Category: nature

Snow and a rapid stream made this mountain hike an enjoyable challenge

Hikers gingerly traverse the last 1200 feet or so of the Fletcher Canyon Trail, where there was snow and a rapidly-running stream.

No more outdoor activities in low-lying areas unless it’s hella early—meaning, 5 a.m., and then it’s vamoose by like 7 a.m.-ish. Reason being, the hot weather is upon us here in Southern Nevada.

In other words, it’s time to take to higher elevations. So locally, that means the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area.

Like today’s excursion to Kyle Canyon, where I tested out my new Garmin InReach Mini 2. Fun stuff! I figured I’d do so in a familiar area before venturing into more remote spots (to avoid those pesky humans).

Along the trail, there’s a stream bed that meanders parallel with the entire route. Normally, it’s as dry as a long-dead tree. But today, water ran robustly due to all the snow-melt in the mountain range (see video below.) The water looked to be around 2 feet deep in some sections, and you had to crisscross it repeatedly in order to complete the trail. Continue reading Snow and a rapid stream made this mountain hike an enjoyable challenge

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

That time of year in this part of Nevada

A creosote bush sprouts fruit in Southern Nevada.

We’re seeing the beginnings of spring in Southern Nevada. Green bursts on cottonwood trees. Creosote sprouting its fluffy, white fruit.

On a recent morning, I rose from sleep to a long litany of whoo-HOO-whoooo-whoooo-whoooo’s from a mourning dove. Such a soothing sound, and it reminds me of what an ancient woodwind instrument might have sounded like.

Forecasts of mid-60s by day ( but then plummeting into the upper-30s at night!) Typical desert cadence. Continue reading That time of year in this part of Nevada

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

Extracting a message from the shadows of trees

Trees display their autumn colors at the Desert National Wildlife Refuge on Nov. 26, 2022.

I peer out my patio door as the morning sunlight descends upon the neatly kept desert landscaping. In the section where I’m  looking, it’s mostly earth-toned gravel. But two sharp lines cut across it, like massive animal scratch marks.

They’re the shadows of two trees.

The trees themselves are hidden by a stuccoed wall that helps enclose the one-car garage in that spot. I muse that the dark lines are the promise of nature to always reassert itself.

As I sip my coffee, the background music is a house finch’s chirp……..chirp…………chirp, emanating from a perch somewhere. Perhaps in one of the unseen trees?

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