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The Mojave Desert in Spring

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April 07, 2019, 02:54 PM
Micropterus
The Mojave Desert in Spring
Spent some time in and around Joshua Tree Nat'l Park and Amboy, Ca last week. I actually went out to photograph the desert in bloom. On this day I only had an 18-55mm lens with me, not thinking I would want anything that didn't need a wide angle. But I came across a few chuckwallas and some other stuff.







I'm not sure what these are, but they were everywhere. Sometimes crawling over each other.



Tried to fly into my mouth.


These are everywhere, too.


I went for the spring colors. The Mojave got a lot of rain this winter, and even some snow in February. Makes for vibrant colors.











Harvester Ants on the move. They come out of the ground every night and make hub-cap sized ant hills. You will see little tufts of brush moving over the sand and they take those pieces of vegetation down into their tunnels.


Even the Desert Bighorn Sheep seemed to be rejoicing.





Twentynine Palms Marine base in the distance.



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"I enter a swamp as a sacred place—a sanctum sanctorum. There is the strength—the marrow of Nature." - Henry David Thoreau
April 07, 2019, 03:04 PM
Micropterus
Spent a little time in Amboy, California. Went to old Route 66 and Roy's. I think "The Hills Have Eyes" was filmed here in part.










And we hiked out to Amboy Crater, an extinct volcano, and climbed to the top.






_____________
"I enter a swamp as a sacred place—a sanctum sanctorum. There is the strength—the marrow of Nature." - Henry David Thoreau
April 07, 2019, 04:33 PM
bendable
did the poppy's bloom anywhere this year,
seems like they should be




Safety, Situational Awareness and proficiency.


Neck Ties, Hats and ammo brass, Never ,ever touch'em w/o asking first
April 07, 2019, 07:44 PM
jhe888
Very nice photos. Thanks for posting them.



The fish is mute, expressionless. The fish doesn't think because the fish knows everything.
April 07, 2019, 07:59 PM
henryaz
quote:
Originally posted by Micropterus:
Tried to fly into my mouth.

And it's a darn good thing it didn't, too. That's a blister beetle. Arizona Blister Beetle.
 
Wonderful sets of photos. Thanks very much for posting.


When in doubt, mumble
April 10, 2019, 10:48 AM
229DAK


Looks like jumping cholla cactus. That's some nasty shit right there; don't get anywhere near it.

ALWAYS take a pair of pliers with you when around this stuff.

One time a friend got some on the toe of his hiking boot. The more he tried to kick it off, the deeper the shit buried into his boot, until it found skin. Then the boot came off until we could pull it all out.


_________________________________________________________________________
“A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.”
-- Mark Twain, 1902
April 17, 2019, 11:21 AM
pulicords
Great pics Micropterus! That's a Desert Iguana beneath the Chuckwalla pics and a Zebratailed Sand Lizard beneath that. Very cool! Thanks for sharing!


quote:
Originally posted by Micropterus:

I'm not sure what these are, but they were everywhere. Sometimes crawling over each other.



These are caterpillars of the Whitelined Sphinx Moth (aka: Hummingbird Moth).

https://zoomeboshi.com/2017/03...pillar-anza-borrego/

Tried to fly into my mouth.



That's a Blister Beetle! Its a good thing you didn't ingest it!!!

http://www.arizonensis.org/son.../lytta_magister.html


"I'm not fluent in the language of violence, but I know enough to get around in places where it's spoken."
April 17, 2019, 01:29 PM
airsoft guy
You see any NCR troopers out there?



quote:
Originally posted by Will938:
If you don't become a screen writer for comedy movies, then you're an asshole.
April 19, 2019, 09:15 PM
just1tym
Loved the collection of images. Good eye!


Regards, Will G.