Our hike on the Palm Grove loop started off auspicious when the Ranger stationed at the trailhead showed us a baby hummingbird on its nest.
The park ranger wouldn't let Leo snap off that interfering twig for some reason.
but it was still a good hike with lots of yellow brittle bush and red chuparosa (hummingbird bush) set off against the bouldery cliffs.
Pink monkey flower were also blooming.
There were lots of hummingbirds attracted to all the flowers.
The ranger keeping people out of the closed area said all the green fronds had regrown since the fire and they hope to open up again next year.
He recommended "The Slot" as his favourite hike so we went there next.
You hike uphill from the parking lot and then down into the slot canyon.
It gets very narrow and you have to slide through sideways.
Eventually the canyon ends and we hiked back up via a really steep jeep track and back to our truck along the top of the canyon.
On our way back to the campsite we stopped at a road signed "Stag Cove" which led to a wash we followed up a canyon. We were the only people there and it was active with birds. As we were coming out we spotted two hooded orioles,
They did not cooperate for the camera!
Which would have been the bird of the day, except back at camp Leo played a long-eared owl call (tip from visitor centre) and two answered back. A lifer for us. According to the camp volunteer there are 6 or 7 of them roosting in the trees here.
Too dark for a good photo though.
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