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Descrição
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 Gaivota-de-cabeça-preta is annual. Wildfowl numbers can be variable. In recent years flocks of Ganso do Canadá and Ganso-comum have taken to grazing the surrounding pasture and resting on the reservoir. Ganso-de-faces-brancas, Ganso-de-bico-curto and Ganso do Egipto have all been seen associating with these commoner species. Rarer ducks that are worth checking for include Pato-olho-d'ouro, Zarro-bastardo, Merganso-pequeno and Merganso-grande. Alder trees are found at both inflows and these regularly have small flocks of Lugre and pintarroxo-pequeno. Finch flocks have been increasing in recent years as stubble is often left until the spring. Although mainly Tentilhão-comum, Escrevedeira-amarela and occasional Tentilhão-montês are also seen.
Spring passage can produce some variety. Maçarico-das-rochas are regular on the dam, and the pasture along the east bank is worth checking for alvéola-amarela, Chasco-cinzento and Melro-de-peito-branco. Two tern rafts were installed by LROS and Andorinha-do-mar-comum has bred. Both Andorinha-do-mar-árctica and Gaivina-preta are seen on passage. Gaivota-pequena and Gaivota-tridáctila can occasionally be encountered. In summer the common warblers breed, although rouxinol-dos-caniços, Felosa-dos-juncos and Felosa-malhada are now less frequent. Alvéola-cinzenta is a regular breeder and family groups can be seen in the spillway. Common raptors such as Águia-d'asa-redonda, Gavião da Europa and peneireiro-de-dorso-malhado / peneireiro can give great views, and Ógea, Milhafre-real and Águia-pesqueira 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 Alfaiate, Narceja-galega, Maçarico-galego and Seixoeira in recent years. Autumnal storms can deliver surprises, and Painho-de-cauda-forcada, Ganso-patola and Gaivina-d'asa-branca have been recorded. Frango-d'água is often encountered at the Markfield inflow and the single Franga-d'água-grande record was in this area.
With past records of Garça-pequena, Tartaranhão-caçador, Gaivina-de-bico-vermelho and Alcaravão, Thornton has produced some good county rarities. More recently Zarro-castanho, Socó-taquari, Pato-de-cauda-afilada, Garca-vaqueira and Colhereiro have been added. Grey-headed Wagtail, a Leicestershire first and Pintarroxo-carmíneo, a Leicestershire and Rutland first, have also been recorded.
Detalhes
Acesso
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.