The 2011 Herts Bird Report is nearing the layout stage, so if any photographers have good quality shots of birds taken in Hertfordshire during that year (that you have not already submitted) please send them to Jack Fearnside for possible inclusion in the report.
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.
2012 Bird Records: please send in your Herts bird records for 2012 – either through the website or by using our data entry sheet so that the records are in a format to go straight into the database – details
Herts Bird Club subscriptions for 2013 are now due – subs are only £12 per year – so please support the work of the Club and contribute towards the costs. You can pay on-line
Diary of events – field trips, walks, meetings – organised by local groups – details here.
The Hertfordshire Bird Report 2010 is now available. As ever it is full of information and photographs of our Herts birds. For more details or to buy a copy details here. You can now order and pay with your debit/credit card on line via PayPal.
Please send us your Herts bird sightings through 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.
The Herts Gazeteer lists site names and grid references for bird recording.
See the news pages for the latest happenings in the county and stories behind the bird sightings. If you have a news story, let Alan Gardiner know by email.
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.
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.
Please send us your Herts bird photos for display in our photo gallery and Facebook page, Please email them to with a note of where and when they were taken. A selection will be added to the gallery. We may also use some on this page and to illustrate the annual Herts Bird Report. Many more photographs, in our gallery.
Turnstone at Amwell NR on 22 May 2013, photograph by Jason Ward.
Turnstone at Amwell NR on 22 May 2013, photograph by Simon Knott.
Yellowhammer near Piccotts End on 19 May 2013, photograph by Dan Forder.
Cuckoo being mobbed by a Robin at Amwell NR on 19 May 2013, photograph by Yves Gisseleire.
Stock Dove at Amwell NR on 18 May 2013, photograph by Alan Reynolds.
Wood Sandpiper at Amwell NR on 18 May 2013, photograph by Jason Ward.
Osprey near Wheathamstead on 17 May 2013, photograph by Lucy Flower.
Cuckoo in a Park Street garden on 17 May 2013, photograph by Steve Shand.
Buzzard over Kings Langley on 2 May 2013, photograph by David Whitehouse.
Redshank at Amwell NR on 13 May 2013, photograph by Alan Reynolds.
Interesting recent records submitted through the website are listed here,
older records are in the sightings archive.
23RD MAY: Bengeo (Hertford), Red Kite (John Hawkins)
Chipperfield, Hobby (Ian Bennell)
Coopers Green Lane nr St Albans, 3 Mandarin, Sutton Farm GP, all male (Robin Pearson)
Hitchin, Red Kite (Callum Peel)
St Albans, Red Kite (Steve Shand)
Standon, Cuckoo, male (Dr Richard Melarange)
Standon, 2 Red Kite, one was carrying a right wing tag (red). (Dr Richard Melarange)
Standon Lordship, Kingfisher, along river towards Standon. (Dr Richard Melarange)
Watford, Peregrine Falcon, over KGV playing fields (Ian Bennell)
22ND MAY: Amwell NR - Bittern Pool, Cetti's Warbler (Maureen Lead)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 2 Wigeon, males (Jay Ward)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Turnstone, from watch point early afternoon (Bill Last / Jay Ward)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Marsh Harrier, female flew South (Ron Cousins)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Hobby (Jay Ward)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Common Sandpiper (Jay Ward)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 3 Little Ringed Plover (Jay Ward)
Fir & Pond Woods nr Potters Bar, Spotted Flycatcher, singing male (Robert Callf)
Hatfield Garden Village, Yellow Wagtail (Ian Taylor)
Heartwood Forest - Hillend Farm, 3 Corn Bunting, singing males (Ken & Linda Smith)
Marsworth Res (Tring Reservoirs), c20 Swift (L. Flower)
Rye Meads nr Hoddesdon, Hobby, over the reedbed next to the river. (Stuart Harrison)
Rye Meads nr Hoddesdon, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Draper hide (Stuart Harrison)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Red-crested Pochard, Pair (L. Flower)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), Grey Wagtail (L. Flower)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), Hobby (L. Flower)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), c60 Swift (L. Flower)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Redshank (L. Flower)
Stocker's Farm, 2 Egyptian Goose, with 8 goslings (Andrew Moon)
Stocker's Farm, Little Egret (Andrew Moon)
Tringford Res (Tring Reservoirs), Kingfisher (L. Flower)
Tringford Res (Tring Reservoirs), c20 Swift (L. Flower)
Tringford Res (Tring Reservoirs), Hobby (L. Flower)
Tyttenhanger GPs - fishing lake, Oystercatcher (Alan Gardiner)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Little Ringed Plover (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Red Kite (Alan Gardiner)
Weston, Hobby, Between Weston and Letchworth Gate (Clive Brackenbury)
21ST MAY: Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 2 Wigeon, males (Jay Ward)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Common Sandpiper (Jay Ward)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 2 Little Ringed Plover (Jay Ward)
Amwell NR - Hollycross Lake, Marsh Tit (Jay Ward)
Cassiobury Park, 2 Little Owl, Calling near bowls club. (Ian Bennell)
Redbournbury, 2 Yellow Wagtail, pair in fields opposite mill (Robin Pearson)
Troy Mill Lake nr Maple Cross, 2 Goldeneye, pair (Paul Lewis)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Red Kite (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Yellow Wagtail (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Dunlin (Steve Blake)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 8 Hobby (Frank Manfield)
20TH MAY: Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Little Ringed Plover (Steve Akrill)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 4 Redshank (Steve Akrill)
Cassiobury Park, Yellow Wagtail, flew SE at 9.30am (Ian Bennell)
Little Wymondley nr Stevenage, Red Kite (Clive Brackenbury)
Marsworth Res (Tring Reservoirs), Cetti's Warbler (G.Hinton)
Shafford Farm nr St Albans, Cuckoo (John Pritchard)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 40+ Swift (G.Hinton)
Tringford Res (Tring Reservoirs), Grey Wagtail (G.Hinton)
Tringford Res (Tring Reservoirs), Hobby (G.Hinton)
Tringford Res (Tring Reservoirs), Kingfisher (G.Hinton)
Tringford Res (Tring Reservoirs), 25+ Swift (G.Hinton)
Tyttenhanger GPs (exact GP not specified), Grey Wagtail, outside fishing lake entrance in works (David Booth)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Little Ringed Plover (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Sanderling (Steve Blake)
Watford, Peregrine Falcon, circling over town centre before dropping onto the roof of YMCA (Ian Bennell)
19TH MAY: Amwell NR - Hollycross Lake, 2 Hobby (David Booth)
Amwell NR - Hollycross Lake, Cuckoo (David Booth)
Chiswell Green nr St Albans, Red Kite (Alan Gardiner)
Coleman Green nr Wheathampstead, Cuckoo, heard at 10 am (Ernest Leahy)
Croxley Common Moor, Cuckoo, calling (Hilary Weston)
Hitchin, c10 Swift (Callum Peel)
How Wood nr Bricket Wood, Red Kite (Alan Gardiner)
Jersey Farm (St Albans), Siskin, on garden feeders (Anthony Townsend)
London Colney, Red Kite (Alan Gardiner)
Maple Cross, 6 Swift (Chris Bessant)
Marshalswick (St Albans), Red Kite (Anthony Townsend)
Marsworth Res (Tring Reservoirs), Cetti's Warbler, singing (Mike Wallen/Ted Wallen)
Marsworth Res (Tring Reservoirs), Osprey, flew thhrough to the south. Subsequently seen by other observers ( Including I.Williams ) going through Wilstone Res. (Mike Wallen/Ted Wallen)
Marsworth Res (Tring Reservoirs), c180 Swift (Mike Wallen/Ted Wallen)
Rye Meads nr Hoddesdon, Marsh Harrier, female seen from Warbler Hide flying low over reedbed (Maureen Lead)
Rye Meads nr Hoddesdon, 2 Hobby (Maureen Lead)
Tewinbury Reserve, Grasshopper Warbler, heard reeling (Oliver Marshall)
Tringford Res (Tring Reservoirs), 4 Hobby (L. Flower)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Little Ringed Plover (Alan Gardiner)
Watton at Stone, 3 Red Kite, 2 adults & young (Ray Hooper)
Watton at Stone, Red Kite, over garden at Blue Hill. (Nigel Denison)
Weston, 2 Red Kite (Frances Hurst)
18TH MAY: Aldenham, 12 Ring-necked Parakeet, at Queens Bushey School ground (S Warrington)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Greenshank (Jane Free)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 3 Redshank (Lee G R Evans)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Wood Sandpiper, from watch point (Jay Ward)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Cuckoo (Lee G R Evans)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Cetti's Warbler (Lee G R Evans)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 2 Shelduck (Jane Free)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 100 Swift (Lee G R Evans)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Little Ringed Plover, single male (Lee G R Evans)
Braughing, Cuckoo, calling in wood near Upp Hall (Paula Moore)
Coopers Green Lane nr St Albans, Hobby, Sutton Farm GP early afternoon (Steven Pearce)
Croxley Common Moor, Cuckoo (Geoff Lapworth)
Flamstead village, Siskin (Connor McGrath)
Hertingfordbury, Cuckoo, calling (David Wheatcroft)
Hertingfordbury, Grey Wagtail, by Mimram (David Wheatcroft)
Panshanger Park, Hobby (Mark Waite)
Panshanger Park, Little Owl (Mark Waite)
Redbourn, Yellow Wagtail, at Nicholls Fm (Peter Tallantire)
Rickmansworth, 2 Grey Wagtail, pair (Anna Marett)
Shafford Farm nr St Albans, Spotted Flycatcher (John Pritchard)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Grey Wagtail (Callum Peel)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Red-crested Pochard (Callum Peel)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), c120 Swift (Callum Peel)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 3 Hobby (Callum Peel)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), Kingfisher, Grand Union Canal (Callum Peel)
Tringford Res (Tring Reservoirs), 8 Hobby (Callum Peel)
Tringford Res (Tring Reservoirs), Kingfisher (Callum Peel)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Oystercatcher (Steven Pearce)
Watford Link Road, Grey Wagtail (Hilary Weston)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), c60 Swift (Callum Peel)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Red Kite (Callum Peel)
17TH MAY: Bengeo (Hertford), Hobby, River Beane (Simon Knott)
Coopers Green GP nr St Albans, 3 Mandarin, Sutton Farm GP - males (David Wheatcroft)
Coopers Green GP nr St Albans, 2 Hobby, Sutton Farm GP (David Wheatcroft)
Gosmore Hill nr Hitchin, 70 Corn Bunting, large flock settled in bushes at Madencroft Manor before flying off south. (Clive Harding)
Hatfield Aerodrome (disused), Cuckoo (David Wheatcroft)
Hatfield Aerodrome (disused), Mandarin, Male (David Wheatcroft)
Jersey Farm (St Albans), c20 Swift (Jenny Sherwen)
Panshanger Aerodrome, Little Owl (Keith Smith)
Park Street nr St Albans, Cuckoo (Steve Shand)
Rye Meads nr Hoddesdon, Hobby (Maureen Lead)
Stocker's Farm, Little Owl (Paul Lewis)
Stocker's Lake, 2 Red-crested Pochard, pair with 3 young (Geoff Lapworth)
Stocker's Lake, Cetti's Warbler, singing (Paul Lewis)
Stocker's Lake, 2 Hobby (Geoff Lapworth)
Stocker's Lake, 2 Oystercatcher (Geoff Lapworth)
Tyttenhanger Farm (Tyttenhanger area), Hobby (Alan Gardiner)
Tyttenhanger GPs (exact GP not specified), 2 Yellow Wagtail (Steven Pearce)
Tyttenhanger GPs (exact GP not specified), Little Owl, near Willow's Farm in rough,overgrown area where old tyres dumped (Steven Pearce)
Tyttenhanger GPs - Willows Farm Lake, 2 Oystercatcher, on fishing lake (Ernest Leahy)
Waterend nr Wheathampstead, Spotted Flycatcher, by Osprey location (Darin Stanley)
Waterend nr Wheathampstead, Osprey, present again 19:45 to 20:40 then flew SW. Wearing dark blue darvic ring inscribed FW (D Booth / L Flower)
Waterend nr Wheathampstead, Osprey, perched near path 300m west of ford, at TL 199140 (Clifford Smout)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 6 Hobby (Jeff Bailey)
16TH MAY: Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Red Kite (Terry Smith)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 3 Hobby, feeding over the lake (Terry Smith)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Common Sandpiper (Terry Smith)
Bygrave, 5 Corn Bunting (Lee G R Evans)
Bygrave, 8 Yellow Wagtail (Lee G R Evans)
Coopers Green Lane nr St Albans, 3 Mandarin, Sutton Farm GP (Alan Gardiner)
Coopers Green Lane nr St Albans, Hobby, Sutton Farm GP (Alan Gardiner)
Fairlands Valley Park (Stevenage), c20 Swift (Tom Speller)
Fir & Pond Woods nr Potters Bar, Spotted Flycatcher (Robert Callf)
Hampermill Lake nr Watford, Kingfisher (Joan Thompson)
Hampermill Lake nr Watford, Grey Wagtail (Joan Thompson)
Hilfield Park Reservoir, Water Rail (Derek Turner)
Hilfield Park Reservoir, 2 Red Kite (Derek Turner)
Hilfield Park Reservoir, Hobby (Derek Turner)
Hilfield Park Reservoir, c200 Swift, over high (Derek Turner)
Hitchin, c15 Swift, over Ashbrook Farm (Callum Peel)
Jersey Farm (St Albans), Cuckoo, Heard only (Anthony Townsend)
Marsworth Res (Tring Reservoirs), Cuckoo, calling from the far side of the resevoir to the causeway. (Richard Czapski)
Rye Meads nr Hoddesdon, 9 Hobby, feeding together over meadows (Toby Spall)
Stocker's Farm, Little Ringed Plover (Mark Skelton)
Thorley Wash nr Bishop's Stortford, Cuckoo, heard only (Jenny Sherwen)
Tring, Peregrine Falcon, male flying through back garden (J Taylor)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Oystercatcher (Chris Hoggan)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 6 Hobby, over reed-beds (Chris Hoggan)
2010 Hertfordshire Bird Report – now available
The 2010 Bird Report was mailed to all members of the Herts Bird Club and Natural History Society on 29 October 2012. Copies are available to buy for £10, post free, you can now order on line and pay with your debit or credit card. Click here to buy a copy and see the contents list.
Why not join us?
Herts Bird Club membership only costs £1 a month, less than buying a cup of coffee. Support the Bird Club and take a full part in our activities, your yearly subscription entitles you to a free copy of the annual Herts Bird Report and also contributes to the costs of running the website and the Club's activities. How to join.
Volunteers wanted for new Herts woodlands birds survey – 
2012 Bird Records: please send in your Herts bird records for 2012 – either through the website or by using our data entry sheet so that the records are in a format to go straight into the database – 
Herts Bird Club subscriptions for 2013 are now due – subs are only £12 per year – so please support the work of the Club and contribute towards the costs. 
The Hertfordshire Bird Report 2010 is now available. As ever it is full of information and photographs of our Herts birds. For more details or to buy a copy 
