Howdee all,
We ended our day with a 4.5 mile round trip hike to Mule ears spring.
Difficulty- Moderate
Mule ears is probably one of the most distinctive landmarks in Big Bend.Can you see why it was named Mule ears? This hike is all out in the open.. Bring plenty of water…and if its hot do this hike in the morning.. I adore these pink and purple cactus.. Pink cactus with orange rock.. Torrey Yucca blooming throughout the desert now… See the green trees… I thought that was going to be the spring we were hiking too. But no..not yet.. see the ears in the distance? Cactus blooming.. Close up of the blooms… The Mule ears… And finally we arrive at the springs…
Another Oasis in the desert…
Where froggys live… This spring was truly and Oasis, with trees and fern and flowers growing around.and several small pools of water.
Somehow..I lost some of my photos from this hike..I took a few more frog photos and photos of the Trees around the spring..I think my SD card gobbled them up..
Oh well…
Birds of the Day
Roadrunner, Cardinals,Black-throated sparrows,Says Phoebe,Vermillion flycatcher.,Common Yellowthroat,Yellow rump warbler, Meadowlark, Prrhuloxia,White crown, Black-throated, Vesper and chipping sparrows,Merlin,House finch, Spotted and Canyon towhees, Scaled Quail,Coopers hawk,Robin,Blue-gray gnatcatcher,Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Bewicks, Rock and Canyon wrens, Chihuahuan raven
and our life bird
Golden-fronted woodpecker
It always makes me smile to see blooms on a cactus... sort of an odd thing really. What a menagerie of cool birds you saw!
ReplyDeleteIts amazing to see that pink cactus in such surroundings Dawn, thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteGreat (hot) pictures.
ReplyDeleteYou must have changed the settings on your camera to save pictures in a smaller size. They will no longer open up in the large format.
Yes, I have been meaning to ask you that. Why are the pictures smaller when you click on them? I was thinking the hard drive up there in the sky is getting filled up too,(laugh) and shrinking the pictures. Well they were as lovely as usual and the froggy is cute and colorful.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the cactus flowers... How wonderful and it looks like a birdie bonanza as far as I am concerned... Have a super day & travel safe!
ReplyDeleteDonna
I just LOVE going on these hikes with you!! The cactus blooms are amazing!
ReplyDeleteSo enjoying your pictures and stories of your adventures out west.
ReplyDeleteLove the plants , great spot to go and walk about
ReplyDeletedan
Some features just name themselves. :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos, especially the pink cacti. And an oasis ... how romantic and adventuresome at the same time.
What a gorgeous hike! I love those orange flowers - so pretty! :)
ReplyDeleteDawn, I thought you were trying to trick us with those pink cacti...surely photoshop, right?
ReplyDeleteOr are they real?
Still living vicariously through your hikes in my back yard of Texas, a mighty BIG backyard!
ReplyDeleteConnie
I have always thought of an oasis as water. Never gave much thought as to how the plant life around it would be different. Duh.
ReplyDeleteLove how you get up close and personal with the cacti!
i am enjoying each and every post these days
ReplyDeleteHere I am playing catch up again..We are in Padre Island Texas currently and i have better internet connection..so i hope to respond to comments quicker..
ReplyDeleteJayne..
yeah..its great to see the blooms on cactus..I was just looking at your blog..lots of beautiful springtime blooms there!
Roy..
yeah..wasnt that pink cactus cool!
Richard
Howdee Richard..
I fixed the settings..i must have somehow done that..but dont know how or when..anyway..it should work now..
Chicky
Howdee muther..yeah..don't know what happened but its fixed now..I did notice my blog was uploading faster..must have been the small size photos.
squawmama
Thanks..yeah it was a birdie bonanza..lots of good birds for a desert..
Kerri
Aww thanks Kerri..I love taking you with me!
Cindy
thanks, glad you are enjoying them..will be headed east and then north soon..June in New England..will try to get us all together again!
forestal
Thanks Dan..
We really love Big Bend..will be in your neck of the woods in June..hope to get a birdie group together sometime summer or fall.
Wren
Thanks Wren ..yes it was romantic as well ..
Eve
Thanks eve, glad you enjoyed the hike! thanks for coming along!
Bird Girl
Thank you ..that is so nice of you to say...I am blushing..:)
Gunnar Engblom
Howdee Gunnar..nope ..no photoshop here..real pink cactus in all their glory!
Constance
What a wonderful backyard..enjoying it immensely!
merrilymarylee
howdee..I must go visit u soon..I am soooo behind in reading blogs and feel overwhelmed..In a way it will be nice to stop birding and traveling..just so i can catch up here!
Travelling Rants
Aww thanks!