At higher elevations it had snowed overnight (in May) and rain and wind were forecast, so a lake close to town made the most sense for a morning of paddling.   The road to Edith Lake was muddy.   A few campers were at the lakeside campsite and 4 boats were on the lake as I launched among active blackbirds at the marshy shoreline.

There was a large chironomid hatch so there were hundreds of birds feeding on all parts of the lake.   The flies were so numerous that I was pelted when I paddled into the wind.   Many birds swooped acrobatically over the lake and the shore area.

Two loops around the lake is about 7 km, a good workout in the kayak.    The winds picked up on the way back and it rained later in the day, but I was grateful for an opportunity to paddle with the birds on a spring day.