Herts Bird Club – making the most of local birdwatching
A record shot of the 1st winter Caspian Gull in the roost at Amwell NR on 30 January 2012, the image is a screenshot of a piece of video by Barry Reed.
Photographers: Help the Society this winter by taking pictures which could be used for Christmas cards next year. Sale of cards helps to raise funds and keep costs down for members. If you have any suitable shots, please send them by email to . Pictures for the website should still go to For more pictures of birds seen in Hertfordshire, click here.
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.
Herts Bird Club/BTO conference Saturday 24 March at Rothamsted Research, Harpenden - make a note of the date, details will follow.
Photographs - a few more photographs have been added to the gallery section on the 28 January.
Hertfordshire Bird Report 2009 is now published - copies were posted to all HNHS and Herts Bird Club members on 14 November. Want to buy a copy? details here
Diary of events – field trips, walks, meetings – details here.
Hertfordshire Breeding Bird Atlas – see all the latest results on the Hertfordshire Bird Atlas webpage.
Monthly summary – The October and November 2011 summary is now available as a news item.
Take a look at the Atlas website, to see all the results Field work for the winter season will start in November - watch this space for news.
Bird Records
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.
Taken a good photograph?
Please send us your Herts bird photos for display in our Photo Gallery, Please email them to Alan Gardiner at 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 our annual Herts Bird Report.
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
Yahoo Herts Birding group: keep up to date with the latest news from the group at Hertsbirding.
See the publications pages for the latest information on The Hertfordshire Bird Report and all the books published by HNHS and how to buy copies. Most HNHS books 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.
Marsh Tit at Benington on 28 January 2012, photo by Kathy Sharman. Great Spotted Wodpecker in a Frogmore garden on 26 January 2012, photo by Steve Shand. Long staying Snow Bunting at Startop's End reservoir on 23 January 2012, photo by Alan Reynolds. A pair of Wigeon at King's Meads on the 22 January 2012, photo by Simon Knott. Cormorant at the Aquadrome, Rickmansworth on the 17 January 2012, photo by Simone Vadera. Lesser Redpoll in a Hertford garden on 17 January 2012, photo by Simon Knott. Water Rail at Croxley Common Moor on 15 January 2012, photo by Chris Sharp. Peregine at Hilfield Park reservoir on 15 January 2012, photo by Tony Blake. Buzzard at Tyttenhanger on 13 January 2012, photo by Steve Shand Smew on the Willows Farm lake at Tyttenhanger on 11 January 2012, photo by Simon West. Lesser Redpoll and Siskin on the feeders at the Watercress wildlife association LNR St. Albans on 11 January 2012, photo by Lucy Flower. The long staying Snow Bunting at Startop's End reservoir on 7 January 2012, photo by Ian Howarth. Great Grey Shrike at Norton Green on 4 January 2012, photo by Mike Ilett. Goosander at Stocker's Lake on 31 December 2011, photograph by Paul Frost. Great Grey Shrike at Therfield on 31 December 2011, photograph by Robert Chapman. For more photographs of Hertfordshire birds, visit the galleries page.
Latest sightings
Interesting recent records submitted through the website are listed here,
older records are in the sightings archive.
3RD FEB: Bowyers Water (Cheshunt GPs), Smew (Mike Oakland)
Bowyers Water (Cheshunt GPs), 2 Goldeneye (Mike Oakland)
Bury Lake nr Rickmansworth, 9 Red-crested Pochard, 5m,4f (G Lapworth)
East Hyde, 3 Green Sandpiper, n group on river just SE of farm (Clifford Smout)
East Hyde, Jack Snipe, on the spit just beyond the channel that links it to the main stream (needs a scope!) (Roger Payne)
East Hyde, Little Egret (Roger Payne)
Fairlands Valley Park (Stevenage), Curlew (Dawn Brimble)
Hitchin, Tawny Owl (Callum Peel)
Hitchin, 2 Little Egret, Walsworth, behind Millstream pub (Jonathan Barnes)
Lemsford Springs, Woodcock (Barry Trevis)
Lemsford Springs, 2 Common Snipe (Barry Trevis)
Lemsford Springs, 4 Green Sandpiper (Barry Trevis)
Lemsford Springs, Blackcap, female (Barry Trevis)
Lemsford Springs, c.50 Redwing (Barry Trevis)
Marsworth Res (Tring Reservoirs), Bittern, showing well in south east corner (Jeff Bailey)
Marsworth Res (Tring Reservoirs), 3 Dunlin, briefly in south west corner (Jeff Bailey)
Rye Meads nr Hoddesdon, Peregrine Falcon (Vicky Buckel)
Rye Meads nr Hoddesdon, Red Kite (Vicky Buckel)
Stanstead Abbotts, 23 Redwing, Netherfield Lane (Jane Free)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), Snow Bunting, in north west corner (Jeff Bailey)
Stocker's Lake, 2 Smew, males (G Lapworth)
Stocker's Lake, 5 Goldeneye, 1m,4f (G Lapworth)
Stocker's Lake, 2 Red-crested Pochard, males (G Lapworth)
Tyttenhanger Farm (Tyttenhanger area), 2 Tree Sparrow (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Green Sandpiper (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Shelduck (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 4 Dunlin (Steve Blake)
Welwyn, 2 Red Kite, part displaying over Old Welwyn (Roger Jones)
Willows Farm (Tyttenhanger area), Red Kite (Steve Blake)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Brent Goose, on central area of ice free water (Jeff Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Water Pipit, near to car park steps (Jeff Bailey)
Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross, 14 Yellowhammer (Steve Carter)
Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross, 9 Skylark (Steve Carter)
2ND FEB: Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Common Snipe (Steve Akrill)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 2 Bittern (Catherine Mackenzie Davies)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 2 Goldeneye (Steve Akrill)
Amwell NR - Tumbling Bay Lake, Goldeneye, close to shore at S end (Steve Akrill)
Archer's Green nr Tewin, Common Snipe (Keith Smith)
Archer's Green nr Tewin, Little Egret (Keith Smith)
Berkhamsted, Grey Wagtail, Billet Lane canal bridge (Nick Goss)
Bury Lake nr Rickmansworth, 8 Red-crested Pochard, 4 pairs (Tony Clarke)
Bury Lake nr Rickmansworth, Smew, female (Tony Clarke)
Heartwood Forest - E of B651, Peregrine Falcon, over low this morning (Luke Massey)
Lemsford, Little Egret, near mill (Tony Birch)
Lemsford Springs, 5 Common Snipe (Barry Trevis)
Lemsford Springs, 4 Green Sandpiper (Barry Trevis)
Lemsford Springs, 3 Little Egret (Barry Trevis)
Lemsford Springs, c.30 Redwing (Barry Trevis)
Marsworth Res (Tring Reservoirs), Bittern (Steve Blake)
Reed, 120 Yellowhammer, Hatchpen (Martin Johnson)
Reed, 2 Red Kite (Martin Johnson)
Royston, Red Kite, Icknield Way (A. Beale)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), Snow Bunting (Dave Beer)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 5 Dunlin (Dave Beer)
Stocker's Lake, 3 Smew, 2 males 1 female (Tony Clarke)
Therfield Heath, Great Grey Shrike, showing on wires off Icknield Way early afternoon: TL345398 (Martin Johnson)
Therfield nr Royston, 34 Grey Partridge (Martin Johnson)
Therfield nr Royston, 110 Fieldfare (Martin Johnson)
Tyttenhanger Farm (Tyttenhanger area), 2 Tree Sparrow (Alan Gardiner)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Shelduck (Alan Gardiner)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Green Sandpiper (Alan Gardiner)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, c50 Lapwing (Alan Gardiner)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 4 Common Snipe (Steve Blake)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Water Pipit (Dave Beer)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Brent Goose (Dave Beer)
1ST FEB: Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 5+ Little Egret, in the roost (Martin Johnson)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Bittern (Jim Farr)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 3 Smew, two drakes (Martin Johnson)
Bury Lake nr Rickmansworth, 7 Red-crested Pochard (Steve Carter)
Fairlands Valley Park (Stevenage), 8 Siskin (Christopher Hughes)
Hemel Hempstead, Blackcap, male on garden feeder (Jeff Bailey)
Hexton, Raven, over Hexton Woods calling 12.30hrs (Nigel Agar)
Lemsford Springs, 11 Siskin (Barry Trevis)
Lemsford Springs, Lesser Redpoll (Barry Trevis)
Northchurch nr Berkhamsted, Raven (Nick Goss)
Radlett, Raven, over village, calling (Gary Cunningham)
Sarratt Mill, Little Owl (Jeff Bailey)
Sarratt Mill, 6 Ring-necked Parakeet (Jeff Bailey)
Sarratt Mill, Little Egret (Jeff Bailey)
Sarratt Mill, Grey Wagtail (Jeff Bailey)
Sarratt Mill, Red Kite (Jeff Bailey)
Stocker's Lake, 2 Smew, 2 males seen female still present (Steve Carter)
Stocker's Lake, 6 Goldeneye, males displaying (Steve Carter)
Stocker's Lake, Ring-necked Parakeet (Steve Carter)
Stocker's Lake, 20 Siskin (Steve Carter)
Tyttenhanger GPs (exact GP not specified), Shelduck (Terry Smith)
Tyttenhanger GPs (exact GP not specified), 2 Green Sandpiper (Terry Smith)
Tyttenhanger GPs (exact GP not specified), 51 Lapwing (Terry Smith)
31ST JAN: Amwell GP/NR (exact water not specified), 3 Little Egret, in the roost (Lee Evans)
Amwell GP/NR (exact water not specified), 6 Goldeneye, including two adult drakes (Lee Evans)
Amwell GP/NR (exact water not specified), 68 Lapwing (Lee Evans)
Amwell GP/NR (exact water not specified), 2 Smew, adult drakes at the north end of Tumbling Bay Pit (Lee Evans)
Amwell GP/NR (exact water not specified), Grey Wagtail (Lee Evans)
Amwell GP/NR (exact water not specified), 17 Redwing (Lee Evans)
Amwell GP/NR (exact water not specified), 8 Fieldfare (Lee Evans)
Amwell GP/NR (exact water not specified), 3 Cetti's Warbler (Lee Evans)
Amwell GP/NR (exact water not specified), Marsh Tit (Lee Evans)
Amwell GP/NR (exact water not specified), 2 Raven, pair displaying over Easeneye Wood (Lee Evans)
Amwell GP/NR (exact water not specified), 5 Siskin (Lee Evans)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Bittern (Joan Thompson)
Benington, 2 Barn Owl, hunting on set-aside field 7am (Kathy Sharman)
Chiswell Green nr St Albans, Blackcap, male in garden (Alan Gardiner)
Frogmore Lakes nr Radlett, Little Egret
Hertford, 20 Lesser Redpoll, feeding on Silver Birch in garden. (Alan Reynolds)
Hertingfordbury, 20+ Redwing (S.Poynter)
Hilfield Park Reservoir, 5 Siskin (Derek Turner)
Hilfield Park Reservoir, 3 Little Gull, two first winter birds joined by adult at 15:05 then flew west over dam high out of sight. (Derek Turner)
Panshanger (Welwyn Garden City), 3 Blackcap, 2 males 1 female (Roger Jones)
Potters Crouch nr St Albans, 25+ Yellowhammer, East Farm (Steve Kitchen)
Stanstead Abbotts, Little Egret, flying north (Jane Free)
Stanstead Abbotts, c80 Fieldfare, Netherfield Lane (Jane Free)
Stocker's Lake, Smew, fem. Male Smew & 3 Male Goosander on Inns Lake (G Lapworth/C Sharp)
Stocking Pelham, Marsh Tit (Andy Brown)
Tewin Mill, Little Egret (Roger Jones)
Tyttenhanger GPs (exact GP not specified), 83 Lapwing (Lee Evans)
Tyttenhanger GPs (exact GP not specified), 11 Tree Sparrow, at the feeding station (Lee Evans)
Tyttenhanger GPs (exact GP not specified), 8 Yellowhammer (Lee Evans)
Tyttenhanger GPs (exact GP not specified), Shelduck (Lee Evans)
30TH JAN: Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Caspian Gull, 1st winter in roost (Barry Reed)
Brookmans Park, 2 Waxwing, flew south at 7.55
Broxbourne Woods - Hoddesdon Park Wood, Crossbill, flew over calling (Ken and Linda Smith)
Garden Wood (Tyttenhanger area), 11 Lesser Redpoll (Steve Blake)
Heartwood Forest - Well & Pudler's Wood, 2 Short-eared Owl (Alan Ford)
Therfield Heath, Hen Harrier, Ringtail; still present at Greys (Martin Johnson)
Therfield Heath, 10 Grey Partridge (Martin Johnson)
Therfield Heath, 74 Lapwing (Martin Johnson)
Therfield Heath, 180 Linnet (Martin Johnson)
Tyttenhanger Farm (Tyttenhanger area), 13 Tree Sparrow (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - fishing lake, Little Egret (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Common Snipe (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Shelduck (Steve Blake)
Watton at Stone, Red Kite, low over houses near station (Tony Barrett)
Whitwell, 5 Little Egret, on the Watercress Beds (Alan Ford)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 220 Golden Plover, landed briefly then flew of north (Jeff Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Little Egret (Jeff Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Goosander, male (Jeff Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 65 Linnet (Jeff Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Brent Goose, behind jetty (Jeff Bailey)
29TH JAN: Ashwell, 30+ Fieldfare, over West End/Back Street (Alice Porter)
Barkway, Short-eared Owl, at mid-day (Brian Sawford)
Benington, Little Owl, near Lordship Farm (Clifford Smout)
Chipperfield, 5+ Yellowhammer (Chris Woodham)
Chipperfield, 50+ Fieldfare, Scatterdells woods (Chris Woodham)
Chipperfield, Red Kite (Chris Woodham)
Digswell, 20+ Redwing, in Haldens Park (Jon Whitbread)
Digswell, Grey Wagtail, in Haldens park (Jon Whitbread)
Great Munden nr Puckeridge, 51 Fieldfare, along Mentley Lane - no sign of recently reported G/G Shrike (Murray Orchard)
Hampermill Lake nr Watford, 2 Egyptian Goose (B Norcott)
Hampermill Lake nr Watford, 15 Redwing (B Norcott)
Hampermill Lake nr Watford, Little Egret (B Norcott)
Hertford, 7 Golden Plover, over garden (Alan Reynolds)
Hitchin, c20 Redwing (Robert Chapman)
Lemsford, Kingfisher, flying towards the mill in the centre of Lemsford village (Callum Peel)
Lemsford Springs, 3 Green Sandpiper, in watercress beds and along river (Callum Peel)
Lemsford Springs, 4 Little Egret (Callum Peel)
Lemsford Springs, 3 Grey Wagtail (Callum Peel)
London Colney, 100+ Fieldfare, on former Napsbury hospital area, now houses and flats (Alan Gardiner)
Maple Cross, c50 Redwing (Nick and Chris Bessant)
Shafford Farm nr St Albans, 2 Little Egret, in field (John Pritchard)
Shafford Farm nr St Albans, 38 Fieldfare (John Pritchard)
Shafford Farm nr St Albans, Tawny Owl, calling (John Pritchard)
Stanstead Abbotts, c20 Redwing (Jane Free)
Stanstead Abbotts, 2 Blackcap, male and female in garden (Jane Free)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), Snow Bunting (Ian Bennell)
Stocker's Lake, Smew, redhead showing well (Lee Evans)
Stocker's Lake, 2 Goosander, male (Paul Lewis)
Stocker's Lake, 8 Red-crested Pochard, 4 pairs (Paul Lewis)
Stocker's Lake, 50 Siskin, by Tern Hide (B Norcott)
Stocker's Lake, 5 Goldeneye, 2 Pairs , 1 single female (B Norcott)
Stocking Pelham, Tree Sparrow (Andy Brown)
Tyttenhanger GPs (exact GP not specified), Shelduck (Roger Payne)
Westmill nr Buntingford, 2 Marsh Tit, separate sites - one giving song (Murray Orchard)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), c20 Redwing (Tony Birch)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), c25 Fieldfare, plenty of others moving in smaller flocks (Tony Birch)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Little Egret (Tony Birch)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Goldeneye, One male and one female, but not together (Tony Birch)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Pintail, Male (Tony Birch)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Redshank, In cemetery corner at 3pm (Ian Bennell)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Goosander, Male (Tony Birch)
28TH JAN: Amwell GP/NR (exact water not specified), 7 Smew, 3 males, 4 redheads (Barry Reed)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Woodcock, at dusk (Barry Reed)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 7 Little Egret, roost (Barry Reed)
Amwell NR - Tumbling Bay Lake, Red-crested Pochard, female (Barry Reed)
Benington, 2 Raven, over calling (Nigel Denison)
Bury Lake nr Rickmansworth, 12 Red-crested Pochard, 8 males (Paul Frost)
Colney Heath, 3 Tree Sparrow (Steve Blake)
Croxley Common Moor, Water Rail (Paul Frost)
East Hyde, Little Egret (John Kendrick)
East Hyde, Grey Wagtail (John Kendrick)
East Hyde, 3 Green Sandpiper (Mike Russell)
East Hyde, 3 Red Kite (Mike Russell)
How Wood nr Bricket Wood, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet (Clare Byrne)
Letty Green, 2 Raven (Oliver Marshall)
Maple Cross, 2 Red Kite, over the estate in the morning. (Nick and Chris Bessant)
Maple Cross, c25 Redwing (Nick and Chris Bessant)
Panshanger (Welwyn Garden City), Red Kite (Lee Fitz)
Redbourn, Red Kite, over Nicholls Fm (Peter Tallantire)
Redbourn, 200+ Fieldfare (Peter Tallantire)
Redbourn, 20+ Redwing (Peter Tallantire)
Redbournbury, 36 Lapwing, near New Jeromes (Errnest Leahy)
Rye Meads nr Hoddesdon, 5 Shelduck (Jane Free)
Rye Meads nr Hoddesdon, Green Sandpiper (Jane Free)
Sopwell nr St Albans, 2 Little Egret, 100m S of mill (Alan Gardiner)
Stanstead Abbotts, 4 Redwing (Jane Free)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), Snow Bunting, in NW corner (Roger Buxton)
Stocker's Lake, Smew, female (Paul Frost)
Stocker's Lake, Goosander, male (Paul Frost)
Tyttenhanger Farm (Tyttenhanger area), 2 Tree Sparrow (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs (exact GP not specified), Shelduck (Robert Callf)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Little Egret (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Shelduck (Steve Blake)
Walkern, Red Kite (Nigel Denison)
Ware, 14+ Lesser Redpoll, in garden (Ian Edwards)
Waterend nr Wheathampstead, Kingfisher (David Wheatcroft)
Watford, 15 Lesser Redpoll, on garden feeder (B Norcott)
Wheathampstead, Kingfisher, by River Lea (David Wheatcroft)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Goosander, drake (Lee G R Evans)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Little Egret (Lee G R Evans)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Grey Wagtail (Lee G R Evans)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Yellowhammer, by the dry canal (Lee G R Evans)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 4 Skylark, by dry canal (Lee G R Evans)
Herts Bird Club membership only costs £1 a month. Take a full part in the activities of the club, 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.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
The 2009 Bird Report was mailed to all members of the Herts Bird Club and Natural History Society on 14 November 2011.