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Description
The attraction of this route is that it takes the visitor through several areas of varying habitats. These include mixed woodland, permanent pasture and arable farmland. The reservoir has two small inflow streams and these areas have willows and reed fringe banks. The main body of the reservoir is always worth checking, as is the rocky dam. Thornton Reservoir is a trout fishery, with both bank fishing and boat anglers. The season runs from February to November and this obviously causes some disturbance. The reservoir has also become very popular with walkers, dog walkers, joggers and cyclists. All these activities can impact on the birding experience and likely busy times are best avoided.
A short visit can be productive as most of the reservoir is viewable from the main car park. Common species of water birds can be seen, including geese, duck, and grebes. A longer visit, involving a walk around the reservoir can present a wide range of farm and woodland species. This makes Thornton a suitable site for the novice.
In winter with less disturbance from anglers a small gull roost can develop. All of the five common gull species can be seen and Crnoglavi Galeb is annual. Wildfowl numbers can be variable. In recent years flocks of Kanadska guska and Siva Guska have taken to grazing the surrounding pasture and resting on the reservoir. Sjevernomorska guska, Crvenonoga guska and Egipatska guska have all been seen associating with these commoner species. Rarer ducks that are worth checking for include Patka Batoglavica, Patka crninka, Bijeli ronac and Veliki ronac. Alder trees are found at both inflows and these regularly have small flocks of Čižak and Lesser Redpoll. Finch flocks have been increasing in recent years as stubble is often left until the spring. Although mainly Zeba, Žuta strnadica and occasional Sjeverna Zeba are also seen.
Spring passage can produce some variety. Mala Prutka are regular on the dam, and the pasture along the east bank is worth checking for Žuta Pastirica, Sivkasta Bjeloguza and Planinski kos. Two tern rafts were installed by LROS and Crvenokljuna Čigra has bred. Both Arktička čigra and Crna Čigra are seen on passage. Mali Galeb and Troprsti galeb can occasionally be encountered. In summer the common warblers breed, although Trstenjak cvrkutić, Trstenjak Rogožar and Pjegavi Cvrčić are now less frequent. Gorska Pastirica is a regular breeder and family groups can be seen in the spillway. Common raptors such as Škanjac, Kobac and Vjetruša can give great views, and Sokol Lastavičar, Crvena lunja and Bukoč are now more regular.
Unless water levels are low there is little wader passage at Thornton. However, the dam is always worth checking and has yielded Modronoga Sabljarka, Mala Šljuka, Prugasti Pozviždač and Rđasti Žalar in recent years. Autumnal storms can deliver surprises, and Lastorepa burnica, Bluna and Bjelokrila Čigra have been recorded. Kokošica is often encountered at the Markfield inflow and the single Riđa Štijoka record was in this area.
With past records of Čapljica Voljak, Eja Livadarka, Velika čigra and Ćukavica, Thornton has produced some good county rarities. More recently Patka Njorka, Gak, Patka ledara, Čaplja Govedarica and Žličarka have been added. Grey-headed Wagtail, a Leicestershire first and Rujnica, a Leicestershire and Rutland first, have also been recorded.
Details
Access
Thornton Reservoir lies to the east of the village of Thornton. The main car park is located at SK470074. A gravel path allows visitors to walk around the reservoir, a distance of 2.7 miles. Click on the P in the map to get directions.