My group headed through the woods to the outflow end of the lower impoundment and worked our way back towards the parking lot. There were carp trying to cross the spillway into the impoundment. While they were trying to get in, this sunfish that had given up the fight and was resting with the lotus seed pods, waiting to be eaten or swept downstream.

It was a bit early for the muskrats to be out feeding. One industrious muskrat was busily expanding the size of his lodge. He should probably consult with the beavers on construction techniques, since they had better luck with the coyotes this winter than the muskrats.
In just a couple weeks the landscape has gone form dull and grey to green. New growth is everywhere. I was drawn to how the darker background highlights the miniature leaves.

My group brought me luck. We discovered a new tree swallow nest, near the beaver lodge. It was on the underside of the branch. I will be checking up on it's progress as time progresses.



Up near the holt, a pair of White-breasted Nuthatches were busily preparing a new nest in a knot-hole from a broken branch.


