30 APRIL/1 MAY 2026 - THORLEY QUARRY and THORLEY WASH, HERTS

30 APRIL 2026

I was persuaded by reports of a huge movement of waders on 29 April in East Anglia, to make a return visit to Thorley Quarry; and it certainly paid off.

I arrived at the site around 10.00 hrs and straight away was greeted by the sight of a Red Kite and Eurasian Buzzard circling over the lake. But as I approached over the brow of a stony hillock (created during the recent gravel excavations, now completed) the alarm calls of a Greenshank echoed out, and as I scanned the lake two Greenshank took to flight, landing on the opposite bank.

Then, as I began walking (slowly) around the perimeter of the lake, I disturbed a Common Sandpiper (a bird I’d not seen locally since 2005) which also flew to the opposite bank, where it was joined by a second. And then the call of a Green Sandpiper rang out (a bird I hadn’t seen locally since 2017) and I was just in time to see the bird fly to a slightly different area of the lake, but still on the opposite bank. Wow I thought, this was amazing.

Meanwhile a Little Ringed Plover was seen on the near bank, quite content to stay put, despite my presence, although I was conscious of the need to be cautious, given that there could well be a nest in the vicinity.

I tried to get closer views of the Greenshanks, but it was difficult to follow the birds as most of the time I was looking into the sun, and anyway I didn’t want to disturb them unduly; so, I left the site content at what I’d observed here. I also saw a party of six Common Swifts, and three Barn Swallows that were new to me for the year locally.

I went on to Southern Country Park nearby, where I heard the rattling song of a male Lesser Whitethroat (although I didn’t see the bird) and a Sedge Warbler singing in the reedbed at the northern end of the lake, although once again the bird remained unseen.

1 MAY 2026

I returned to the quarry around 0830 hrs the following day, being persuaded by Stephen Patmore (who’d alerted us to the large movement of waders in East Anglia) to get there earlier in the event new waders had called in. The two Greenshanks were still present (although still quite flighty), but no other waders were present except for a lone Little Ringed Plover.

From there I made my way on to Thorley Wash along the River Stort Navigation. On the towpath which runs along the Walbury Estate, I heard two separate male Reed Warblers singing strongly from the phragmites on either side of the path within fifty metres of each other, but neither revealed themselves, I assumed because there was relatively frequent human activity along the towpath here. But I did have particularly good views (albeit rather brief) of a male Cetti’s Warbler in the scrubby reedbed, a bird that is usually stubbornly secretive, despite its forcefully loud call. Indeed, along the entire towpath and on the reserve itself at least five different male Cetti’s were heard, which was encouraging.

I had hoped to catch up with the Cuckoo I’d heard from Thorley Quarry, but although the bird was certainly present in the area, it was calling from quite a distance away; and it wasn’t until later in the morning, that I came close to seeing the bird in the trees above my head; but it just wasn’t to be, and I had to be content with hearing its familiar springtime call.

I was surprised too that there was absolutely no evidence of the presence of Sedge Warblers, since none was heard or even seen that morning, which I confess was slightly worrying; although Common Whitethroats certainly were making their presence felt, despite arguably in less numbers than previous years.

At the northern end of the reserve, I found a juvenile Eurasian Jay, which was not a bird I see often here.

As I was about to exit the reserve to make my way north up to Twyford Lock, I recorded at least three male Banded Demoiselle Damselflies (my first of the year) and a male Large Red Damselfly, as well as several Orange-tip and Small White butterflies.

At Twyford Lock I stopped awhile on a lock-side bench talking to a couple of cyclists when I noticed a male Grey Wagtail carrying food, which mean that the birds had a nest somewhere nearby - traditionally in recent years, in the lock gates - and indeed, the bird made its way to the said gates where it dropped down to where the nest was situated actually within the gates itself, although it was completely hidden from view. The female soon followed carrying the body of a large species of dragonfly (more likely a Hairy dragonfly, minus its wings - being the only large species on the wing at this time of the year). I hung around watching the birds bring in more food and was able to take a few photographs of this attractive Wagtail.

Further along the river, almost opposite the entrance to Rushy Mead Reserve, I rested again on a riverside bench and heard the call of a Common Tern (which are seen occasionally this far up the Stort Navigation) and saw the bird flying over one of the lakes privately owned and operated as an angling club. This was very encouraging as I had no records of the species anywhere along the Stort in 2025.

RED KITE

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER

MUTE  SWAN

BANDED DEMOISELLE DAMSELFLY (M)

CARRION CROW

MARSH MARIGOLD

GREY WAGTAIL

COMMON TERN