UFO's and more! To Feb 3rd, 2025

 

I'm not sure if UFO's are related in any way to California fault lines, but Jimmy and I managed to come up on both in one day!  Is it an omen?  How about a smoking palm tree?  Sounds daffy.  

This lenticular cloud looks just like a Hollywood movie UFO!

As you can see by the map, Thousand Palms Oasis site (red x) sits atop one or two fault lines from the San Andreas Fault -- Banning and Mission Creek.  These faults allow underground water to rise to the surface, voilà, an oasis!  Amid desert aridity, flowing water can only be considered nature's generous gift.  Northwest of Thousand Palms is DHS or Desert Hot Springs, where we're staying, right on top of Mission Creek Fault.

On Ground Hog Day, I joined 12 other early risers for an 8am guided bird walk at 1000 Palms.  We saw a number of birds, most of which I'd seen before, no problem.  I had to zoom in to take the photo above of a Sage Thrasher (left) and a Phainopepla sitting on bare branches.  The Little San Bernardino Mountains look unreal.  Or menacing! 

I learned other interesting info along the way:  The dead-looking native plant, top left, is Dye Plant.  Bottom left, the potential flowers are tinged purple, so the group assumed the flower would be the same color.  Frank, our guide, picked a sprig (he was allowed), and had Sandy crush the soon-to-be-bloom, which became, instead, Cheetos yellow!  A good nickname for the plant!

We didn't just see birds:  Look -- more wildlife!

A Whiptail Lizard.

Simone Pond has been closed to everyone for several years.  Why?  Tourists kept dumping their pet fishies into water that contained native Pupfish, and, of course, the non-natives ate up all the genuine article. (sigh) But, Elise, also a guide, unlocked the gate for the birders.  Hooray!  And the first bird seen was a Great Horned Owl, which I really wanted to see.  At that moment, too bad it was flying one way and I was looking the other. (sigh) A mated pair nest there.  We looked and looked, but didn't see it or its mate again.

Part of our group is encircled by these towering Desert Fan Palms!

(left of white x)

Reflections in the pond were mesmerizing.

I didn't see the endangered Pupfish.

Holy catfish, is this smokin' palm on fire?  We saw this in Palm Springs after leaving Sherman's Deli (wonderful lunch!).  No fire, no smoke, just a day of Very Creative Clouds.  I was in the right place at the right time!

* * * * *

I decided to combine Sunday's and Monday's.  Hence:

We drove up to Indian Cove in Joshua Tree National Park on Monday, an area in the Park I don't think we've ever been to.  The ranger station at this site was closed, but we already knew we wanted to hike a bit on the Boy Scout Trail.  But first, we followed a nature trail.  BTW, the camper, above, snagged a great spot. 

I can't begin to describe how astounding this Park is.

I could come back year after year

and always be inspired to return.

Just don't touch anything.

It'll stab or bite or spear you

Or stick you in the eye.

Spied this Black Phoebe parked on a twig.

When I got close to the Desert Mistletoe, it's fragrance nearly knocked me over -- a lovely combo of Plumeria and Honeysuckle.  The bees were humming!  Inset is its tiny flowers.  We saw many clumps of Desert Mistletoe.

Talk about stuck (haha) between a rock and a hard place!  To his right is a giant Pencil Cactus, a Yucca to his left and a humongous Silver Cholla in the foreground! 

Love the "do" on the Phainopepla.

Mind-boggling.

The only bright color in the desert this year,

the lethal, but beautiful, Barrel Cactus.

The Boy Scout Trail is 7+ miles long, but we would only do 4 miles R/T.  The day was fine, not hot, but the sun was blazing.  We were aiming for the big rock pile behind me ... and so on.  We had so much fun hiking around this boulder-strewn Park.

Backcountry camping is allowed on this trail within designated sites.  We were near Site 3 when I found a ball in the shrub, above.  I got it out (not with my hands, uh-uh) and gave it to Jimmy.  No, not a ball as I initially thought.  It felt hollow and Jimmy cracked it, at which point, the shell opened to reveal a ton o' seeds.  It's a coyote gourd or coyote melon.  We closed it and put it back.

Windows to the sky.

We were amazed to find water in this catch basin!

Not very pretty.  From rain about two weeks ago.

The End.

I was hoping to see a Chuckwalla or a Rattlesnake or a Big-Horned Sheep.  Nope.  I saw a bunny wabbit (a big ol' Jack Rabbit) galloping away from me.

That's it from us for now.  I know this post is long, but I hope you enjoyed it.  It was a pleasure putting it together.  Till next time!