I thought I’d go to work a little early so I could get some paperwork and reports done before I had to lead walks.

Oh, but, hey… I have that Nest Box walk coming up in a couple of weeks, I probably should check the status of the nest boxes in the Pavillion Field.  OK… that won’t take long:

1 – House Wren nest, no eggs or babies
2 – Empty
3 – House Wren nest, babies
4 – Tree Swallow nest, no eggs or babies

There.  Oh wait…  There are a few boxes in the woods… it’s only a few more steps.

1 – House Wren nest, eggs
2 – Mouse nest
3 – Empty

Mouse nest?  Darn it.  I better make a note to get some predator guards on these pipes. 

There.  But… you know, as long as I’m this close, the Spatterdock Lily and the Blue Flag were in bloom yesterday.  It won’t take long to snap a few shots.

Wow!  There sure were a lot of critters inside the Spatterdock Lily.  Besides these little guys, there was also a snail, and a fly!

And look how beautiful the Blue Flag looks in the morning mist.

There.  Hey!  If I take this slightly longer loop back to the field, I can get a shot or two over by that really big patch of Blue Flag.  Why is that Red-winged Blackbird squawking at me and flying right over my head… then away and into the rushes in the pond?  Oh look!  He’s showing me the Wood Duck babies!  Don’t worry momma.  I’m not going to hurt your babies.

Oh yeah… here is the Blue Flag patch.

Bumble Bees enter here:

OK:

So much for getting to work early.