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The Central Pond offers the best opportunities for photographing waders. Shovelor and SE ponds are also as good however they typically dry up in early Summer - only the Central and SW ponds contain water year round.

The ponds are all slightly different either in depth, aspect or vegetation and so attract different species. Least and Western Sandpipers can be found anywhere; Solitary Sandpipers prefer the secluded corners of the SE pond though may also be found out in the open on Shovelor Pond; Dowitchers and Yellowlegs are found almost exclusively on the Central Pond where the deeper water provides better feeding; Wilson's Phalarope prefer Shovelor Pond for some reason known only to them.

For other species, the southeast corner and Central Pond are great for photographing ducks. Since there is no hunting anywhere within many miles the birds are much more approachable, though far from tame. The bushes around the Center for Urban Horticulture are good for sparrows, though recent landscaping has reduced the density of the undergrowth. The cattails which border the edge of the lake contain many red-winged blackbirds and marsh wrens. The area is a stopover for many species so in principle almost anything may show up. As an example a scissor-tailed flycatcher appeared for only a few hours on 2nd August 2003.