18 MARCH 2026 – A WALK ALONG THE RIVER STORT

It was rather an ambitious plan - to walk along the Stort from my home in Bishop’s Stortford, down to Twyford Lock (taking in Rushy Mead Reserve), then down along the towpath to Thorley Wash Reserve, then continue to Spellbrook, then back along the highway and take the public footpath up to St. James’ Church and back home via Southern Country Park. I took a packed lunch and water rations, as I knew I’d be out most of the day if things worked out.

It was a beautiful, cloudless, warm and sunny morning, with temperatures set to rise to around 18 degrees C or more. My aim in terms of wildlife was to attempt to see Chiffchaff; Blackcap; Grey Wagtail along the Stort and add Skylark around the farmland at the rear of St. James’ Church. But my plans were scuppered when I reached Thorley Wash because the towpath from there down to Spellbrook was still extremely muddy and almost impassible in places, with the alternative route across the railway line on the northern periphery of Thorley Wash Reserve not available to me because I couldn’t climb the style (I didn’t want to risk putting undue weight on my knees, which had been a tad troublesome of late).

Things started so well, with a sighting of a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a singing male Chiffchaff at Southmill Lock, and two singing male Chiffs at Rushy Mead Reserve (though I failed to see any of them), and a sighting of a Green Woodpecker (previously only heard) there too. Further along the Stort at Twyford Lock, I was delighted to see a pair of Grey Wagtails (which usually breed here, but I believe failed to do so last year).

Along the towpath towards Thorley Wash, two Great Cormorants were perched high on a Larch, then further along, three Eurasian Buzzards and a Red Kite, and a single Stock Dove. There were at least six singing male Chiffchaffs along that part of the towpath, although I only managed to see just two of them;  but disappointingly, there was no sign or song of a Blackcap.  I had a quick look on the Reserve, but no sightings of any Water Voles at the usual place. I’d lost count of the numbers of Brimstone Butterflies (of both sexes) I’d seen along the towpath; with several, Peacock Butterflies, and many bumblebees, and a bee-fly too; but little else of note.

Due to time constraints, I decided it probably wasn’t worth taking the circular walk around the northern sector. So I turned back with the intention of walking down along the towpath to Spellbrook, which was when I discovered that the route was still extremely muddy - a couple of walkers I met stated it was almost impassible in places - and therefore really quite dangerous for me to attempt, given that I’m still using a Nordic pole as support whilst waiting for hip replacement surgery. It was just after midday at that stage, so as I wasn’t getting to St. James’ Church and possible Skylarks by either of my intended routes, I decided to call it a day and return home (I hadn’t even thought about eating my lunch, which I did when I got back to Twyford Lock!).

I hadn’t gone far when I noticed a pair of Mute Swans on the river, and they appeared to be behaving like they were about to begin the mating ritual, as they were rubbing heads together in an intimate manner. I’d seen this sort of behaviour before, so I knew what to expect, so I refrained from proceeding further for fear of disturbing them. I even asked a walker to hold back awhile. I  attempted to demonstrate (with hand gestures) how the birds would rise up out of the water and link necks in a sort of heart-shape, before the pen (the female) drops to the water level, with the cob (the male) on her back, then - with the female submerged - the male mates and takes her by the neck as if attempting to drown her. But suddenly as predicted, the birds were in full mating ritual, and I very nearly missed photographing any of it, managing only the one shot. But it was an amazing spectacle, balletic and intimate, and even quite moving too. It was the first time I’d seen this behaviour with Swans at Thorley Wash, so I felt quite privileged.

On the way back I saw a single Rose-ringed Parakeet, which now seem to be an annual occurrence at Thorley Wash.

There were lots of wildflowers along the towpath, such as Greater Celandine, Dog Violets, early Cowslips, and even a few flowering Bluebells. So, all in all an interesting walk - with the mating of Mute Swans being the undoubted highlight. 

SPRING ALONG THE STORT

THE 'FORTRESS' - A FALLEN BEECH, COVERED IN MOSS