) to insert bird names in your own language. The birdnames will automatically be translated for other users!
Upload images
Allowed image types are jpeg,png,gif
Max file size is 20MB
Description
Thorpe Park sits just North of the M3 Motorway and East of the M25 Motorway. The Thorpe Park Area is dominated by the very large Thorpe Park Resort, the area is a complex group of former gravel pits, now landscaped with some lakes used for various watersports.
The area includes Manor Lake (*1) (press STAR on map), where no watersports take place, because of this in Winter the Lake is usually packed with waterfowl. Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, the occasional Common Goldeneye, Goosander, Red-crested Pochard. Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Shoveler and Gadwall all in good numbers.
(*2), the long St Anne's Lake connected to Abbey Lake, can have the same species as Manor Lake, but due to watersport activities disturbed birds move off to quieter spots.
(*3), the Thorpe Park complex is a good place to see Smew in the London area, once seen throughout the area they now favour the shallower Abbey Mead Pits on the other side of the A320.
(*4), for those with more time, check out Longside Lake on the West side of the M25 Motorway, unfortunately this lake is used for watersports including open water swimming.
Some other birds such as Black-necked Grebe, Red-necked Grebe and Slavonian Grebe have all been seen in the recent past. Both Ferruginous Duck and Greater Scaup have also recently been seen.
Waders such as Common Snipe, Jack Snipe, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Northern Lapwing are regular depending on season. Check out the marshland on the West side of Manor Lake (press STAR on map) Common Tern nest on rafts on Manor Lake during the Summer, Cetti's Warbler are resident along with Reed Warbler in the Summer months.
An early morning visit is advisable at weekends as watersports have a huge impact on birds, there is less disturbance during weekdays.
Details
Access
The area is probably best accessed by car, a number of on street parking places are available.
(*1), for Manor Lake, park in Thorpe village, on roads such as Fleet Way/The Gower usually have parking places (Please Do Not block access) and walk to Monks Walk footpath near St Mary's Church, Note the road by the entrance is often flooded.
Alternatively (*3), for Abbey Mead Pits park carefully in narrow Ferry Lane in Chertsey, walk North crossing over Motorway by way of a bridge.
Alternatively (*4), for Longside Lake Park, park in Green Road where there is limited parking at the West end.
NOTE the lakes at Twynersh Fishing Complex (South of M3 Motorway) has NO PUBLIC ACCESS.
Fleet Lake lies completely within the Thorpe Park Resort and also has NO PUBLIC ACCESS.
Press P's on map for directions to parking spots.