Caribbean Birding Trail

Know the Caribbean, Bird by Bird

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  • About the CBT
    • Interpretive Guide Training
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    • Countries A-I
      • Anguilla
        • Cove Pond
        • Dog Island
        • East End Pond
        • Forest Bay Pond
        • Katouche Canyon
        • Long Pond
        • Meads Bay Pond
        • Merrywing Pond System
        • Prickly Pear Cays
        • Road Salt Pond
        • Scrub Island
        • Sombrero
        • West End By-the-Sea Ponds
        • West End Pond
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        • Codrington Lagoon
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You are here: Home / Anguilla / West End Pond

West End Pond

  • About West End Pond
  • The Birds
  • How to Get There
  • Tour Operators and Guides

West End Pond is a 41-acre privately owned brackish water wetland that is one of Anguilla’s important bird areas (IBAs). It is split into two sections by an access road or causeway that provides excellent viewing of a variety of species as they feed, nest, and bathe close by.

West End Pond (Photo by Jacqueline A. Cestero)

The western side of the wetland is on the right side as you approach and waders are often seen in the shallow waters or mudflats close to the road. Access to the remainder of the western side is limited due to a resort development. On the eastern side, visitors may easily see species from their vehicle or by walking along the edge of the causeway. Rock walls remain from past salt production and provide breeding habitat for species such as the Black-necked Stilt. While the center of this wetland generally maintains a good amount of water and attracts waterfowl, the mudflats close to the road often dry out during periods of low rain. They provide excellent habitat for plovers and sandpipers during the spring and fall migrations.

The causeway turns into a sand road with tourism developments on the beach side at Shoal Bay West. This close proximity to the sea entices a number of tern species in the early morning and late afternoon as they roost on the rock walls for most of the year. In the summer months, gulls are also attracted to this wetland and Least Terns breed here.

Sandwich Terns at Sunset (Photo by Jacqueline A. Cestero)

Once the site of salt production, this privately owned wetland has no protections in place.

Semipalmated Sandpiper Anguilla (Photo by Jacqueline A. Cestero)

Barn Swallows and Caribbean Martins often perch on the telephone lines around this wetland, while many of Anguilla’s five Lesser Antilles Restricted Range species can be found in the Buttonwood Mangrove. Keep an eye out for American Kestrels, Gray Kingbirds, and the haunting sound of the Mangrove Cuckoo.

Late afternoon is an excellent time to visit this wetland when brine flies and other insects are plentiful. Photographers will find the light perfect at this time of day.

Mixed Shorebirds (Photo by Jacqueline A. Cestero)

Visiting: From the airport roundabout, take the main road heading west. Travel on the road straight to the west end of the island, approximately eight miles. The West End Apartments are on the right, and the pond will be on the left as you enter the causeway.

Nature Explorers Anguilla offers tours to this site!

West End Pond

Anguilla Sites

  • Cove Pond
  • Dog Island
  • East End Pond
  • Forest Bay Pond
  • Katouche Canyon
  • Long Pond
  • Meads Bay Pond
  • Merrywing Pond System
  • Prickly Pear Cays
  • Road Salt Pond
  • Scrub Island
  • Sombrero
  • West End By-the-Sea Ponds
  • West End Pond

Anguilla Partners

  • Anguilla National Trust


Anguilla Tour Operators

  • Nature Explorers Anguilla

Recommended Bird Guides

A Guide to the Birds of Anguilla by Steve H. Holliday, Karim V. D. Hodge, and Damien E. Hughes

Birds of the West Indies by Herbert Raffaele, James Wiley, Orlando Garrido, Allan Keith, and Janis Raffaele

Birds of the Lesser Antilles by Ryan Chenery

 

Want to know how you can be involved?

Do you know of a place that should be part of the Caribbean Birding Trail? Are you the owner of a lodge or hotel and want to attract eco-tourists? Are you a guide interested in the birdwatching market? Then, get involved with our project!

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