Lovely walk in the wash, crisp wind and snow on the mountains.

The spring was cooler than usual and even the June mornings are pleasantly cool in the early morning. This kestrel was watching from the saguaro, but didn’t like me taking a photo. Also saw a fine pyrrhuloxia in a palo verde tree.

Last night’s rain released the earthy and herbal aromas of the desert. This Cactus Wren was in full song. In addition to the usual engine-starting sound, he had a low growl, a back-of-the-throat grunt, and a rising sound like a cork twisting out of a bottle. Also saw a Mocking Bird, making a single loud high chirp.

The wash has been well scoured by rain, with evidence of serious flows, such as tumbled barrel cactus and prostrate brooms. The Hackberry bushes are covered with orange berries, and the floor is covered with desert marigolds, devil’s claws, and zinnias. Beautiful sighting of a Harris’s Hawk airing his wings on top of a saguaro cactus.

This is the result of the abundant rain the wash has had this monsoon season.