We flew from Lima to Cuzco the morning of January 8, 2012. It took us some time to adjust to the difference in elevation, 10,500 feet versus sea level. The Huacarpay Lakes area is located in the central highlands of Peru. This wetland area houses a variety of high elevation aquatic birds (most seen from a distance) and is a thirty minute drive from Cuzco that traverses a road through high altitude shrubland habitat. I photographed a Golden-billed Saltator, Saltator aurantiirostris, that was perched on a branch during a dreary afternoon with intermittent showers and overcast skies. This adult has a golden bill, black facial scarf with a white throat and auricular border, gray upperparts, a yellowish-orange belly, and a gray and white tail. It's a beautiful bird to listen to and watch...no matter what the weather.