For all those like me, who didn't already know, Huntley Meadows park just  
across the river in VA, is now, well, a meadow.  Apparently the beavers  moved 
on, downstream, and their dam gave way this year. The main body of water  with 
the boardwalk is now a muddy meadow.  If you follow the unofficial  trail at 
the end of the board walk, there are still some smaller ponds.   Enough to 
support two families of hooded mergs. Did not see or hear any  rails.  
 
PS Please tell any of these newly arriving coyotes that there are plenty of  
fat geese with no water to protect them ready for easy pickings.
 
Tom  Beal
Glenn Dale, MD