June 2026

I thought I'd open this post with something completely different. After visiting the Alebrijes and Nahuales exhibit in downtown Albuquerque (large scale sculptures based on the fanciful painted animals made in Mexico), I decided to paint my own renditions of the Bunny and the Lion-Bull. The complex designs on these sculptures made them a challenge, so on the third one (I don't remember the name of it) I decided to just stick with the photo rendition.

 

 

June continued to bring higher than average temperatures, the drying of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque for the 2nd consecutive river, and very little rain. The birds and animals are struggling for sure, but they are still here, and I honor their tenacity. In June the Rio Grande Bosque fills with the gregarious chatter of  Yellow-Breasted Chats. Once in awhile, you could even hope to see one that popped onto an exposed perch to announce their territory.

 

With water scarce everywhere, managed ponds and streams become more important than ever, like this dripping water feature in the Sandias known as the Capulin log. Birds and mammals congregate here and at similar watering holes. Lately bears have been visiting the log regularly, and many humans there for the birds have had very close encounters. Though nothing bad has happened (the bears just want to drink) I'm personally glad that the day I visited, there were only birds and chipmunks. Below: Chipping Sparrow Female Broad-tailed Hummingbird, male Cassin's Finch, Hermit Thrush with Pine Siskin, Virginia's Warbler, male Western Tanager all visiting the Capulin Log. 

 

 

 

The few species of Flycatchers that breed here must struggle. They too rely on being near water that breeds the insects they feed upon. Below: Western Wood-Pewee at Carlito Springs, Western Kingbird and Ash-Throated Flycatcher at Tingley Bosque Ponds. 

 

 

 

Speaking of insects, my butterfly aficionado friend says that there are fewer butterflies in the area this summer because of the dryness. Thank goodness there are still some, like this Queen on Horsetail Milkweed at the Tingley Ponds.

 

 

It had been predicted that the Rio Grande would run dry through Albuquerque in May this year. The river held on until the beginning of June, which is a month earlier than when it went dry last year. My heart aches for this loss, and how it affects all the creatures who depend on this habitat. This photo from June 7 is when I first saw the dry river bed.

 

 

It was a little comfort to see four coyotes running across the riverbed--they are finding some use for it, if only to more readily cross from east to west.

 

 

On June 16, after some rain up north, my friend and I found the river running at a trickle. We decided to see how far we could follow it to see how far south it was flowing. Unfortunately we didn't have to go that far. The flowing water ended in stagnant pools of dissolved organic compounds. A few days later, the river was completely dry again.

 

  

 

On June 9th, one Rock Pigeon chick started popping its head up from the nest in the tree across from my balcony. Two days later, the chick was nowhere to be seen. It may have fallen out due to heavy winds the day before. The pigeon pair (or perhaps a different pair) started hanging around the nest again a couple weeks later, but I've yet to see any brooding of eggs. 

 

 

Something new at home: I've finally created a dedicated "studio" corner for my painting and drawing. I just love walking in and seeing my art stuff set out in an inviting manner, ready to go. It draws me to come over and look more at the work I've done, and sometimes even leads me to sit down and paint. 

 

 

Here are a few of my paintings from this month. Two are from my sketching group: One from a road trip to the Jemez, the second from a morning on the UNM Campus.

I ended the month with a trip to Iowa for a cousin reunion, gathering all the first cousins from my dad's side of the family. I wrote about this trip in a separate post, which you can check out here: