We spent part of the morning and early afternoon of January 8, 2012, birding the Huacarpay Lakes area which 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. We stopped at the pre-Columbian Kanaracay Huari Archaeological Ruins located on the shore of Huacarpay Lake. The Huari culture was the first to use intricate stone irrigation works and aqueducts. The Huari were a warrior society much like the Moche before them that appreciated fine artistry and design. Temperatures were in the upper 60's on this overcast afternoon with intermittent rain and low lying clouds.