Thorley Wash Reserve visit

A wander around Thorley Wash was most productive this morning. As I approached from Spellbrook Locks, a cetti's warbler called. In all the years I have birded this area, beginning over 10 years ago, this was a first for this species for me. Also in the Wallbury "swamp" a blackcap, great spotted woodpecker, first of several whitethroats and a kestrel overhead. As I crossed the bridge 2 stock doves shot across the River Stort whilst out on the reserve a few reed buntings and a chiffchaff could be heard. More whitethroats and blackcaps called, along with blue, great and long tailed tits.
On the path heading towards the railway, a cuckoo was first heard and then briefly seen, some 50 yards from the red bridge. A year tick for me, as was a sedge warbler that called nearby. A cormorant overhead was noted to land in the Wallbury area, joining one already perched.
Weather remained very blustery throughout, with most birds content to sit out the breeze in the middle of the willows and, consequently, not too much was seen well enough for photographs. The cormorant pair shown here.
Finally, as I came to the level crossing at Spellbrook, 4 house martins winged their way northwards, another first for the year.
A quick check on old record shows that the cetti's warbler is species number 102 for this patch for me. The area covered on a daily basis between 2005 - 2007 was Thorley Wash and the towpath from Twyford Locks in to Spellbrook Locks in the south.