Despite the amount of pedestrian traffic along the west side of this lake in downtown Columbia, birders have learned that oddities do drop in here.

Habitat: Two-thirds of the west side contains commercial buildings, but the pilings and dock regularly attract gulls and a few ducks. The northern end of the lake is designated as the wildlife end and brushy, maturing wooded habitat predominates there. The east side is floodplain along the Little Patuxent River. The understory is not dense except in some areas adjacent to the lake. Most waterfowl and gulls are seen in the northern half of the lake. That end contains Nomanizan Island which is mostly covered with shrubby vegetation.

Layout: Parking and access is from the west side of the lake in various lots along Little Patuxent Parkway. After reaching the paved path adjacent to the lake, one can go in either direction; however, if is usually most productive to bear left toward the wildlife end. When concentrating on herons, gulls, terns, or waterfowl, it is not necessary to walk completely around the lake. Most of the lake can be scanned from the path on the west side.

Best Time to Visit: Fortunately, the best birding times do not always coincide with heavy waterfront usage. Early morning always improves one's chances of finding birds here. On warm spring and fall weekends, there are many walkers. This doesn't always bother the birds, but it can make birding more challenging. Long summer evenings attract crowds to the planned activities along the lakefront, although night-herons at the wildlife end appear to have learned to co-exist with pedestrians. Migratory shorebirds, terns, and gulls can sometimes be seen during the afternoon.

Birding: Birders have learned it is not safe to ignore any good-sized body of water, especially after stormy weather. Of the central lakes, Kittamaqundi has produced the fewest rarities so birders tend to check it in conjunction with either Wilde Lake or Centennial. Frequently, birds that have been seen on one of the other lakes move here before returning to another lake or moving on. Species to be looked for are migratory waterfowl, gulls, and terns or species associated with water or edges. Late March through mid-May produces an occasional tern or interesting gull; night-herons can turn up in the spring or, more consistently, during the summer. Shorebirds, by and large, have not been notable with the exception of the county's first Red Phalarope which was present October 1-12, 1982. Migrant passerines are sometimes noted in the vegetation along the shoreline at the north end or in the trees in the floodplain on the east side.

Highlights: The lake and the sandbar at the northwest end are the highlights. Periodically the lake is dredged and the sandbar disappears temporarily.

Handicapped Access: The paved path on the west side offers ample opportunity to view the lake, although reaching the path may be challenging as no parking is adjacent to the path; generally it is necessary to navigate a ramp.