Storm's acomin'

 Here we go again. This is the sixth or seventh wind alert we've had since we've arrived. The last one a week ago was the most destructive. It made our place shake, blew shingles off the roof and we later heard about downed trees. Our trip to the Living Desert today revealed some of the damage. A huge tree can down right on top of a smaller series of cages that housed little desert foxes and some exotic birds. Apparently there was only one casualty which is hard to believe when you see the resulting damage. 

We have another wind forecasted for tomorrow. I'll haven't yet dusted everywhere from the last one - good thing - it will be everywhere again - both inside and out! 

We come in all shapes and sizes

 We love the Living Desert. One-third of the 1200 acres are dedicated to preserving the desert ecosystem and it includes a series of trails. We headed out this morning to walk the one mile trail but as always got stopped by the various creatures housed on the way 

Our first stop was the pygmy mongoose who is about the most beautiful little red-eyed creature you can imagine. There are about ten in this family and they spend their time rolling around each other and digging madly. This little guy cooperated by sitting in the sun for all to admire.

Next stop is my favourite. I just can't get enough of the Naked Mole Rats! They are housed in a series of glass-fronted holes and tunnels. They are neither moles nor rats - most closely related to guinea pigs and much more pleasing to the eye! I mean how can you resist their toothy faces, wrinkled bald bodies and tiny little eyes! They live like insects with a queen and all her babies - up to 1000 - all hers. She rules and can live 20 years, keeping all competition in their place serving as chambermaids and diggers. Our camera was set at black and white but I'll get one of their pink little bodies next time!

And then there are the warthogs. I think of The Lion King whenever I watch one trotting across the pen but for the most part, they line up like sausages and let out snoring, grunting sounds as they dream of the trouble they hope to get in later. 

First sign of life in the desert.

Finally! It has been too cold for desert creatures to show up until two days ago when we hiked up a trail in Santa Rosa State Park and encountered this lovely guy and three companions darting from bush to bush. We are easily thrilled and this did it for us. 

Local wildlife

 We were thrilled to see Big Horn Sheep in Whitewater Preserve at the end of our hike. The females with young sheep stayed up at the top of the rocky slope but the rams and a few other females were down in the green field at the base. 

Are we there yet?

 We returned to Whitewater Preserve today - one of our favourite places to visit. We completed the four-mile hike to Red Dome although I lost confidence more than once that we'd ever see it. The trail was clearly marked but we'd run into people retuning who had given up or not seen any Red Dome. Turns out Red Rock is more accurate but the scenery on the way was spectacular and the day cool (17 degrees) so good for us. Bill's emergency backpack was more like Mary Poppins' carpet bag as he produced seats, cool water and a gourmet lunch of crackers, trail bars and an orange. Heaven! 

Beginning of the trail

The Red Dome sitting in the white water floodplain

On the return the grey branches seems violet coloured.
I haven't identified these bushes yet. the valley is full of them

Spring Blooming

 

Desert Gold, also called Sunflower

Desert Gold and Desert Sand Verbena

Desert Primrose

Close up of Desert Sand Verbena

Desert Primrose - pink buds turn white 

Anza Borrego - amazing scenery

 

Happy Valentine's Day - here's some flowers!

There was enough wind this morning that we decided not to do the local hike we had planned, Instead Bill suggested we go for a drive to Anza Borrego State Park where he heard there would be desert blooms starting to appear - a nice way to celebrate Valentine's Day. 

The wind increased dramatically as we drove the 90 miles or so and occasionally it reminded us of driving through a snow storm. As we travelled through the desert, waves of sand would blow across the road leaving us temporarily blinded. The blizzard of sand reminded us of driving through Crossfield Alberta with blowing snow enveloping us. 

But even though getting out for pictures meant hanging onto the car door to keep it from ripping off (not quite) we saw incredible country and in moments of calm managed to check out the most beautiful desert flowers. 

Wind Warning

 Since we've arrived, there has been at least five wind warnings. Only one really hit us in Palm Desert but we've felt them if we ventured up to the high desert in Joshua Tree Park. 

There is another warning for tonight starting at 3:00 am with gusts to 80 mph.  One side effect is the light covering of dust everywhere inside and out. 

We don't understand how the windmills in the valley operate - some are slowly rotating, others spinning and still others motionless. I did hear that they can be stopped if the wind is too strong but otherwise it is a mystery. Some are enormous, others small, some have three spokes, others two - all mixed together. I find them beautiful and mesmerizing. 

A few creatures

It is still too early to spot much wildlife unless we are at The Living Desert. We have attracted birds to our feeders but when out in the desert, everything seems to still be waiting for the heat. 

One lovely creature entertained the 10-year-old Bill. He remembers them from Medicine Hat - stink beetles - and sure enough it performed for us. One nudge and it sticks its rear end up as a warning. What Bill found out later is a second nudge might end up with a nasty brown liquid sent his way. He stopped in time. The beetle's wings are fused together so they can't fly - have to run everywhere. Ours was busily crossing our path on the search for food. 

We encounter road runners everywhere. They are darting from parking lot to neighbouring park to golf course... stopping and ducking and bowing and disappearing. 

A lovely coot in Whitewater Preserve. 
Too bad you can't see its scalloped toes madly paddling under water. 

 

Pathway to Canada

 We explored a new area today. The Whitewater Preserve. This 7000 acre preserve is different from the desert landscapes we've explored. It is green and lush this time of year - hillsides filled with pincushion-shaped brittlebushes about to burst into bloom with bright yellow daisy-like blooms. We'll come back next week to see if it has started. 

It was much cooler than Palm Desert and perfect for an afternoon hike. We tried out the PCT: Pacific Coastal Trail which joins trails all the way to Canada. We stopped and chatted with many hikers along the way, comparing sights and observations. Everyone agreeing that we were in the midst of a beautiful special place.

Whitewater Preserve

Pacific Coastal Trail

Canada - 2444.9 miles away

  

Giant bees and the Greater road runner

 We've bought potted plants to brighten up the place and were stunned to see the biggest bee we've ever seen on the yellow daisy. Thanks to Bill's "Seek", it turns out to be a Carpenter Bee. Solitary although females and their daughters sometimes live together and split the responsibilities.

 

The Greater Roadrunner comes by its name honestly. We see them often running across parking lots or in parkland. When they stop running they bob their long tails up and down. 

There goes the neighbourhood

 We got up for the birds at 6:00 am and headed up to Morongo Valley to join the birdwatchers group. They meet weekly and welcome newbies. We joined them during our last visit and loved the experience. Today’s encounter proved even better. There were about 30 people and we were split in two groups. I think BIll and I lucked out with our group - led by three “experts". They were generous with their expertise and made sure those of us from ‘away” were shown the local birds - like the California Thrasher, Say’s Phoebe and of course, the Phainopepla, our old friend. Our pictures are blurry and truth is, I was more interested in listening and learning. We'll try to do better next time. 

There was great excitement over the arrival of robins and even more when a flock of turkey vultures flew over us. Both species are virtually never seen here and they made everyone's day. Then junkos were spotted and again much excitement. It was a glorious morning for all!

Setting off at 8:00 We walked through the Morongo Valley preserve for three hours.

Great Horned Owl nesting. She looked annoyed that we woke her up. The pair only arrived two weeks ago and the Barn Owls who've been in this area for years immediately vacated the vicinity.