Couple of Alpine flowers

Here's a photo my sister took of me yesterday photographing my lifer Sandia Hairstreak inside the Beargrass (nolina microcarpa). I'm not really that fat but I had my big pockets all stuffed with snacks, etc. Didn't want to carry a pack. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. 😇

Stuck in town today but headed south tomorrow. There are some lovely flowers in our yard. Here is a Trumpet Vine. It's a little invasive but I don't mind. Hubby minds somewhat.

And here's a Bougainvillea that we've pampered for years, lugging it indoors every winter.

My lucky day!

Once again, third time is the charm. Today I went to the summit of my mountain for the third time seeking Ursine Giant-Skippers and Sandia Hairstreaks.  My sister went with me and we got an early start. Since she'd never been to the summit it was fun for her to discover it. She fell in love with it just like I had. I told her about oaks and paintbrush so, since it was early and nothing was flying, we decided to hike the summit ridge to the area where that stuff was. Just as we were about to the oaks, I saw a big skipper land and turn its back toward the sun. I knew what it had to be. It was still chilly (57° when we had left our homes) and the skipper was obviously trying to warm up. I snapped a few shots, then when I tried to get closer, it disappeared. Kicking myself for not circling around it at a distance so I could have the sun to my back and on its back. Oh well, a lifer. The previous trip I was quite sure I'd seen one, but didn't want to count it without photo proof.

Returning back along the ridge, I brushed my walking stick against all the Beargrass (nolina microcarpa) I could see, hoping to flush a Sandia. Then I saw a Giant-Skipper flying around. Fortunately, I was able to follow it with my eyes until it landed. Finally, got my shot. Not a shot with fully spread wings like the first one would have been, but I was satisfied.

By then we were ready to head back. We had come up my trail and left a vehicle at both trails so we would have the flexibility to go down either way we chose. We decided to go down her trail, which meant descending the ridge and going down the pouroff. 

Ann taking a photo from the summit

A short while after we started making our way down the ridge, I quit brushing the nolina for Sandias. I figured we were getting down too low for them. I did scan them just in case as I passed by. Could not believe my eyes when I actually spotted a Sandia perched inside one. What luck! Made the horrible terrain more bearable, for sure. 

We finally got to the pouroff and started down the trail on that side of the mountain. Exhausted and comparing aches and pains, we had been gone nearly 5 hours. About a third of the way down we came upon a big herd of Aoudad. They spooked and shot toward the higher terrain. As they did so, they dislodged a boulder of about 3 feet in diameter. It came crashing past us across the trail. I was so wishing I had turned my camera to video mode and captured the action. Didn't think fast enough. And it was all over in a few seconds. By the time I shot this photo the herd was so strung out I couldn't get them all in the frame. I'd estimate around 30 individuals though.

As if that wasn't enough fun for one day, on the way to Alpine I stopped by the Burrowing Owl burrow, as I have been doing every trip ever since Michael Gray discovered them there. And finally I got one by the burrow and it didn't flush. I stayed on the highway, and shot through the fence, but still. It's the best shot I have of one by its burrow so far. Still a work in progress.

New pasttime discovered

When it's too hot outdoors, or too windy, or too cold, I can work online crossword puzzles. Did my first one today.

I've played online scrabble before but not crosswords, that I remember anyway. I think I would have remembered.

My sister and I are going to climb the mountain to the summit together tomorrow for the first time. Hope I have energy for that. But even if I do, then I have to go to town and catch up there without watering here. I need to set up a pump and transfer water from the big tank to the stucco tank but won't have time or energy. So I'm a little dejected. I want to do way more than I'm able and that's not fun. And this is hot dry season. No matter how much water I give stuff, it screams for more.

Larry Ditto's workshop ended today and was a big success. Everyone was very happy with the photos they got. Larry gave me some tips on how to make my feeder setup more photographer friendly so I worked hard moving rocks around etc. I hope it'll benefit all photographers here.

Still the mystery Lucifer

I keep taking photos of the possible aberrant, possible hybrid, and even possible molting Lucifer Hummingbird, or all of the above. Today it appears as if the tail is that of a normal Lucifer (although I haven't managed to get a good shot of the tail yet), and there are pin feathers in the gorget, so I'm wondering if it's just molting at the wrong time of year. That would be an aberration of sorts, but maybe not a hybrid. Hmmm.... Here are shots from today. It stays in shade and my Canon doesn't do well in shade so I tried my Lumix. Did better, I think. Shows some pin feathers on this shot.

Here's a shot I took with my Canon that shows the normalness of the tail (in my opinion). In flight the tail looked deeply forked.

The photography workshop participants are having a great time and getting good shots (they tell me). Larry Ditto (left) is an awesome person!

CMO is the premier place in the United States to observe Lucifers courting, gathering nesting material, and such. By the frenzy of activity I'd like to think they know something I don't know, like good rains are coming soon. Maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.

Another hot May day

I'm still exhausted from the ascent yesterday. Managed to shoot a few pictures anyway.

Canyon Wren

American Lady (female)

Larry Ditto's photography workshop participants seem to be having a good time. It's a three day workshop; two more days to go.

Small consolation prize

Once again I found myself headed up my mountain, determined to get a lifer Sandia Hairstreak or Ursine Giant-Skipper. I think I might have seen an Ursine zip by me, but no chance for photos. No Sandias or much of anything else either. I did get photos of a Theona Checkerspot, which is new for the oasis, but one I've seen quite a few other places.

I don't plan to carry my Canon up the mountain again, so the photos from today were all from my Lumix. Not as good as the Canon would do, but all I can manage. It's enough of a killer getting me, water, the Lumix, and binoculars up. As I was ascending the ridge of my trail, before crossing it, I snapped this shot of my destination. The trail goes way up along the ridge because there's a steep valley on the other side of it. The summit is across that valley.

The next shots were taken from the summit. Chisos Mountains in background.

Since I'm learning my way around better on the summit, I've determined this area, where I sheltered from the sun on my last ascent, is located on the left peak of the 3 peaks on the previous summit photo (2nd photo on this post). You can see that persimmon tree in between the huge boulders.

A few days ago the recently fledged Canyon Wrens were back in the courtyard for a short time. They perched on the chimney to my grill and had no qualms about disappearing into the chimney if they thought I was getting too close. So cute!

One disappeared into the chimney, one out, and one peaking out.

I'm still documenting that aberrant Lucifer Hummingbird to watch for changes. It looks to me like there are a few more gorget feathers, but I'll check with Kelly Bryan to see what he thinks.

Catching up

I had pretty good energy today so went to CMO and got some neglected stuff done. Worked on the big hill picking rocks out and raking. Watered. And set out a bunch of germander I had foolishly dug up in Alpine. More trouble than it's worth for sure. Serviced my feeders and a bunch of little things, too trivial to mention.

Here's a Black-tailed Rattlesnake seen by a couple of birders at the oasis last week. Thanks for sharing James and Susan Barnes!

photos by Susan Barnes

In case you wondered how hard it is to go up my mountain, it's a 700' climb. That's equivalent to going up 700 stair steps, each having a one foot riser. But of course, it involves extra walking over rough terrain too, especially after the saddle when the trail ends. I don't go straight up like stairs. It's a long progression of uneven steps and switchbacks.  It's difficult. Being 77 yrs old doesn't help.

A few days ago my sister checked her critter cam on top of the mountain and had captured a short video clip of a collared Mountain Lion. She checked with the park personnel who were in charge of the collaring and sent them the clip. They said it was a 6 yr old male who only ate Javelina and he was all beat up because he had to fight some pretty mean boars. Guess he really loved it. Maybe even enjoyed the fight. Sure are ample Javelina around. Wish he'd develop a taste for Aoudad. They're just denuding our mountain. She was told that ranchers are killing all the Mountain Lions, so I don't know what can be done to protect the habitat.

Alpine tomatoes

Came to town for a day. Helped my husband cage the tomatoes.

The summit

Finally, I got so tired of stressing about doing the climb that I just up and did it. In the middle of the day.... mistake number one. It was a killer. I made a couple other mistakes too. This country is unforgiving and one more mistake may have done me in. Here's me finding a little shade to rest my head in as I neared the summit. Got up to 97° today.

Then almost at the top, I found a nice shady spot and had to really force myself out. That little persimmon tree was loaded with green persimmons. I wanted to just lay there and watch them grow.

Mistake number two was forgetting to carry aspirin. Just in case of heart issues or something. The other mistake I made was not double-checking my water bottles. I intended to carry three, but had put the third one in my pack empty. Was going to fill it from the jug in my pickup before I started the climb. Only didn't. But I made it fine (water-wise) on two bottles.

Summit is area labeled 4600'

Click to enlarge. Trail ends at saddle.

Here's the pour-off viewed from the top. There's a valley between the summit and the pour-off that doesn't show on this photo.

My goal was to see Ursine Giant-Skippers. I didn't find out until I got back down that they quit flying around 2 PM. Coincidentally, that's about the time I arrived at the top. If, and that's a big "if," I ever attempt that climb again, I'll start early in the morning.

Saw a few Black Swallowtails and Marine Blues. That's about it butterfly-wise.

On the way down I startled a herd of Aoudad. They were a mile away before I could even get my camera out of my backpack. There were at least 20 of them. This is all I got. They were too fast.

On the way to town late this afternoon I stopped by the Burrowing Owl's den. But once again I flushed it trying to locate the burrow. I hope to do better next time.

May day

The Canyon Wrens in the courtyard fledged just as it was getting dark last night so I intended to photograph them first thing this morning. But the adults whisked them out and away before there was even enough light for photos.😒

Next, I tried for a photo of a Verdin entering its nest. Haven't got that yet either, even though I used flash. May have more luck when it's feeding young.

This Scaled Quail seems to have momentarily forgotten that he can fly down off that perch.

 And this Rock Squirrel seemed to forget it's not a tree squirrel.

Starting my May butterfly and ode list today.