McKinnon’s Salt Pond
McKinnon’s Salt Pond is a short drive north of St. John’s, immediately inland from Runaway Bay. McKinnon’s has been altered over the years (e.g. through mangrove removal), but this is still the premier site on the island for waterbirds. White-cheeked Pintails are common here, and West Indian Whistling-Ducks are often seen grazing along the shoulders of the roads. Caribbean Coots join the variety of waterfowl that winter here and/or migrate through these wetlands. Black-necked Stilts and Wilson’s Plovers nest on the sand and gravel shores, and are often joined by least terns.
Shorebirds migrate through McKinnon’s in immense numbers in spring and fall. Marina Bay Road borders McKinnon’s on the east. There is a formal birding site along this road. The road restricts the original flow of ocean waters from the east, and the developments along the Runaway Bay beach no doubt removed a dense border of mangroves.
Contact the Environmental Awareness Group and they will help connect you to a guide on the island or help answer your questions on the logistic of visiting some of the island’s hotspots for birding:
Email: eagantigua@gmail.com
(268) 462-6236 – Tel
