Snowshed Trail

This afternoon, after lunch I hiked a short ways up Snowshed trail. It was pretty crazy hot out there this afternoon, and honestly, its not the most fascinating trail in the area, but I still managed to get some good photos.

At this time of the year the cicadas are deafening (and dizzying for that matter), they are all in the trees and in some places drown out just about every other noise.

A Red-shafted Flicker, there was a group of them mobbing Jays, which have been moving around the area preying on nestlings (sadly, you never really look at jays the same after doing a hummingbird nest survey)

A butterfly, 'nuf said
A view of the valley and the mountains of New Mexico beyond