Warfields Pond Park opened in 1992 making it one of Howard County's oldest western neighborhood parks. Although a relatively small park, it has sufficiently diverse habitats to be worth regular visits.

Habitat: The pond has both emergent vegetation and shrubby edge; between the tot lot and the dam are seepage areas as well as scrub and maturing deciduous trees. The area near the dam has both mown grass and annual vegetation. Below the dam is another seepage area with trees; beyond it lies a fallow field edged with hedgerows. In years with adequate rainfall, the field contains some wet areas.

Layout: Active recreational facilities are clustered around the parking lot near the entrance at MacClintock Drive. Walking to the pond takes less than five minutes along a paved path. A path, with two boardwalks, encircles the pond. On the north side, a wooden gazebo with benches overlooks the pond. A fishing pier on the west side provides another fine vantage point. Most of the path provides a good view of the sky. A small wooded wetland area on the east side below the picnic pavilion contains a fluctuating amount of water depending on the season and the amount of rainfall. A short distance west of the tot lot there is access to this area by a dirt path into the scrub. South of the dam is a line of trees in a spongy area and beyond that a fallow field without paths.

Best Time to Visit: During spring through fall, early morning produces the most birds. In winter, any time provides looks at waterfowl if there is open water. The heaviest park usage is on warm weekends and weekdays from late afternoon to sunset.

Birding: Recent years have produced migrant American Woodcock in early spring. One year an American Bittern was spotted in mid-April and another year a Common Moorhen spent a few days at the north end of the pond in mid-May. Checking the sky in spring is always useful as Triadelphia Reservoir is not many miles south of the park. The breeding season brings a variety of birds. There are usually several pairs of nesting orioles in trees near the pond; Yellow Warblers and Common Yellowthroats reside in the tall weeds and wet area south of the dam; and some years Willow Flycatchers sing along the west fenceline. A recent autumn produced a Marsh Wren in cattails along the boardwalk at the southeast corner of the pond. Fall and winter bring waterfowl until the pond freezes over. Ring-necked Ducks, Buffleheads, and Hooded Mergansers with an occasional Pied-billed Grebe are regular. The interest lies in what may drop in, even briefly. The sun is rarely a problem because there are numerous viewing points. During any season, take time to check the spring and seepage area adjacent to the boardwalk at the northeast corner of the pond–numerous species bathe in the shallow pools. In winter, this is one of the best places in the park to look for Cedar Waxwings, Eastern Bluebirds, and American Robins.

Highlights: In addition to the birds that the pond may produce, this is also an excellent location for pond dragonflies in mid to late summer. There are nice stands of Hyssop Skullcap in the field east of the dam from mid to late June.

Handicapped Access: The paved path is easy to negotiate. The wooden boardwalks can be slippery in wet weather.