Streak-backed Oriole - USA Rarity

Normally I don't attach too much geographical significance to where I see a bird; I don't care if it's in this county or that county, etc. But I was recently able to photograph a bird that is rare in the U.S., a Streak-backed Oriole, in SE Arizona. They are generally found along the Pacific side of Mexico and northern Central America. The ABA rates them a 4 on a scale of 6, or casual, meaning they are sighted less than annually in the US. The bird appears to be a first-year male and has been hanging around one location since last November 7th. My wife and I waited for an hour and a half in the hopes it would appear, but it did not. Not until we were leaving. Then my wife said, "What's that?"

Congrats on the rare sighting Al, very cool. You got a nice angle on him.

Lets see, you are about to leave after waiting in vain for your quest. At the last minute, it shows, in the open and not behind a branch, vegetation, etc., good light and turns its head in a great pose. Al, my boy, the photo gods did indeed shine down upon you. And respond well, you did. The gods are proud! Super shot, my friend. bet some ornithology organizations would like that shot for their archives.

Great shot Al. I was in Portal last week myself to see the same bird. I wasn't able to get a shot of the bird without one of the oranges in the photo however. Well done.

Nighthound wrote in post #18313516
Congrats on the rare sighting Al, very cool. You got a nice angle on him.

Thank you very much for your kind comments, Steve; I appreciate them.

ardeekay wrote in post #18313604
Lets see, you are about to leave after waiting in vain for your quest. At the last minute, it shows, in the open and not behind a branch, vegetation, etc., good light and turns its head in a great pose. Al, my boy, the photo gods did indeed shine down upon you. And respond well, you did. The gods are proud! Super shot, my friend. bet some ornithology organizations would like that shot for their archives.

Thanks, Rog. Indeed, the Bird Gods were with me that day; who would think it would show up just as we were leaving. I have contributed photos to iBird and they have already expressed interest in this one as they only have two other shots of one.

cavuken wrote in post #18313717
Great shot Al. I was in Portal last week myself to see the same bird. I wasn't able to get a shot of the bird without one of the oranges in the photo however. Well done.

Thank you. I'm sorry to have missed you. We were there the week before and what a great place it was. As for the oranges, that is precisely why Photoshop was invented, if you get my drift.

Very nice and congrats on this guy

CaptBob wrote in post #18314492
Very nice and congrats on this guy

Thank you, my friend; I appreciate your taking the time to comment.

What...you get to see this beautiful bird, and only share one photo? All kidding aside Al, that is a sweet shot! Congratulations on your persistence, it certainly paid off in a big way!

Congrats on such a unique sighting Al, and on getting a great shot of it.

SJC from VT wrote in post #18315086
What...you get to see this beautiful bird, and only share one photo? All kidding aside Al, that is a sweet shot! Congratulations on your persistence, it certainly paid off in a big way!

Less is sometimes more, Sandy. I'm glad you enjoyed my paltry offering, however, and thanks for taking the time to comment.

Wallace River wrote in post #18315098
Congrats on such a unique sighting Al, and on getting a great shot of it.

Thanks, Ian. It was definitely worth the wait.

If anyone is interested, the bird guide who owns the feeders where this was seen has just posted that he thinks the bird is actually a female, not a first-year male.