Graeme Hall Swamp

Graeme Hall is a brackish lagoon behind the south coast with the last significant stand of red and white mangrove on Barbados, and it is the island's only Ramsar-listed wetland. It matters out of proportion to its size: it is the main stopover for migratory shorebirds and herons on an island with almost no other wetland, and it holds a population of caimans along with mullet, tarpon and crabs. A sanctuary operated here for years with boardwalks and an aviary before closing in 2009 after a long dispute over the sluice gate that controls the water exchange with the sea, which has never been fully resolved.

What you actually see

• The mangrove stand - the last significant one on the island.
• Migratory birds - herons, egrets and shorebirds on passage.
• The lagoon - the largest inland water in Barbados.
• The boardwalk - what remains accessible along the edge.

When to go

December to April is the dry season and coincides with the northern migrant season, which is when the bird interest is highest. Early morning and late afternoon are best. Access is limited and mostly from the boardwalk and roadside.

Honest expectations

The sanctuary that made this visitable closed in 2009 after a long dispute about water management, and what remains is a boardwalk and views from the edge rather than an organised site. The wetland is squeezed between a main road, hotels and development, and water quality and the sluice gate remain unresolved issues. It is not a polished attraction.

Nearby

Oistins is ten minutes east; the south coast beaches run either side.