for Mother’s Day.
Whipple's fishhook cactus (Sclerocactus whipplei).
An early morning start...
on a once-weekly ritual commences from Lions Park, then a six mile (10 km) uphill climb on the Moab Canyon Pathway to the Moab Brands trail network where one can play on the singletrack until near exhaustion, then a nice and long downhill return.
Pedestrian/bicycle bridge across the Colorado River on the Moab Canyon Pathway.
A GPS radio tracker is tucked away...
in the payload bay of my high power model rockets that allows for accurate flight telemetry in real time, and also assists in locating the rocket after touchdown by transmitting its location. Today’s first test flight with the device went exceptionally well and provided a wealth of interesting flight data.
The Arreaux at liftoff on an Aerotech F20-7W engine, soaring to an apogee of 936 feet (285 meters).
The Featherweight GPS radio tracker mounted on a sled inside the payload bay. A small LiPo battery is secured beneath the circuit board and will not budge under high G forces at liftoff.
GPS track of flight at the Round Mountain Proving Ground rendered on Google Earth. L = launch site, A = apogee, and T = touchdown point.
Distance between launch and touchdown points is about 100 yards/meters.
The archetypical Hollywood Western sky...
paints a postcard picture today, so here it is for all to enjoy. They really should consider making movies out here.
Bird on a wire...
at one of the feeders. One can’t help but photograph these gorgeous finch-like birds.
Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena).
A nonvenomous striped whipsnake...
slithering through the buffalo grass, likely driven from its burrow by an intense rainstorm this afternoon.
Striped whipsnake (Masticophis taeniatus).
Hanging on during buffeting winds...
this tiny hummer rode the bucking rabbitbrush like a pro.
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri).
This massive sunflower...
tracks the movement of the Sun across the sky throughout the day, a response that occurs in some plants known as heliotropism, and here it is at about 2:00 pm MDT.
Rough mule’s ears (Wyethia scabra).
Bright breeding plumage...
provides frequent flashes of color at the feeding stations these days. Here are a couple of the showiest.
Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena).
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus).
The state flower of Utah...
is blossoming right now and putting on a lovely show in the high desert.
Sego lily (Calochortus nuttallii).
Talons unlocked...
and ready to launch, this Spotted Towhee leaps with extended wings and grabs its first bite of air.
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus).
Full on fuchsia...
on full display in the high desert by this blooming cactus.
Whipple’s fishhook cactus (Sclerocactus whipplei).
Another colorful arrival...
at the feeding stations this spring. They sure love sunflower seeds.
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus).
Peak pungency has been attained...
on the trails thanks to this blooming and beautiful member of the rose family. It’s like riding through a sweet perfume bath.
Cliffrose (Purshia mexicana).
Luminous cactus blossoms...
in soft and filtered light.
Claret cup cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus).
The blink of a hummingbird's eye...
caught in a pair of images, capturing the moment when the nictitating membrane extends across the eye.
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri).
The opaque nictitating membrane extended across the eye, for about 1/60th of a second.
A standout in the bush...
with its bright blue head, this is hands down my favorite bird at the feeders. Here’s the first arrival, caught in muted light.
Breeding male Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena).
A long and windy pilgrimage...
to another remote petroglyph panel occurred yesterday, with seven good friends of Rory Tyler hiking eight miles with his remains, dispersing them at this site where he had his epiphany in rock art interpretation.
Longtime friend of Rory’s, BH explains some of the symbols and their interpretations at the panel.
A solemn gathering of close friends...
occurred at dusk at an unidentified petroglyph panel to pay respect and say goodbye to Rory Tyler and to return his remains to the Earth. Rest in peace, my friend.
A memorial stone has been hidden in the landscape.
The first hummingbirds...
arrived yesterday and they’re already zooming the feeders. This one is taking a rest after doing the aerial sexy dance for a while, displaying for a female at one of the feeders.
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)