Vermilion Flycatcher

The biggest thrill I get in both birding and photography is getting a new species.   When it's unexpected, it's even better!  I had a conference for work down in the Phoenix area, staying at a nice conference center hotel.  One day at the conference, I grabbed the conference box lunch and went back to my room to eat it.  I went out on the little patio, which wwas right by a small pond.  As I started to eat, this beautiful Vermilion Flycatcher flew in and landed by the tree right by my room!  

I literally spilled my lunch everywhere rushing back into my room for my camera!  When I came out, the bird was gone, but I soon found him flitting between a few trees right by the pond.  All I did was wait by one of his "perch trees", and soon got this shot!  A VERY nice surprise, and something that was certainly welcome on an all-day conference.