Salt Pond Beach Park

21.90036 , -159.60730

United States of America (USA)

On the south coast of Kaua'i, Salt Pond Beach Park has a beautiful beach with good snorkeling, a grassy area with a campground, and the namesake salt ponds, which are often mostly dry but can attract a variety of shorebirds and waterbirds when water is present. This is a great place to look for Black-necked Stilt (Hawaiian) as well as migrant shorebirds, especially Ruddy Turnstone and Wandering Tattler. This park borders the Port Allen Airport, where the grassy area along the runways can host shorebirds such as Pacific Golden-Plover and Ruddy Turnstone, as well as Hawaiian Duck, Short-eared Owl (Hawaiian) (Pueo), and introduced species such as Western Meadowlark and Chestnut Munia. Seabirds such as Brown Booby, Red-footed Booby, and Wedge-tailed Shearwater can be seen from the beach here as well, although the nearby Port Allen Airport Seawatch location is much better for seawatching. Good plan to visit the ponds here to check for shorebirds and waterbirds before an evening seawatch by the Port Allen Airport.

Delete exact location

The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Coordinates were set by Adrian Burke : 21.9004/-159.6073 (2022-09-13 04:42:48 )

Site name was set by Adrian Burke as "Salt Pond Beach Park" (2022-09-13 04:42:48 )

Edited by Adrian Burke on 2022-09-13 04:51:09
On the south coast of Kaua'i, Salt Pond Beach Park has a beautiful beach with good snorkeling, a grassy area with a campground, and the namesake salt ponds, which are often mostly dry but can attract a variety of shorebirds and waterbirds when water is present. This is a great place to look for Black-necked Stilt (Hawaiian) as well as migrant shorebirds, especially Ruddy Turnstone and Wandering Tattler. This park borders the Port Allen Airport, where the grassy area along the runways can host shorebirds such as Pacific Golden-Plover and Ruddy Turnstone, as well as Hawaiian Duck, Short-eared Owl (Hawaiian) (Pueo), and introduced species such as Western Meadowlark and Chestnut Munia. Seabirds such as Brown Booby, Red-footed Booby, and Wedge-tailed Shearwater can be seen from the beach here as well, although the nearby Port Allen Airport Seawatch location is much better for seawatching. Good plan to visit the ponds here to check for shorebirds and waterbirds before an evening seawatch by the Port Allen Airport.
Edited by Adrian Burke on 2022-09-13 04:47:57
On the south coast of Kaua'i, Salt Pond Beach Park has a beautiful beach with good snorkeling, a grassy area with a campground, and the namesake salt ponds, which are often mostly dry but can attract a variety of shorebirds and waterbirds when water is present. This is a great place to look for Black-necked Stilt (Hawaiian) as well as migrant shorebirds, especially Ruddy Turnstone and Wandering Tattler. This park borders the Port Allen Airport, where the grassy area can host shorebirds such as Pacific Golden-Plover and Ruddy Turnstone, as well as Short-eared Owl (Hawaiian) (Pueo), and introduced species such as Western Meadowlark and Chestnut Munia. Seabirds such as Brown Booby, Red-footed Booby, and Wedge-tailed Shearwater can be seen from the beach here as well, although the nearby Port Allen Airport Seawatch location is much better for seawatching. Good plan to visit the ponds here to check for shorebirds and waterbirds before an evening seawatch by the Port Allen Airport.

  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
Hawaiian Duck (Anas wyvilliana)
Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus)
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
African Silverbill (Euodice cantans)
Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)
Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava)
Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)

Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) was added by Adrian Burke (2022-09-13 04:58:58)

Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricapilla) was added by Adrian Burke (2022-09-13 04:58:44)

Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava) was added by Adrian Burke (2022-09-13 04:58:33)

African Silverbill (Euodice cantans) was added by Adrian Burke (2022-09-13 04:58:19)

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) was added by Adrian Burke (2022-09-13 04:57:46)

Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana) was added by Adrian Burke (2022-09-13 04:57:17)

Sanderling (Calidris alba) was added by Adrian Burke (2022-09-13 04:57:03)

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) was added by Adrian Burke (2022-09-13 04:56:33)

Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) was added by Adrian Burke (2022-09-13 04:56:21)

Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus) was added by Adrian Burke (2022-09-13 04:55:55)

Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) was added by Adrian Burke (2022-09-13 04:55:35)

Hawaiian Duck (Anas wyvilliana) was added by Adrian Burke (2022-09-13 04:53:54)

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) was added by Adrian Burke (2022-09-13 04:53:19)

  • Timing and strategy

Any time of day, but best to check early morning for shorebirds and waterbirds or just before doing an evening seawatch at the nearby Port Allen Airport Seawatch site. Native/endemic/resident waterbirds and a handful of migrant shorebirds can be seen year-round, but fall through spring is best for migrants. Be sure to check both salt pond areas if there's plenty of water, the eastern one viewable from the north-south concrete road that's blocked to automobiles by boulders.

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Edited by Adrian Burke on 2022-09-13 04:50
Any time of day, but best to check early morning for shorebirds and waterbirds or just before doing an evening seawatch at the nearby Port Allen Airport Seawatch site. Native/endemic/resident waterbirds and a handful of migrant shorebirds can be seen year-round, but fall through spring is best for migrants. Be sure to check both salt pond areas if there's plenty of water, the eastern one viewable from the north-south concrete road that's blocked to automobiles by boulders.
  • How to get there

Parking lot at the end of Kuiloko Rd and another at the end of Lokokai Rd. Closest bus stops are the Mariko Store (Route 200) and Hanapepe Armory (Route 100) on the Kaua'i Bus, about a 25 minute walk or 5 minute bike ride from the park.

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Edited by Adrian Burke on 2022-09-13 05:03
Parking lot at the end of Kuiloko Rd and another at the end of Lokokai Rd. Closest bus stops are the Mariko Store (Route 200) and Hanapepe Armory (Route 100) on the Kaua'i Bus, about a 25 minute walk or 5 minute bike ride from the park.

Provide information on how to enter this site, which may include:
• entry points
• entry permits / entry tickets and fees
• opening hours / opening season
• other restrictions

Note that this section should only contain information on how to ACCESS (= enter) a site. Info on how to REACH a site should be added to "How to get there" section.

Not available yet
  • Other attractions

Hawaiian Monk Seals, Green Sea Turtles, snorkeling, swimming, salt ponds where locals collect salt

Add information about other attractions at this site, including
• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

Edited by Adrian Burke on 2022-09-13 04:51
Hawaiian Monk Seals, Green Sea Turtles, snorkeling, swimming, salt ponds where locals collect salt

campground, picnic area, bathrooms, lifeguard

Provide information about what type of facilities are available at
or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

Edited by Adrian Burke on 2022-09-13 04:52
campground, picnic area, bathrooms, lifeguard

Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
• noise pollution

Not available yet
All information about this site was contributed by Orniverse users. Neither Orniverse nor the contributors accept responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the information provided.

Contributors

Adrian Burke

Local guides

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Salt Pond Beach Park - Orniverse