Along the Deer creek in nearby Pylesville MD, I accompanied our hosts on their canoe rescue training (see previous post). The creek is pretty tame this time of year. Here is a kayaker that cruised downstream while I waited for the training group to arrive.

It is not obvious in the image at left that the creek is quite muddy right now, just after the spring rains. It will clear up, I am told, and provides a food source for eagles. The creek is stocked with a mixture of fish and attracts fishermen/women as well as kayakers and canoeists.

The creek goes through the Eden Mills Nature Center, a county sponsored non-profit supporting appreciation and awareness of the area’s natural and historic surroundings (the mill was in operation from the 1800s).

Back at the farm, a family of field sparrows are having lunch (image below). They have taken over a traditional bluebird birdhouse which has not been maintained at a level acceptable to bluebirds.