Howard County Bird Club

Springdale (Nichols) Quary Pond Detailed Information

Google map.

Although this pond is located along Brighton Dam Road, it cannot be seen from that street. Turn onto Springdale Drive from Brighton Dam Road (0.5 miles west of the intersection of Brighton Dam Road and Highland Road). There is no single vantage point that allows a view of the entire pond because it is surrounded by homes and fenced private open space. This was once an operating quarry. The deep water seldom freezes so this pond is most valuable when most other lakes and ponds are ice-covered.

From Brighton Dam Road, drive 0.2 mile to the end of Springdale Road. Fortunately, this is a lightly traveled road.
After turning around in the cul de sac, begin looking between houses east toward the water as you slowly move downhill. Make several stops in order to scan small sections. The extra height of a truck or SUV is a real advantage here. If you park and get out to scope, do not park on the grass. A variety of waterfowl have been logged here. The best included White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Cackling Goose, Redhead, Common Goldeneye, Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Horned Grebe. and Northern Shoveler as  well as Tundra Swan. Canada Geese sometimes gather on the grassy expanse near Brighton Dam Road and the north end of the pond. In winter a small slice of the west edge of the pond can be scoped from Silent Lake Drive, just east of and parallel to Springdale Drive. A left turn onto Brighton Dam Road from either Springdale Drive or Silent Lake Drive will put you on the way to Brighton Dam and Triadelphia Reservoir.

Warning: Ignore the 30 mile an hour speed limit on Brighton Dam Road at your own risk. Although the speed limit  was established decades ago for the heavily loaded quarry trucks, it has not been changed. Police sometimes sit near Springdale or Nichols Drive catching speeders coming from both directions.