So now I have seen it, and it was everything and more than what I expected.

We had staked out the lower picnic area at Huachuca Canyon for a couple of hours with no sign nor sound of the Elegant Trogon that is supposed to be there. It was not a wasted stake-out. We saw numerous other birds, most notably the dreamboat Western Tanager (photo coming). Convinced it was not there we decided to make the 1.7 miles drive up the rough road to see if we could find one of the pairs that were supposed to be there. Along the way, we picked up a new companion who was also looking for the bird.

Exiting our cars at the jeep road we began to hike, listening carefully to the sound of the wilderness for the telltale bark of the Trogon. Half a mile up we decided it was not to be our day. Cameras slung over our shoulders we began the trek back down to the cars. We were about twenty yards from the cars when we heard it. I have never heard a Trogon before but this sound was unmistakable. As one we stopped and peered into the dense forest hoping to locate the sound. Nothing! We kept looking. And then, like a hot coal erupting from the dark depths of trees, a red flash streaked overhead towards the parking lot. We were off.

Sitting on a bench, comfortably shaded by a sun cover, sat the wife of one of our party. She had not made the walk up, opting instead to rest in the shade. Her bins were pointed up and a smile lit her face. Gasping for air we fairly screamed in her direction "Do you see it?" "Yes", she replied, "it is right on that branch over your heads." Looking up we were privileged to see the object of our hunt.

For the next 15 minutes we ran to each new tree the Trogon rested in, shooting pictures along the way. This is the first I am posting. It will not be the last.

Like I said, it was everything and more than what I expected.
Shoot Date: April 24, 2018
Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Shutter priority ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ sec at f/5.6 2 EV
Lens: EF400mm f/2.8L USM +2x @ 800 mm
ISO: 1250