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. Γκισάρι, Μαυροκέφαλη Πάπια, the occasional (Ευρωπαϊκή) Βουκεφάλα, Χηνοπρίστης, (Ευρασιατικό) Φερεντίνι. (Ευρωπαϊκό) Σφυριχτάρι, (Ευρασιατική) Χουλιαρόπαπια and Καπακλής 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 Νανοπρίστης 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 Μαυροβουτηχτάρι, Κοκκινοβουτηχτάρι and Χειμωνοβουτηχτάρι have all been seen in the recent past. Both (Ευρωπαϊκη) Βαλτόπαπια and Σταχτόπαπια have also recently been seen.
Waders such as (Κοινό) Μπεκατσίνι, Κουφομπεκάτσινο, Αμμοσφυριχτής, Ποταμοσφυριχτής, Δασότρυγγας, (Ευρωπαϊκός) Στρειδοφάγος and (Ευρωπαϊκή) Καλημάνα are regular depending on season. Check out the marshland on the West side of Manor Lake (press STAR on map) Ποταμογλάρονο nest on rafts on Manor Lake during the Summer, (Ευρωπαϊκό) Ψευταηδόνι are resident along with Καλαμοποταμίδα 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.

