro King Rd BLM Kofa AZLoggerhead 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.

Saguaro mt moon King Rd BLM Kofa AZI got busy inside working on a video about safe boondocking during southwest winter weather and the moon snuck up over a Saguaro.

Northern Mockingbird cactus King Rd BLM Kofa AZWith 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.

Saguaro mts moon King Rd BLM Kofa AZCaught the late afternoon moon trying to hide behind a Saguaro and looked forward to several more nights before the actual full moon.

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Arizona, Kofa NWR, Places I've been, Sonoran desert, United States birthday, clouds, desert, photography, rain, spring, weather, wind 16 Comments
10 March 2021

Stay or go where the wind blows

Sonoran Desert Kofa Mts clouds MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaShould I stay or go?  Over the last week the weather has been almost every other day of calm, clear, and delightfully warm versus wind blows with gusts up to 45 mph.  It’s spring in the desert and March winds blew in like a lion.  Nice clouds but sadly not much rain and the wind just dries out the land that is already stone and dust.

Sonoran desert New Water Mts MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Sonoran desert New Water Mts MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaI tried to go for walks on days the wind wasn’t too brutal.  Never got very far from camp as that’s my way.  I’d be gone for at least an hour only to discover I’d only walked 1/2 mile.

Jojoba bush Mesquite tree Kofa Mts MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Mesquite tree Saguaro cactus desert MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Mesquite tree burl MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaI have this thing about trees, especially in the desert, where they work hard and must live long to attain tallness. This twisted Mesquite with crooked zigzag branches and shreddy bark towers over 20 feet competing with the Saguaros in height. Small spines, almost imperceptible, will catch your clothes if given a chance.  Mesquite is 2.5 times harder than oak so good for cook fires providing long burning coals.  The tree produces bean pods up to 8” long that can be ground into meal and used like flour.  This one has a large burl covered with bark.  A burl is usually caused by stress, injury, virus or fungus.  This tree may look dead but it is not.

Saguaro cactus desert Chocolate Mts MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Gaelyn selfie in shorts camper mirror MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaIf the wind blows lightly enough I sit outside in the afternoon using the camper as a wind block reading interspersed with short meanders looking at rocks.  BTW, don’t walk in the desert in slippers.  Had to get pliers to pull a few spines.  I love warm enough to be wearing shorts, which I rarely do.  Been working on a slow tan on my legs.  I’ve mentioned how the fridge just decides not to light some days and I worry about food thawing.  Then after a few hours it works.  One night the fridge froze everything, literally.  I had to chip cream out of the container for my coffee in the morning.  That day I actually turned the fridge off for hours and even left the door open to thaw the food.  Then hoped it would start again and just refrigerate and not freeze, except for the freezer.

 

Sonoran Desert New Water Mts light & shadow MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaMorning temperatures continued to increase and by 10 am I had the door open at 60°.

Sonoran Desert New Water Mts light & shadow MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Sonoran Desert New Water Mts light & shadow MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaSuddenly the wind blows again with 45mph gusts from the SW and the camper is rocking.  Very annoying.  With dust flying the Castle Dome Mountains to the south disappeared and the Chocolate Mountains were on the way next.

Sonoran Desert Kofa Mts last light clouds MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaHad a brief bout of rain that didn’t even dampen the ground either evaporating or carried away on the warm dry air.  There is no off switch for the wind.

Sonoran Desert New Water Mts light & shadow sunset clouds MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Sonoran Desert Kofa Mts last light clouds MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThen as suddenly as it began, the wind dropped and the storm moved off to the northeast leaving behind some marvelous light that called me outside with camera in hand right through sunset.

Sonoran Desert Chocolate Mts sunset clouds crepuscular rays MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaIt’s still challenging to shoot with a 55mm lens that doesn’t do a very wide angle.

Sonoran Desert New Water Mts sunrise clouds MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaSunrise

Another challenge in this ultra beautiful place tests my internet addiction.  Morning until about 10am is the most reliable signal, sometimes.  Two bars and 4G is the best and inconsistent.  Daytime is my personal best and most productive time.  I have enough power to work on the computer during the day and in the evenings processing photos from the day.  Biggest problem is lack of signal to share them, or even get a post out.  I tell myself, it’s OK and not the end of the world, but…  What I don’t understand is, why I can stream a movie on my phone but can’t get on FB to upload some small photo files.  The last Foto Friday Fun post took three hours to load.  And so I find myself up way too late at night using up my Hulu free trial binge watching “Atlantis”,  possibly a BBC series from a few years ago.

helicopters over mts MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaHelicopters at sunset

Sonoran Desert Chocolate Mts sunset MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaOK, enough ranting about the lack of signal.  With the temperatures heading into the low 80s for a couple days, I am a happy camper.  Unless the wind blows too hard.  I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy this Sonoran Desert for most of the winter.  Around Kofa I’ve missed seeing birds, more than a couple Ravens and an occasional hawk too far away to identify.  Must be less food than around Congress where there might be more water as well.  It’s a harsh life in the desert.  Anything that lives here long is truly a survivor.

Sonoran Desert Kofa Mts clouds MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaUnder partly cloud skies with a light wind 84° felt perfect for another short walk from camp.  I keep trying to go a different direction without intruding on any distant neighbors and avoiding the power line that parallels the road to the south.

Sonoran Desert Kofa Mts clouds MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Palo Verde tree Saguaro cactus Sonoran Desert clouds MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Palo Verde tree Saguaro cactus Sonoran Desert clouds MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaNot long before I discovered an interesting nursery tree, a Palo Verde that’s given shelter to a short and stout Saguaro with many arms.

Sonoran Desert Kofa Mts clouds MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Sonoran Desert Kofa Mts clouds MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaOnce again the late afternoon light played games across the land.

Sonoran Desert Chocolate Mts sunset clouds MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaWarming temperatures also means time for a little cat grooming.  Sierra is a long-hair extremely furry cat, therefor so is my little house.  Cat hair everywhere, furniture, walls, it’s in the air.  Literally everywhere.  I am constantly pulling a single hair out of my mouth.  Surprised I don’t spit up hairballs, she doesn’t either.  She’s not tolerant of brushing and gets matted like felt.  I’ve been cutting out chunks all winter but that doesn’t go to far with her either.  Last year, I bought a pet trimming kit.  Dug out the battery operated clippers and she’s pretty good with that.  It’s quiet.  I’m not shaving her to skin.  Just slowly working the length down.  So her fur is looking a little choppy these days (no photos please), but then so am I even with no trimming.  My bi-annual hair cut should happen in a few weeks.  Because warmer weather also means it will soon be time to leave the desert behind and make a move northward returning to work for the summer at Bryce Canyon National Park.  Just not quite yet.

desert Kofa Mts sunrise mammatus clouds MST&T Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThen another afternoon as the wind blows and rocks my house with prediction of more to come in following days so I decided it’s time to dump and fill the tanks again which means time to move.  The calm morning with glorious sunrise including clouds that told a story of the predicted afternoon winds to come made it hard to go.  But like a timer set, at 11am the first puffs grew into gusts.  That was my sign to go where the wind blows me, which was north less than 20 miles to Shady Lane RV Court in Quartzsite for at least one night.

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Arizona, Kofa NWR, Places I've been, United States photography, Sonoran Desert, weather, wind 29 Comments

Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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