I love the surprise of what I might find on the game camera memory card each visit. Seeing all of the doves, ravens, rabbits and red-tailed hawk all enjoying the pond makes these visits to the Hideout all the more fun!
Craig Deutsche and Phillip Compton came up Saturday afternoon and we all went on a hike up the drainage, at times following Craig's belly crawl under juniper that was overhanging the narrow creek bed. 
Tadpoles, Fairy Shrimp, Butterflies and Native Bees all over the place! This Gopher Snake was 5-6' long and was not bothered at all with my presence and I even picked up and held the Tarantula for awhile.
Sure would have loved to see a bit more wildflowers, but these Jewel Flowers and that succulent made my day.

we have to protect these homes.
These and several hundred more cover an acre of land at the hideout.

I was not planning on visiting Carrizo this week, but I was up in Paso Robles on a hunt for old tin roofing for a new project and the plains drew me in. 
Waking up this morning to this amazing rainbow was a bonus!