Borrego Springs Hike
As we first entered the Palm Canyon trail, my eyes were fixated on the hills that were on either side of us, hoping to catch a glimpse of Bighorn Sheep. Quickly, however, it became clear that this trail was very different compared to our past trails. Right away, we were greeted with a diversity of wildflowers on both sides, with more bees and other pollinators than I had seen all trip flitting about from one flower to another. As we continued along, we realized how abundant the lizard and bird populations were as well. While most of them were species that we had already seen, it was strange to see how many there were in this one area. I kept wondering why I was seeing so much more flora and fauna than normal until the trail lead me straight into a full-fledged stream! It reminded me how much of a difference water makes to any dry environment. In the stream I could see tadpoles swimming around, diving beetles, and a variety of insects skimming the surface. Further along the trail was a stunning waterfall, an oasis surrounded by tall fan palms, and golden hills illuminated by the setting sun. The group and I noticed a strange bird call: a loud whistling sound whose tone would descend in a very interesting way. Looking around at the sky, I was able to make out a hummingbird diving straight downwards at an incredibly fast speed, with the whistle noise erupting from it. Norm then informed us that it was a mating ritual and that the noise was actually coming from the bird's vibrating feathers rather than its mouth! We walked the trail back in a beautiful pink and purple twilight. It was a wonderful hike!
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