Maybe 35 years ago, on my first serious birding trip to the Chiricahua Mountains of Southeast Arizona, I got a glimpse of a covey of Montezuma Quail crossing the road in the headlights of the car. Hardly a satisfying view but my only view of the elusive bird…until this week when hiking in Madera Canyon, on the stream-side trail, right behind the Santa Rita Lodge. I am sure this was another covey, but the rest of the birds were well down in the brush and invisible. I was very thankful that this bird played Sentinel on its rock long enough for a few photos. The light under the canopy along the stream was challenging but I still got a few satisfying images.

Sony HX400V at 1200mm equivalent field of view. ISO 800 @ 1/250th @ f6.3. Processed in Snapseed on my tablet. Cropped slightly for scale and composition.