Pond in the fall
West Pond is a stormwater detention basin located east of Lake Blvd. and north of Arlington Blvd. The City of Davis manages the pond to support an array of wildlife. A wonderful place to watch egrets, Canada Geese and others. The bike path on the eastern edge is nice, with several decks for viewing the ponds. There are a number of benches along the path, allowing passers-by to sit back and enjoy the view. A section of the path has some large bumps.
A companion to the Northstar Ponds are the delightful West Ponds, located in west Davis. The best way to get there is to go south on Denali Drive from Covell Boulevard, and turn west on Isle Royale Lane, to where there is a small grassy park. From here, there is a path extending along the entire eastern side of the ponds. The west and north sides are not accessible. Egrets and various species of ducks are usually here. Upon occasion, in winter, hooded mergansers have been seen. One of the ponds' greatest claims to fame among birders is that an eastern phoebe was found here in the winter of 1993, for a first record for the county. The Yolo Audubon Society is a co-sponsor of these ponds.
For more information or to join the Friends of West Pond, contact <grtrapp AT comcast DOT net>.
Pictures
Dried up in the summer
Hooded Mergansers on West Pond in January, photo by J. E. Ryan 
Wildlife in West Pond 
This charming bench was hidden between an evergreen tree and the West Pond fence in Jan. 08; Not sure if it's still there. 
The West Pond is a favorite of Canadian geese, who also favor the Northstar Park pond. Here is a mother goose leading her goslings across the grass in the West Pond in May 08. 
Geese on the water 
There is a garden along the path around the West Pond which features flowers such as this one, which bloomed Nov. 07 
A beautiful tree in full bloom leans out over the West Pond path on a sunny winter afternoon, February 15, 2010. 
A full pond, February 15, 2010 
The old sign 
West Pond's wonderful poop sign 
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2011-11-27 00:10:59 There were three pair of Hooded Mergansers there tonight at sunset, in addition to a lovely peaceful evening. —Otter
