A beautifu and cool morning (56° F) that came complete with a strategically placed veil of clouds to hide the upper crest of the Sandia Mountains. The bird activity continues to soar with continued sightings of Jays (Steller's (Cyanocitta stelleri), Western Scrub (Aphelocoma californica), and Piñon (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus), Finches (both the Black Rosy (Leucosticte atrata) and Common Rosefinch (
Summer is here and in force today as cumulonimbus clouds tried in vain to gain a foothold, but with no success. An incredible contrast from yesterday's mild, if not chilly, weather front that brought an 'on again' and 'off again' rain that seemed more like a confused assembly of weeping clouds clinging to the Sandia Mountains. It was yesterday that offered a great escape from the summer heat in which Rennie, Wiley, and me hiked through a waning drizzle up along the Forest Park trail and back down through Lorenzo Canyon. The Red Penstemon (Penstemon barbat
Winds resulting from a passing low-pressure system have made their presence known here in the East Mountains. Carried along with the wind is the smoke and haze from lightning caused fires in the Gila mountains in southwestern New Mexico.
The weeks have passed quickly. The last of winter's snows have sequenced into spring's cool evenings and summer's warm days. This weekend has been punctuated with a cold front that has brought continuous cloud cover to the Sandias, along with daytime temperatures not exceeding 50°F; no complaints here. The yellow flowers are now in transition with the Sierra Blanca Bladdepods (Lesquerella pinetorum) waning and the Perky Sues (Tetraneuris argentea) holding their own.
Just a brief entry to note that today was our first sighting of a male Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalu) eating from the tube-feeder. It seems a bit early in the season for this bird, but everything these days seems out of whack.
