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Enjoy a nature walk taking in scenic sights of the Stort Navigation in East Hertfordshire




Nature Notes columnist Jono Forgham covers your fortnightly look at nature around Bishop’s Stortford

Sometimes things just don’t go to plan when weather and nature have to be counted upon. Last week was such an example.

I set off from Spellbrook Locks on Monday and managed to get to the first meander in the Stort Navigation when the heavens opened and I was scuttling back to Spellbrook Lane and the car. I had seen almost nothing to write about.

White-lipped snail
White-lipped snail

I returned Tuesday. The forecast was not good, but the rain had not materialised so off I set. This time I managed to get as far as Tednambury Locks before the sky turned grey, the breeze picked up and I instinctively turned back again, receiving a shower before I arrived back in the lane.

Consequently I set off somewhat warily early on Wednesday. The sky was grey, but the clouds were high and fast moving. It looked like a feasible expedition, so I picked up the towpath at the locks. Here, a flock of long-tailed tits flicked through a willow and a great spotted woodpecker called. I turned to find him tapping dead bark. The red on the back of the neck indicated male.

Mallards, moorhens and a family party of mute swans were also on the water. More birds than I had observed on the previous two days put together. A female mallard headed towards me, anticipating food, but moved on promptly when it was apparent that I had none.

Mute swans
Mute swans

My plan was to take the towpath to Sawbridgeworth and back. I had my bird lens on for the outward journey and thought it would be useful to have my macro lens for insects upon the return trip. This plan actually worked, apart from the fact I missed photos of an overhead raven as I was near the railway bridge at Kecksey’s Farm.

After a few meanders I came across a sign: “Kitten on towpath.” Sadly there wasn’t, but I was impressed with the gardening skills of the owner of the kitten and the narrowboat. Not only were there plants such as dahlias and cosmos in pots upon the roof of the vessel, but in tow was a small dinghy, named Julie, that had been turned into a greenhouse. Here, varieties of tomatoes were still ripening behind the glass. Excellent to witness.

Over on the far side, a female kestrel sat on a telegraph pole. She was the first of at least three that I recorded during the wander. Chiffchaffs called their autumnal call, “hwheat hwheat”, which I had hoped to encounter. One of the reasons I had chosen this route was that many migratory birds use geographical features to aid migration. Rivers are particularly useful to warbler species, whilst birds that breed in uplands, such as wheatears, ring ouzels and whinchats, tend to favour higher ground. These species are annual west of Little Hadham and north of Hadham Hall. Over the years, I have found all three of these species at Ash Valley Golf Club.

I crossed the footbridge by the entrance to the marina and noticed a bird in a hawthorn bush that didn’t look right. A glimpse through my binoculars showed it to be a male blackbird that was caught up in fishing line. Its left wing was entangled and it sporadically flapped and wriggled in an attempt to free itself. Sadly there was nothing I could do to help the poor bird, but, fortunately, a narrowboat came along and the boater was able to free the bird.

Stonechat
Stonechat

As I arrived at Tednambury Locks, a stonechat popped up on the opposite bank. Always a good bird to see. By now, a weak sun was shining and there was even a glimpse of blue sky.

I continued, checking the masses of alder trees on the far bank. Chiffchaffs called again, a green woodpecker yaffled and several jays flew into large oaks. A few stands of Indian (or Himalayan) balsam were noted along the bank. Work parties have been out this summer knocking this invasive, non-native plant back, so it was good to not see too much.

The sun created some autumnal-coloured reflections upon the surface of the water as I watched another female kestrel hovering. In front were two species of dragonfly, encouraged by the warmth to be on the wing. A red-bodied common darter and the larger and blue-bodied migrant hawker. These were soon joined by a very delicate looking willow emerald damselfly. Maybe my last sighting of these this year if we get a hard frost in the next fortnight.

Female kestrel
Female kestrel

I chatted to a boater who was approaching the railway bridge. The water level was so high here that the towpath was underwater and it was clear that the boat was not going to get under the bridge. He reversed and will have to wait until levels subside before heading on to Sawbridgeworth. Plenty of moorhens along this stretch, regularly commuting from one bank to the other before darting into the riverside vegetation.

There were plenty of boats moored along the stretch from the bridge to Sawbridgeworth Locks, which is where I took a break, changed lenses on the camera and set off back towards Spellbrook.

Greenhouse boat
Greenhouse boat

I checked hedgerows and tree leaves for insects and came across plenty to keep me occupied. A long-legged spider was constructing a flimsy web. This was a Tetragnatha species, probably Tetragnatha extensa, but impossible to be sure without a microscopic inspection of the arachnid. Another spider, Pisaura mirabilis, sat upon the top of a leaf, waiting for an insect to land nearby. This was a small youngster, about half full-grown size.

Young Pisaura mirabilis spider
Young Pisaura mirabilis spider

The Stort backwater was still raging as I crossed another footbridge, this one splendidly painted in a fine array of colours. With this run off, the water level should drop relatively rapidly. On a low branch over the backwater, a kingfisher posed. Not any chance of fishing in this torrent and I suspect just sitting it out until things calmed down. He would be unable to fish in the Stort Navigation also due to the colour and speed of flow.

Male chironomid midge species
Male chironomid midge species

Soon I was back at Tednambury and the sky was darkening as a pair of grey herons headed towards Gaston Green. I checked the leaves of blackthorn. Here, a small chironomid midge, a male showing very heavily feathered antennae. A little further along the hedge, a fly species was roosting. A Calliphora vicina, one of the bluebottle species. Nearby, a third insect; a Nabis limbatus, or marsh damsel bug.

Calliphora vicina
Calliphora vicina

The greying sky meant I opted for some flash photography for all three of these finds before I looked towards the handrail of the footbridge where I hoped to find a roosting dragonfly or damselfly. Instead, a better find; a tiny jumping spider, Salticus scenicus, or the common zebra spider. A fast-moving creature, able to hold on the polished metal whilst walking on the underneath of the rail. I encouraged it back to the top for a photo before it sprang off, not to be seen again.

Migrant hawker
Migrant hawker

By now I was back at the greenhouse boat and still no sign of any kitten, but I did check the now dried seed heads of hogweed that was still upright along the fence line. On a stem, a medium-sized snail species; Cepaea hortensis, the white-lipped snail. Not sure what nourishment it was gleaning from the dead and dry stem, but it appeared to be in fine fettle as it slowly slid upwards.

Male kingfisher
Male kingfisher

The first raindrops fell, so I put lens caps on both binoculars and camera lens, pulled my hat down and rounded the final meanders before arriving back in Spellbrook Lane. I had just got into the car when the rain came down more seriously. I would have got very wet if still on the towpath.

Male great spotted woodpecker
Male great spotted woodpecker

This five-mile-there-and-back wander takes in some of the most scenic sights along the Stort Navigation and, with over 30 bird species noted, certainly well worth a weekend ramble. On this occasion I didn’t venture all the way to my usual destination of The Shed coffee house in The Maltings near Sawbo railway station, but I can highly recommend their sausage sandwiches for those who do add the extra half mile to this lovely wander.



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