Spot-winged Grosbeak – an extremely lucky sighting at very close quarters. So close that my camera refused to focus and I had to remember that there is a minimum focal distance that I might be within and to take a couple of steps back before I could start seeing the bird through the viewfinder.

We had just reached the top of the Chelela Pass and got out of the vehicle when I spotted a bird fly into the bushes ahead. The call I heard alerted me to the possibility that it could be one of the Grosbeaks. So I edged closer to the spot constantly scanning the undergrowth for movement and spotted this male busy foraging. Gotcha, my first Grosbeak picture. And lots of nice ones of this guy that were quite satisfying.