Schneider Rd. ponds - Washtenaw County, Michigan ================================================ Probably the best shorebirding location in Washtenaw County is Schneider Rd. between Pleasant Lake Rd. and Luckhardt Rd. This is about 15 miles WSW of downtown Ann Arbor. There are two primary ponds. If there has been a lot of rain, the larger pond, just north of Pleasant Lake Rd., will not have mudflats around its edges, but the smaller pond just south of Luckhardt Rd. will then have just the right amount of water for shorebirds. With less rain the larger pond will have good shorebird areas, particularly in the southeast corner, on an island, and on a spit, but the smaller pond will be dry. To get to Schneider Rd. from Ann Arbor and eastward, you can take I-94 to Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. and go south(west) to Wagner Rd. Follow Wagner Rd. south half a mile to Pleasant Lake Rd. and turn right (west). Go 5.5 miles to a "T" at Parker Rd. Turn left (south) and go half a mile. Follow the road as it curves to the right; you will then be going west on the continuation of Pleasant Lake Rd. Go two miles to Schneider Rd. and turn right (north). The large pond is immediately ahead on your left. The small pond is less than half a mile farther north, also on the let side of the road. Half a mile farther, on the right side of the road, is a "cow pond" at a farm. This small pond is often worth a look. To get to Schneider Rd. from the west, you can take I-94 to M-52 and go south seven or eight miles to Pleasant Lake Rd. (traffic light). Turn left (east) and go five miles to Schneider Rd. Turn left (north) to the ponds.