Peña Blanca Lake

Plans change, and instead of a morning at Kino Springs, my client and I ended up at Pena Blanca Lake, one of the most scenic, and sometimes the birdiest, sites in southeast Arizona. It was cold, ice sheeting the water, and it didn’t seem all that incongruous to watch Common Mergansers diving on the lake!

PB is one of the best Arizona localities for Swamp Sparrow, and we enjoyed fantastic looks at one while (get this) a Painted Redstart hunted the trees above our heads. 

The seep and stock tank just beyond the campground were covered with sparrows and finches, including numerous Pine Siskins and at least two Black-chinned Sparrows. But nothing beats juncos for sheer winter atmosphere: there were half a dozen Gray-headed Juncos and a splendid Pink-sided Junco bathing with hundreds of Chipping, Vesper, White-crowned, Lincoln’s, and Brewer’s Sparrows. That’s why I moved to Arizona–as if I could ever need a reminder.