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.

Our members share an interest in birdwatching. We get real value from your observations by co-ordinating and compiling everyone’s records to build up a comprehensive picture. This helps us understand how the county’s birds are changing over time in response to the pressures of modern life and climate change. It also lets us all share in the excitement of birdwatching.

Herts Bird Club/BTO
Annual half-day conference

Ringing the changes: an afternoon of talks marking 50 years of bird ringing in Hertfordshire

Saturday 20 March, 2-6pm
Rothamsted Research, Harpenden
Tickets £8 (reduction available for those in full-time education, etc). You can book and pay for tickets on line. See News page for programme and full details.

Website updates

The December 2009 monthly summary is now present on the publications page.

What's going on

A great shot of the Glaucous Gull found at Amwell Nature Reserve on 31 January 2010, photograph by Jan Hein van Steenis.
Firecrest by Adam Hough.

The Firecrest at Pryor's Wood, Stevenage on 3 February 2010, photograph by Adam Hough.
Firecrest by Paul Lawrence

A record shot of the Firecrest at Pryor’s Wood on 29 January 2010, photograph by Paul Lawrence.
Woodpigeon by David Sale

A partial albino Woodpigeon seen at Braughing on 24 January 2010, photograph by David Sale.
Aythya hybrid by Paul Hackett

The Aythya hybrid seen at Kings Mead on 20 January 2010, photograph by Paul Hackett.
Bittern by Nicola Knott

A Bittern at Amwell Nature Reserve on 18 January 2010, photograph by Nicola Knott.
Blackcap by Hazel Makepeace.

Blackcaps have been increasingly recorded coming to gardens, including this female at Bengeo on 17 January 2010, photograph by Hazel Makepeace.

Submit your bird sightings on the records submission page. The latest sightings of interest will be listed automatically on the right hand side of this page, once they have been checked by a moderator. After a few days records transfer to the sightings archive.

See the news page for the latest happenings in the county and stories behind the bird sightings. If you have a news story, inform

Keep up to date with the latest news from the Yahoo Herts Birding group at Hertsbirding.

Take part in local natural history events, field trips and meetings.

Visit some great places in Hertfordshire - click here to see the trip reports.

Take part in the Herts Atlas Project and other projects and surveys.

See the publications page for the latest information on The Hertfordshire Bird Report and other books and how to buy copies.

The success of the site will depend 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.

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 and you will soon be able to submit your records of other wildlife, such as dragonflies.

Eastern Chiffchaff by Andrew Moon
The Chiffchaff, showing characteristics of the eastern race Tristis, present on the Herts side of Broadwater, near South Harefield on 10 January 2010 (and still present on 14th), photograph by Andrew Moon. See more shots on the photographs page.

A cold-weather Stock Dove visited a Chiswell Green garden on 10 January 2010, photograph by Alan Gardiner.

Jack and Common Snipe by Derek Girvan
A useful comparison of the median crown-stripes of Jack and Common Snipes at East Hyde on 9 January 2010.
Starling by Paul Lawrence
Cold weather Starling at Stevenage on 9 January 2010, photograph by Paul Lawrence.
Jack Snipes by Simon West
Two of up to five Jack Snipes present at East Hyde on 7 January 2010, photograph by Simon West.

Latest sightings

Interesting recent records submitted through the website are listed here, older records are in the sightings archive.

8TH FEB: Cassiobury Park, Little Egret, near meadow bridge (Ian Bennell)
Cassiobury Park, Lesser Redpoll, by toilet block (Ian Bennell)
Cassiobury Park, Kingfisher, viewed from rustic bridge. (Ian Bennell)
East Hyde, Jack Snipe, Single by bridge on small stream (Rupert Evershed)
East Hyde, Common Snipe (Rupert Evershed)
East Hyde, Little Egret (Rupert Evershed)
Garden Wood (Tyttenhanger area), Woodcock (Steve Blake)
Hemel Hempstead, Blackcap, female in garden on feeder (Jeff Bailey)
Scotsbridge Mill Watercress Beds nr Rickmansworth, 2 Common Snipe (G Lapworth)
Scotsbridge Mill Watercress Beds nr Rickmansworth, 2 Water Rail (G Lapworth)
Scotsbridge Mill Watercress Beds nr Rickmansworth, 2 Little Egret (G Lapworth)
Scotsbridge Mill Watercress Beds nr Rickmansworth, Grey Wagtail (G Lapworth)
Stocker's Lake, 10 Goldeneye, incl 2 males (G Lapworth)
Stocker's Lake, 2 Smew, males (G Lapworth)
Tyttenhanger Farm (Tyttenhanger area), Brambling (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 6 Common Snipe (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Shelduck (Steve Blake)
Waterford, Treecreeper, in wood leading to marshes. (Nicola Knott)
Waterford Marsh, Little Egret (Nicola Knott)
Whitwell, 6 Little Egret, on watercress beds. (Robert Pedder)
Willows Farm (Tyttenhanger area), Shelduck (Steve Blake)

7TH FEB: Garston nr Watford, 13 Lesser Redpoll, small regular flock now joined by others (Andy Bright)
Hemel Hempstead, Little Egret, Grand Union Canal (Andrew Steele)
Hemel Hempstead, 30 Siskin, along Grand Union Canal (Andrew Steele)
Hemel Hempstead, 5 Lesser Redpoll, along Grand Union Canal (Andrew Steele)
Hertford, 100+ Fieldfare, over Mandeville Estate (Dave Cook)
Hilfield Park Reservoir, 8 Lesser Redpoll (Tony Blake)
Hilfield Park Reservoir, Goldeneye, female (Tony Blake)
Ickleford, 2 Water Rail (A Beale)
Ickleford, 2 Chiffchaff (A Beale)
Ickleford, Little Egret (A Beale)
Kimpton Mill, Water Rail, stream by road (Clifford Smout)
Kimpton Mill, 3 Egyptian Goose (Clifford Smout)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Little Egret, 7:20am flying west (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Redshank, Stockade Mead (Simon Knott)
Panshanger Park, Kingfisher (Drew Lyness)
Reed, 27 Corn Bunting, perched in tree 800 yards south of Hatchpen Farm at 11.45, several birds singing (Martin Shepherd)
Stocker's Farm, 2 Little Owl (Steve Pash)
Stocker's Farm, 19 Lapwing, In flooded field (Steve Pash)
Stocker's Lake, 5 Smew, 4 drakes & 1 redhead (Mark Radbourn / Steve Pash / Steve Kitchen)
Stocker's Lake, 9 Goldeneye, 4 drakes & 5 females (Mark Radbourn)
Stocker's Lake, 150+ Siskin, two groups in alders west of Kingfisher hide - also Nuthatch on feeders (Steve Kitchen)
Stocker's Lake, Red-crested Pochard, Male (Steve Pash)
Stocker's Lake, 3 Goosander, 2m 1f (Steve Pash / Mark Radbourn)
Tewin, Red Kite, over fields between Tewinbury Restaurant and Tewin Church (Mat Ridley)
Tewinbury Reserve, Cetti's Warbler, opposite hide (Drew Lyness)
Welwyn Garden City, Blackcap, male in garden (A Cooper)

6TH FEB: Brocket Park, 2 Crossbill, male and female, with female gathering nesting material (Anthony Dorman)
Broxbourne Woods - Danemead Wood, Hawfinch, at the Ermine Street entrance to Danemead Nature Reserve, seen well and singing (Laurence Drummond)
Hertford, Grey Wagtail, feeding by front door (Simon Knott)
Hertford, Grey Wagtail, around garden pond (Dave Cook)
Knebworth Golf Course, 10 Siskin, around GC with Redwings. (Paul Lawrence)
Knebworth Golf Course, 15 Redwing (Paul Lawrence)
Knebworth Golf Course, 4 Lesser Redpoll (Paul Lawrence)
Lemsford Springs, 4 Little Egret (Drew Lyness)
Lemsford Springs, Green Sandpiper (Drew Lyness)
Lemsford Springs, 10+ Siskin (Drew Lyness)
Lemsford Springs, Lesser Redpoll, with Siskins and Goldfinches (Drew Lyness)
Lemsford Springs, Water Rail (Drew Lyness)
Pryors Wood nr Stevenage, Firecrest, seen briefly at 2pm by wooden bench in holly bush with tit flock (K Widgery)
Pryors Wood nr Stevenage, Treecreeper (K Widgery)
Redbourn, Little Owl, perched on owl box for most of the day at Nicholls Farm (Peter Tallantire)
Redbourn, 16 Fieldfare, flock feeding on horse paddocks at Nicholls Fm with a few Redwings (Peter Tallantire)
St Albans, 9+ Redpoll sp., at least 3 birds appreared to be Mealy - larger, paler birds with pale rumps and heavily feathered legs. Different group to pre-winter as there were at least 3 breeding males present. (Paul Moss)
Stocker's Lake, Smew, male (G Lapworth)
Stocker's Lake, 2 Goosander, pair (G Lapworth)
Stocker's Lake, 25 Goldeneye, incl 5 males (G Lapworth)
Tyttenhanger GPs - fishing lake, 25+ Siskin (Steve Blake/Ricky Flesher)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Water Rail (Steve Blake/Ricky Flesher)
Waterford Heath GP, Little Egret, in the horse field, road side of the River Beane (Dave Cook)
Willows Farm (Tyttenhanger area), Brambling (Steve Blake/Ricky Flesher)
Willows Farm (Tyttenhanger area), c100 Linnet (Steve Blake/Ricky Flesher)

5TH FEB: Batford, Little Egret, on the nature reserve (Darin Stanley)
Cuffley, 2 Marsh Tit (Jeff Bailey)
Cuffley, 2 Treecreeper (Jeff Bailey)
Hatfield Aerodrome (disused), 2 Green Sandpiper, marshy area by airstrip, no Short-eared Owls (Luke Massey)
Hitchin, Little Egret, flying south over house (Karen Wrigley)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Redshank, Stockade Mead feeding with 9 Common Snipe (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 4 Stonechat, pair & 2 females. Third female confirms 5 birds wintering (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 12 Siskin, Little Mead (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 2 Egyptian Goose, pair flying west at 9:50am (Simon Knott)
Oxhey, 4 Skylark, at Brightwells Farm, first singing of year (Joan Thompson)
Oxhey, Lesser Redpoll, Oxhey Hall garden (Joan Thompson)
Pryors Wood nr Stevenage, Firecrest, seen on two occasions near wooden bench (Alan Ford / Paul Thrush)
Pryors Wood nr Stevenage, Treecreeper (Paul Thrush)
Pryors Wood nr Stevenage, 2 Marsh Tit, same area as the Firecrest (Paul Thrush)
Redbourn, Blackcap, male in garden (Ernest Leahy)
Scotsbridge Mill Watercress Beds nr Rickmansworth, 2 Common Snipe (G Lapworth)
Scotsbridge Mill Watercress Beds nr Rickmansworth, 2 Little Egret (G Lapworth)
Scotsbridge Mill Watercress Beds nr Rickmansworth, Treecreeper (G Lapworth)
Stocker's Lake, 2 Goosander, Pair (Anna Marett)
Stocker's Lake, 9 Goldeneye, 5 males (Anna Marett)
Stocker's Lake, Smew, Male (Anna Marett)
Stocker's Lake, 2 Smew, males (G Lapworth)
Stocker's Lake, 150 Siskin (G Lapworth)
Turnford Lakes (Cheshunt GPs), 23 Goosander, On Ashley pit (David Booth)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Water Rail (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Egyptian Goose (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Shelduck (Steve Blake)
Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross, Little Owl (G Lapworth)

2007 Bird Report now available

The 2007 Bird Report was mailed to all members of the Herts Bird Club and Natural History Society on 28 September. Click here to buy a copy and see the contents list.

Site update