Western Salt Ponds

Anegada’s Western Salt Ponds, declared a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1999, cover more than a third of the island. They are home to migrating sea and shorebirds and are an important spawning area for a type of mullet fish. Before refrigeration, islanders used salt from the ponds to preserve meat and fish.

The ponds are a bird-watcher’s paradise. The U.K.-based Darwin Initiative (www.seaturtle.org/mtrg) maintains a list of species present, and it is growing with every trip the Darwin scientists take to the island. A trained eye will spot ducks, plovers, sandpipers, herons (including Great Blue Herons), kingfishers, falcons (including peregrine falcons), and flamingos.

The ponds are surrounded by scrubby plants, including several species of mangrove and a number of succulents, including one that Anegadians typically added to salads for a sharp, briny flavor. You will need a guide to help you identify this plant; don’t start nibbling on everything you see. Keep your eyes open for Anegada’s endemic plant species: acacia anegadensis (poke-me-boy), metastelma anegadensa (wire wist), and cordial rupicola (black sage).

The Western Salt Ponds are a minimalist landscape: flat, mostly empty, with understated colors. Most tourists don’t give them a second glance. But those who do are rewarded; they are uniquely beautiful and can be a nice place to walk if you grow weary of the beach—just keep track of your route so you don’t get lost. A number of narrow roads feeding off the main road that circles the island provide easy access to the ponds. Keep in mind that the ponds expand and contract depending on the amount of rainfall, so be careful not to drive too close and get stuck in soft spots. Also be mindful that these lands are protected, and fishing, hunting, and otherwise extracting materials and animals from the ponds are illegal.