Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center

Curves in the road on steep slopes.

A road curve up close in the sunlight.

The curvy Montezuma Grade that winds down the mountainside behind the Reserve (Photo: Sicco Rood).

Lightning bolt strikes near Ocotillo Wells this morning.

Lightning earlier this morning from a cell moving northeast (Photo: Sicco Rood).

One more waning gibbous moon setting behind a rocky San Ysidro Mountain this morning.

One more waning gibbous moon setting behind San Ysidro Mountain this morning (Photo: Sicco Rood).

The waning gibbous moon setting behind San Ysidro Mountain this morning. An agave on rocky slopes in the foreground.

The waning gibbous moon setting behind San Ysidro Mountain this morning (Photo: Sicco Rood).

A clear view from Yaqui Ridge north and east towards the Salton Sea this morning. Visible here are cholla cacti, barrel cacti and leafed out ocotillos amidst rocks.

A clear view from Yaqui Ridge north and east towards the Salton Sea this morning (Photo: Sicco Rood).

Yesterday's sunrise partially obscured by haze. The southern end of the Chocolate Mountains can be seen here in the background. Ocotillo in the foreground.

Yesterday's sunrise partially obscured by haze. The southern end of the Chocolate Mountains can be seen here in the background (Photo: Sicco Rood).

A bright yellow chinchweed field in the Borrego Valley lit up by today's late afternoon sun. Clouds above the San Ysidro Mountains in the distance.

A bright yellow chinchweed field in the Borrego Valley lit up by today's late afternoon sun (Photo: Sicco Rood).

Anza-Borrego sunrise between two agaves this morning on a very green and yellow chinchweed carpeted desert. Ocotillos leafed out all around.

Anza-Borrego sunrise between two agaves this morning on a very green and yellow carpeted desert (Photo: Sicco Rood).

Sunset last Saturday evening. Teddy-bear Cholla in the foreground.

Sunset last Saturday evening. Teddy-bear Cholla in the foreground (Photo: Sicco Rood).

Sunlight sandwiched in the Borrego Badlands. Dark skies from a thunderstorm up above

Sunlight was sandwiched in the Borrego Badlands Saturday evening (Photo: Sicco Rood).

Lightning in the dark east of Borrego.

Sunset Mountain rain shafts and salt on the playa.

Sunrise next to ocotillo

Drying out playa.

Thunderstorms east of the Salton Sea early this morning and some rain showers north and south of Borrego Springs today (Photos: Sicco Rood).

A coyote at the Reserve this afternoon (Photo: Sicco Rood).

A post monsoon desert fall bloom with the pungent or fragrant chinchweed, depending on whom you ask. It has a citrus-like odor. The no-see-ums or sand flies seem to really swarm this area. This afternoon on the Glorietta Canyon alluvial fan.

A post monsoon desert fall bloom with the pungent or fragrant chinchweed, depending on whom you ask. Hedgehog cactus and cholla skeleton in the foreground.

A post monsoon desert fall bloom with the pungent or fragrant chinchweed, depending on whom you ask. It has a citrus-like odor. The no-see-ums or sand flies seem to really swarm this area. Be prepared to be on the menu! This afternoon on the Glorietta Canyon alluvial fan (Photo: Sicco Rood).

Coyote paw print in the mud. As well as rain drop impacts.

Mud curling as it dries.

Mud curling as it dries.

Desert shaggy mane

Mud cracking and curling in the washes today. Coyote prints, and rain drop impacts. Desert shaggy mane coming through the cracks (Photos: Sicco Rood).

Teddy-bear cholla. Dark thunderstorm clouds above the sunrise.

Teddy-bear cholla at sunrise on 9-18-25 (Photo: Sicco Rood).

It was still overcast this morning with some crepuscular rays getting through (Photo: Sicco Rood).

Clear view of lightning withing a thunderstorm cell that was building over Clark Dry Lake and Rabbit Peak on 9-18-25. As seen that evening from Coyote Canyon where the coyotes joined in for a howl fest for a while.

You can get to the second crossing, but not the third by car last I checked. But of course this last storm blocked even zero crossing, so I'm not sure what it looks like at the first an second crossing now.

"Borrego Falls". A waterfall yesterday evening, quite a ways out of Coyote Canyon (Video: Sicco Rood).

Moisture from Tropical Storm Mario came over Anza-Borrego Desert overnight. Ocotillos in the foreground. Sunrays in the Borrego sink coming down from dark storm clouds.

Moisture from Tropical Storm Mario came over Anza-Borrego Desert overnight. More rain showers expected in the area today (Photo: Sicco Rood).

Humidity and clouds started coming in from Tropical Storm Mario above the mountains west of Borrego. Leafed out ocotillo in the foreground.

Humidity and clouds started coming in from Tropical Storm Mario. Leafed out ocotillo in the foreground (Photo: Sicco Rood).

Common Chuckwalla sitting on a rock.

Common Chuckwalla near Church Spur Ridge this afternoon (Photo: Sicco Rood).

The sun rising above the Chocolate Mountains this morning. An ocotillo in the foreground.

The sun rising above the Chocolate Mountains this morning (Photo: Sicco Rood).

Rain from a thunderstorm above Culp Valley and Wilson Peak on 9-5-25 created this faint rainbow which frames the anticrepuscular rays above the desert. The moon had just risen as well.

Rain from a thunderstorm above Culp Valley and Wilson Peak late afternoon of 9-5-25 created this faint rainbow, almost framing the anticrepuscular rays above the desert (Photo: Sicco Rood).

A cloud at sunset above a ridge of Sunset Mountain earlier last week.

A cloud at sunset above a ridge of Sunset Mountain earlier last week (Photo: Sicco Rood).

A tiny flowering "common" Fishhook Cactus barely out of the ground and yet already putting out a beautiful flower.

A tiny flowering "common" Fishhook Cactus (Cochemiea tetrancistra) on the Pinyon Mountains last Sunday. Not so common as iNaturlist has been hiding the locations, due to a conservation status of, "Vulnerable in SD County". due to poaching from the park (Photos: Sicco Rood).

Mojave Yucca on the Pinyon Mountains.

Mojave Yucca on the Pinyon Mountains (Photo: Sicco Rood).

The waning gibbous moon setting behind San Ysidro Mountain with a fully leafed out ocotillo in the foreground. As seen from the Reserve.

The moon setting behind San Ysidro Mountain with a fully leafed out ocotillo in the foreground. As seen from the Reserve (Photo: Sicco Rood)

A roadrunner up close side view.

A roadrunner closeup of the feet.

roadrunner looking straight at the camera.

A roadrunner up close (Photos: Sicco Rood).

A convection cell above Culp Valley building up to some rain and thunder in the late afternoon as seen from the Warner Springs area. In the foreground a dead tree with a lot of birds flying out.

A convection cell above Culp Valley building up to some rain and thunder in the late afternoon as seen from the Warner Springs area on 9-5-25 (Photo: Sicco Rood).