Bird/Nature Photography: Peña Blanca Lake - Monday 10/19/2026
Trip Cost: $10
Designated as an Arizona Important Bird Areas Program site, Peña Blanca Lake is an artificial 49-acre waterbody nestled in the rocky outcrops of the Coronado National Forest. The lake is one of many exceptional birding opportunities in the area that comprise the Atascosa Highlands Important Bird Area. Waders and waterfowl abound here, including black-necked stilts and American avocets, pied-billed grebes and several species of duck. Try the West Shore Trail to an old dam and keep your eyes out for gray hawk, northern beardless-tyrannulet, and the secretive Montezuma’s quail that can be found in the hillsides surrounding the lake.
If you have binoculars, you may want to bring them along. A small notebook and pen or pencil would be useful to record your sightings. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. A hat, sunscreen and water are also recommended.
Following the trip to Peña Blanca Lake, you're invited to a no-host lunch at La Bocanita Seafood Restaurant located at 1185 Circulo Mercado in in Rio Rico.
Meet at the Photography Club at 7:45 AM for carpooling, departure at 8:15. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge if you have one. For those carpooling, $10.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver for gas.
Denise LeCount-O'Brien will be our trip leader. Contact Denise at 309-830-0177 or email her at rurt2dede@gmail.com with any questions. She will be disseminating more information to registered participants via e-mail as we get closer to the event. Please add your trip leader's email and phone number to your contact list so you don't miss out on any important updates.
GVR requires that every person participating in the club's field trips must sign a waiver absolving GVR of any liability. You will be required to sign the waiver at the Photography club before the trip departs if you haven't already done so.
The last date to cancel for a refund is October 12, 2026. If you need to cancel, please contact the Field Trip Co-Chair Lynn Rozema at 719-351-5193 or email lrozema51@gmail.com. We may have people on the wait list to take your place.
If you have to cancel on the day of the trip, please call Denise as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.
NOTICE:
All participants need to be responsible for an assessment of their mobility and health issues relating to field trips. Some trips may not be appropriate, but you must make that determination. However, the trip leader may deny participation in a specific field trip to anyone deemed not suitably prepared or able to walk with the group.
Be sure to have your GVR card with you for each and every field trip. Without it, you won't be allowed to go on the trip. No refunds will be granted for failure to comply with this requirement. To protect GVR and club member benefits, GVR has implemented a new process that requires each field trip participant to come into the club and scan his/her GVR card to confirm eligibility. We no longer have the option of typing in your name or GVR number – only the physical GVR card will do.
We will no longer meet in the parking lot. We will meet in the GVR Photography Club where you will scan your GVR card confirming your eligibility to go on the trip. We’ll also review important/late-breaking information, pair up drivers and riders, provide driving directions, and give participants a chance to visit the restrooms prior to departure. Again, be sure to have your GVR card with you.
In order to participate in this event, you must be a member of the GVR Photography Club and GVR.
The GVR Photography Club is located in the Recreation Village of Santa Rita Springs.