desert – truths & absurdities

Get ready: Here comes the fierce Mojave sun

A California redbud blooms as American coots feed on the grass at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs last March.

I’m reveling in the last of our cooler days, because come summer, instead of enjoying the sounds of birds while out on a hiking trail or at a park, I’ll likely be listening to the incessant ‘tweets’ of espresso machines and the roar of frothers emanating from behind a coffee counter.

That’s because the time of year is approaching when the Mojave Desert asserts itself in a way that can’t be ignored: — namely, by blasting Southern Nevadans with blazing temps.

Last summer certainly was a scorcher. We shattered records by hitting 120F, exceeding by 3 degrees the previous hottest day of 117F. We also had 112 days of 100F-plus temperatures, topping the record of 100 days during summer 2023. And experts are anticipating more of the same this year.

Cafes are a good place to take haven, with their frigid micro-climates. They pump up the AC enough to seemingly simulate being on a peak in the Spring Mountains, where it’s typically about 10-20 degrees cooler. Continue reading Get ready: Here comes the fierce Mojave sun

Homes are horribly out of place along this scenic stretch of Henderson

A cluster of homes and transmission lines are visible at the base of a mountain, visible on the otherwise scenic Wells Trailhead of the Clark County Wetlands Park. This vantage point is from near the Three Kids Weir.

If you care about natural / organic spaces in urban settings, this particular area in Southern Nevada may leave you a bit perturbed and disheartened.

That’s because a massive amount of construction is in progress (and has been for quite some time now) on thousands of new residential units and 1.1 million square feet of commercial space.

The multi-use development, called Cadence, obliterates the scenery as you head down this part of Galleria Drive in Henderson, approaching, for instance, the Wells Trailhead, where I spent a recent Saturday morning. The trail is part of the Clark County Wetlands Park. Oh, and you’ll also need to pass roughly half a dozen roundabouts abuzz with aggressive drivers. Continue reading Homes are horribly out of place along this scenic stretch of Henderson

Notes on hares and coyotes you may not find in most field guides

A black-tailed jackrabbit stops as I try to observe it at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs on 2/24/23. These jacks have near-panoramic vision and ultra-keen hearing.

Just thought I would share some nuggets I read recently regarding the behaviors of black-tailed jackrabbits and also coyotes. I love when field guides have cool and interesting behavior observations. But you don’t often get that, and so I like to spend time rummaging around in the reference section of my local library. Continue reading Notes on hares and coyotes you may not find in most field guides

The morning I met a coyote

A coyote at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs on Feb. 18, 2023.

For a few seconds, it stared into my eyes as if it knew and loved me. Maybe even adoration. Or so I fancied. Its eyes were wide and seemed welcoming. My cat used to look at me like that when she was alive. She’d give me that stare before jumping down from her tree house to greet me.

But this creature was canine, and it could probably do me some damage, if it really wanted to, and if its species wasn’t so skittish of humans.

This particular one was perched atop a mulch pile bordering a thicket of bunchgrass, mesquite and catclaw acacia, near a periphery of scrubland.

Seconds after the encounter, it climbed down from its lookout and trotted away, its bushy tail characteristically between its legs.

Prior to my excursion on Feb. 18, I had never seen or heard a coyote in the wild. Continue reading The morning I met a coyote

Animal bones, a rock wren and visions of mountain lions

A rock wren at the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument on Feb. 4, 2023.

I did a little scrambling over some small hills and rocks yesterday — going off-trail and traversing the opposite side of the outcroppings I perused last week while at the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument.

Now and then when it was too tempting to resist, instead of remaining linear, I’d venture over yet more hills and rocks to detour into the farther reaches to see what there was, and of course, there was more scrubland and outcroppings — a scattered labyrinth of the large formations.

These sculpted masses are replete with crevices, holes and indentations, seemingly offering many places for desert wildlife to hide or nest. They are basically compacted sandy terrain and deposit soils, and though they appear solid, they crumble at the touch, making them unfit for larger creatures, I would surmise. Continue reading Animal bones, a rock wren and visions of mountain lions

On the bright side of a rainy Monday

A Gambel’s quail at Clark County Wetlands Park on Jan. 21, 2023.

This morning it is raining in Southern Nevada, making it cold and dreary, though I know it’s necessary. I mean, I love the rain, don’t get me wrong. But are Mondays necessary?

Regardless — precipitation this time of year is particularly important. The soil has more of a chance of absorbing and even retaining the moisture. There’s less evaporation. Also, the rain is more persistent and slower, resulting in far less flash flooding and runoff. Continue reading On the bright side of a rainy Monday

Lurking in the creosote at the fossil beds monument

Outcroppings at the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument.

A small group of horned larks took me by surprise today at the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. They fluttered so suddenly near a small creosote bush and chirped in chorus before dispersing just as quickly and flying away from the park.

I had just finished photographing some sandstone outcroppings and was on my way back to my car. I managed to get only one shot of one of the birds, and it was a lousy one at that, because my camera settings were arranged for the outcroppings, which tended to glare harshly and needed toning down.

The monument is a rough-cut place, so don’t expect a visitor center, maps or restrooms. There’s minimal signage. The trail is gravel with many larger rocks scattered about, requiring you to watch as you walk lest you trip. Continue reading Lurking in the creosote at the fossil beds monument

Berries of choice for mockingbirds and phainopeplas in winter

The northern mockingbird and the phainopepla are birds of a feather when it comes to their winter diet. Both eat desert mistletoe.

Here the mockingbird perches on what looks to be a barren honey mesquite with some mistletoe. This was at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs today. Another interesting similarity between these two birds is that they both flick their tails. It’s a signature part of their body language. Of course they also share the same habitat spaces.

Mistletoe attaches itself to honey mesquite as a parasitic plant.

Possible beetle eggs and a duck rumpus

*A Bewick’s wren searches for insects at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, Dec. 18, 2022.*

I think there might be a bounty of insect eggs on the forest floor in a remote spot at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs. I was at the park Sunday morning and spotted what looked as if someone snapped a pearl necklace and the pearls dispersed in the bed of dead leaves, twigs and branches. Maybe it’s the reproductive work of beetles? I’ll take a photo next time and post it here.

Passing by one of the lakes, a squabble broke out among ducks. Always comical to watch these otherwise serene creatures up in arms. There was a sudden din of quacks, and then one duck lunged at another, creating a splash. There were about 5 or 6 of ’em, having it out in this one tiny section of the water, even though the rest of the lake was empty. I saw mallards and American coots involved in the skirmish. Continue reading Possible beetle eggs and a duck rumpus