Herts Bird Club – making the most of local birdwatching

Welcome to the Herts Bird Club website. We promote the study and recording of birds in Hertfordshire and encourage a wider interest in natural history including the conservation of wildlife habitats.

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Latest news

Herts Christmas Bird Count 2025

Total Species : 118                  records as at 1200 1-Jan-2026
 

Wow! What a Christmas Count that turned out to be!

The period got off to a strong start on Christmas Day with a Marsh Harrier over Wilstone Reservoir, along with a Great White Egret and a Yellow-legged Gull. And the first of six Firecrest found during the count was at Northchurch.

Things really gathered pace on Boxing Day. At Wilstone Reservoir, a drake Smew was located early in the morning, followed later by two White-fronted Geese. A further 13 White-fronted Geese were then found at Willow’s Farm, Tyttenhanger, part of the recent influx. Meanwhile, the FERRUGINOUS DUCK (presumed returning bird), first reported this winter on 22 December, was seen again – the first of four Hertfordshire rarities during the period. News then broke of the second, and rarest: five TUNDRA BEAN GEESE at Tring – only the fifth county record and the first since 2011. They remained throughout the period, allowing many observers to connect. Other highlights included the Cattle Egret at Willow’s Farm (present since early December), Jack Snipe at Stanborough Gravel Pit, a Tree Sparrow at Stapleford and Goosander at Cheshunt Gravel Pits. By the end of 26 December, the total had already reached 97 species.

Winter Bird Survey WINBS

The BTO is running a Winter Bird Survey aimed at collecting important information on the numbers and distribution of the UK’s wintering birds, information which will help to inform land management approaches so they better benefit birds.

Though the dates for the first site visit are past, there is still an opportunity to take part in December through February.

Interested?
Contact martinketcher@gmail.com or sign up directly with BTO here > Winter Bird Survey | BTO

For more information on this survey plus others you can get involved in go to Herts Bird Club | Surveys and Projects

Latest Hertfordshire Bird Report

The Hertfordshire Bird Report 2024

The Hertfordshire Bird Report 2024 was published and circulated to members in November 2025. (Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society Vol 57 (2) pp. 89-168 ISSN 0375 3409)

Contents

Editorial (Clifford Smout)

Guidelines for observers - a checklist of the birds of Hertfordshire

Review of the year (Clifford Smout)

Read more

Latest HNHS publication

 

Herts Invertebrate Project

Read here about how to join this new recording initiative.

Herts Atlas of Mammals, Amphibians and Reptiles

Please submit sightings and field signs of mammals, amphibians and reptiles to our countywide survey, full details at the Herts MARA website.

Hertfordshire Bird Atlas

All the results from the most recent Atlas (2007-12) and both previous atlas surveys available here.

Bird records

Please send us your Herts bird sightings through the records submission page. Use the Breeding status dropdown where applicable and Comment field to add notes of interest.

Latest sightings of interest are published on the right hand side of this page, once they have been checked by a moderator. Search for older published records by month/site/species in Sightings Archive. 

 

See details of some great places to visit in Hertfordshire at this time of year.

Take part in our  projects and surveys.

Buy a book, most HNHS books are now for sale at half price or less.

The success of the site depends on you, the users, entering your records and sending in interesting information, not only sightings which can be entered online but also reports on trips and additional site guides. We also welcome feedback on what you would like to see on the site: email birdweb@hnhs.org

Injured or orphan birds ? advice here.

The Herts Bird Club is part of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society and our websites are integrated. We hope this will encourage those of you who have not investigated other aspects of wildlife in Hertfordshire to have a look around the HNHS website, discover what is available. Please submit your records of other wildlife, including mammals, amphibians, reptiles and dragonflies through the HNHS website.

Who's who in the Herts Bird Club.