Recent record decisions
The tables below give the status of records submitted to the Herts Rare Birds Panel that are being or have been assessed. Where records are indicated as not proven, in the large majority of cases it was felt that the species was probably the one claimed but that insufficient evidence was available for the panel to be 100 per cent sure of the identification. Only rarely was it felt that a misidentification had been made.
The species on the Hertfordshire list needing descriptions can be found here.
Last updated on 17 January 2011.
Information about the current panel members can be viewed here.
Key: C = record in circulation, A = record accepted, NP = record not proven.
2010 records
|
Date
|
Species
|
Location
|
Status
|
Observer
|
Comment
|
|
19 December
|
White-fronted Goose
|
Bedmond
|
C
|
|
|
|
9 December
|
Pink-footed Goose
|
Fairlands Valley Lake
|
C
|
|
|
|
8 December
|
Pink-footed Goose
|
Oxhey
|
C
|
|
|
|
2 December
|
Caspian Gull
|
Amwell NR
|
C
|
|
|
|
20 November
|
Raptor sp.
|
Much Hadham
|
C
|
|
|
|
19 November
|
Red-breasted Merganser
|
Wilstone Reservoir
|
C
|
|
|
|
1 November
|
Merlin
|
Hadham Ford
|
C
|
|
|
|
24 October
|
Grey Phalarope
|
Preston
|
C
|
|
|
|
22 October
|
Hen Harrier
|
Kelshall
|
C
|
|
|
|
13 October
|
Merlin
|
Near Bury Green
|
C
|
|
|
|
9-10 October
|
Yellow-browed Warbler
|
Tring
|
C
|
|
|
|
9 October
|
Yellow-browed Warbler
|
Tring
|
C
|
|
|
|
9 October
|
Lapland Bunting
|
Pegsdon
|
C
|
|
|
|
19 September
|
Wryneck
|
Tyttenhanger GP
|
C
|
|
|
|
15 September
|
Honey Buzzard
|
Stocker’s Lake
|
C
|
|
|
|
31 August
|
Hooded Crow
|
Chorleywood
|
C
|
|
|
|
31 August
|
Goshawk
|
Leavesden
|
C
|
|
|
|
July
|
Shag
|
Stocker’s Lake
|
C
|
|
|
|
16 June
|
Hen or Montagu’s Harrier
|
Deadman's Hill
|
C
|
|
|
|
27 May-2 June
|
Red-footed Falcon
|
Wilstone Reservoir
|
C
|
|
1st summer male |
|
26-7 May
|
Red-footed Falcon
|
Wilstone Reservoir
|
C
|
|
Adult male |
|
26 May
|
Nightjar
|
Halls Green/Weston
|
C
|
|
|
|
16 May
|
Hoopoe
|
Ickleford
|
C
|
|
|
|
2 May
|
Skua sp.
|
Amwell NR
|
C
|
|
|
|
27 April
|
Wood Warbler
|
Frithsden Beeches
|
C
|
|
|
|
19 April
|
Common Crane
|
Amwell NR
|
C
|
|
|
|
12 March
|
White Stork
|
Hertford Heath
|
C
|
|
|
|
6 March
|
Black Kite
|
North of Woolmer Green
|
C
|
|
|
|
6 March
|
Willow Tit
|
Danemead Wood
|
C
|
|
|
|
20 February
|
Rough-legged Buzzard
|
Hadham Ford
|
C
|
|
|
|
31 January
|
Glaucous Gull
|
Amwell NR
|
C
|
|
|
|
29 January
|
Eastern Chiffchaff
|
Troy Mill Lake
|
C
|
|
|
|
24 January
|
Merlin
|
Baldock-Wallington Road
|
C
|
|
|
|
21 January
|
Great White Egret
|
Chess Valley
|
C
|
|
|
|
12 January
|
Willow Tit
|
Welham Green
|
C
|
|
|
2009 records
|
Date
|
Species
|
Location
|
Status
|
Observer
|
Comment
|
|
22 December
|
Caspian Gull
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Bill Last
|
|
|
20 December
|
Great White Egret
|
Tring Reservoirs
|
A
|
Mike Wallen
|
|
|
9 December
|
Great Northern Diver
|
Ware
|
A
|
Barry Reed
|
|
|
30 November
|
Willow Tit
|
Lilley
|
NP
|
|
|
|
29 November
|
Caspian Gull
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Jan Hein van Steenis
|
|
|
28 November
|
Caspian Gull
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Barry Reed
|
|
|
26 November
|
Red-breasted Flycatcher
|
Abbots Langley
|
NP
|
|
|
|
8 November
|
Redstart
|
Letchworth
|
A
|
Mark Reynolds
|
|
|
7 November
|
Merlin
|
West Mill
|
A
|
Barry Reed
|
|
|
25 October
|
Great Skua
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Barry Reed
|
|
|
18 October
|
Hen Harrier
|
Therfield
|
A
|
Tony Cobb
|
|
|
18 October
|
Willow Tit
|
Furneux Pelham
|
NP
|
|
|
|
13 October
|
Dotterel
|
Reed
|
NP
|
|
|
|
6 October
|
Gannet
|
Stocker’s Lake
|
A
|
Paul Baylis
|
|
|
3 October
|
Hen Harrier
|
Flamsteadbury Park
|
A
|
Peter Tallentire
|
Accepted as ring-tailed harrier. |
|
28 September
|
Leach’s Petrel
|
Wilstone Reservoir
|
A
|
Mike Wallen, Ted Wallen
|
|
|
21 September
|
Glossy Ibis
|
Tyttenhanger GP
|
C
|
|
|
|
19 September
|
Golden Oriole
|
Fairlands Lake
|
NP
|
|
|
|
12 September
|
Merlin
|
Tewin
|
NP
|
|
|
|
11 September
|
Glossy Ibis
|
Digswell
|
C
|
|
|
|
5 September
|
Willow Tit
|
Watford
|
NP
|
|
|
|
5 September
|
Alpine Swift
|
Aldenham Reservoir
|
A
|
Barry Jones
|
|
|
12 August
|
Ruddy Shelduck
|
Wilstone Reservoir
|
A
|
Lee Evans
|
Likely not to be of wild origin. |
|
7 August
|
Shag
|
Wilstone Reservoir
|
A
|
Lee Evans
|
|
|
6 August
|
Montagu’s Harrier
|
Slip End
|
A
|
Lee Evans
|
|
|
2 August
|
Hen Harrier
|
|
A
|
Rupert Pyrah
|
|
|
26 July
|
Wryneck
|
Letchworth
|
NP
|
|
|
|
15 July
|
Hen Harrier
|
Sandon
|
A
|
Lee Evans
|
|
|
14 July
|
Montagu’s Harrier
|
Slip End
|
NP
|
|
|
|
10 July
|
Red-rumped Swallow
|
Long Marston
|
NP
|
|
|
|
8 July
|
Montagu’s Harrier
|
Baldock
|
A
|
Derek Gruar
|
|
|
22 June
|
Nightjar
|
Broxbourne Woods
|
NP
|
|
|
|
16 June
|
Hen Harrier
|
Slip End
|
A
|
Alan Harris
|
|
|
11 June
|
Marsh Warbler
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Jonathan Braggs
|
|
|
7 June
|
Montagu’s Harrier
|
Wallington
|
A
|
Mike Ilett
|
|
|
29 May
|
Bee-eater
|
Stanborough Lakes
|
NP
|
|
|
|
9-13 May
|
Hoopoe
|
Royston
|
NP
|
|
|
|
2 May
|
Great White Egret
|
Potters Bar
|
P
|
|
|
|
1 May
|
White Stork
|
Watton-at-Stone
|
A
|
Ian Vosper
|
|
|
29 April
|
White Stork
|
Amwell NR
|
NP
|
|
|
|
28 April
|
White Stork
|
Woolmer Green
|
A
|
Ray Hooper
|
|
|
26 April
|
Dotterel
|
Ashwell
|
A
|
Richard Webb
|
|
|
26 April
|
Wood Warbler
|
Chorleywood
|
NP
|
|
|
|
25 April
|
Wood Warbler
|
Brocket Park
|
A
|
Anthony Dorman
|
|
|
24 April
|
Woodchat Shrike
|
Welwyn Garden City
|
NP
|
|
|
|
22 April
|
White Stork
|
Wilstone Reservoir
|
A
|
Jack O'Neill
|
|
|
20 April
|
Goshawk
|
Lamer Park
|
NP
|
|
|
|
14 April
|
Black Kite
|
Bushey Heath
|
NP
|
|
|
|
13 April
|
Red-breasted Merganser
|
Hilfield Park Reservoir
|
A
|
Ian Bennell
|
|
|
13 April
|
Avocet
|
Tyttenhanger GP
|
A
|
David Booth
|
|
|
12 April
|
Hen Harrier
|
Wilstone Reservoir
|
A
|
Joan Thompson
|
|
|
12 April
|
Merlin
|
Barley
|
A
|
Toby Austin
|
|
|
11 April
|
White Stork
|
Standon
|
A
|
Anthony Dorman
|
|
|
9 April
|
Merlin
|
Barkway
|
NP
|
|
|
|
6 April
|
Iceland Gull
|
Amwell GP
|
A
|
Barry Reed
|
|
|
23 March
|
Merlin
|
Barkway
|
NP
|
|
|
|
30 March
|
Tree Pipit
|
Therfield Heath
|
NP
|
|
|
|
16 March
|
Goshawk
|
Wilstone Reservoir
|
NP
|
|
|
|
15 March
|
White-winged gull sp.
|
Westmill Tip
|
C
|
|
|
|
7 March-4 April
|
Merlin
|
Site withheld
|
A
|
|
|
|
1 March
|
Mealy Redpoll
|
Stevenage
|
NP
|
|
|
|
1 March
|
Avocet
|
Hilfield Park Reservoir
|
A
|
Tony Blake
|
|
|
27 February
|
Woodlark
|
Berrybushes Wood
|
A
|
Colin Everett
|
|
|
16 February
|
Merlin
|
Lilley Bottom
|
NP
|
Colin Everett
|
|
|
15 February
|
Caspian Gull
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Alan Harris
|
|
|
10 February
|
Iceland Gull
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Barry Reed
|
|
|
8 February
|
Glaucous Gull
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Barry Reed
|
|
|
8 February
|
Yellow-browed Warbler
|
Bourne End
|
NP
|
|
|
|
7 February
|
Merlin
|
Watford
|
A
|
Jack Fearnside
|
|
|
7 February
|
Merlin
|
Harpenden
|
A
|
Jason Chapman
|
|
|
26 January
|
Black-throated Diver
|
Broxbourne
|
NP
|
|
|
|
21 January
|
Merlin
|
Beech Farm GP
|
A
|
Joan Thompson, Mick Frosdick
|
|
|
11 January
|
Great Grey Shrike
|
Cuffley
|
A
|
Eirwen Edwards
|
|
|
9 January
|
Great Grey Shrike
|
Cuffley
|
A
|
RBA pager
|
|
|
10 January
|
Iceland Gull
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Barry Reed
|
|
2008 records
|
Date
|
Species
|
Location
|
Status
|
Observer
|
Comment
|
|
30 December
|
Rough-legged Buzzard (2)
|
Redbourn
|
NP
|
|
|
|
13 December
|
Caspian Gull
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Barry Reed
|
|
|
11 December
|
Great Grey Shrike
|
Furneaux Pelham
|
NP
|
|
|
|
3 December
|
Merlin
|
Cottered
|
A
|
Murray Orchard
|
|
|
24 November
|
Hen Harrier
|
Sandon
|
A
|
Martin Shepherd
|
|
|
24 November
|
Whooper Swan (2)
|
Amwell NR
|
NP
|
|
Accepted as wild swans sp. |
|
22 November
|
Hen Harrier
|
Royston
|
A
|
Tony Cobb
|
Probably same as Reed bird. |
|
21 November
|
Hen Harrier
|
Reed
|
A
|
Robin Borwick
|
|
|
21 November
|
Rough-legged Buzzard
|
Reed
|
A
|
Robin Borwick
|
|
|
17 November
|
Rough-legged Buzzard
|
Reed
|
A
|
Neil Rawlings
|
|
|
15 November
|
Rough-legged Buzzard
|
Reed
|
A
|
Lee Evans
|
|
|
15 November
|
Rough-legged Buzzard
|
Reed
|
A
|
Eddie McHugh
|
|
|
15 November
|
Hen Harrier
|
Reed
|
A
|
Eddie McHugh
|
|
|
15 November
|
Yellow-browed Warbler
|
Danemead Wood
|
NP
|
|
|
|
12 November
|
Hen Harrier
|
RSPB Rye Marsh
|
NP
|
|
|
|
7 November
|
Hen Harrier
|
Redbournbury
|
NP
|
|
Accepted as harrier sp. |
|
28 October
|
Richard’s Pipit
|
Miswell Farm, Tring
|
A
|
Roy Hargreaves
|
First accepted record for Herts. |
|
22 October
|
Merlin
|
Redbournbury
|
A
|
Clifford Smout
|
|
|
16 October
|
Whooper Swan (3)
|
Wilstone Reservoir
|
A
|
Roy Hargreaves
|
|
|
11 October
|
Ferruginous Duck
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Barry Reed
|
|
|
9 October
|
Red-backed Shrike
|
Therfield Heath
|
A
|
Roger Hicks
|
|
|
9 October
|
Red-backed Shrike
|
Therfield Heath
|
A
|
Neil Rawlings
|
|
|
30 September
|
Richard’s Pipit
|
Garston
|
NP
|
|
|
|
22 September
|
Gannet
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Barry Reed
|
|
|
14 September
|
Honey Buzzard
|
Royston
|
A
|
Toby Austin
|
|
|
9 September
|
Honey Buzzard (4)
|
West Herts
|
A
|
Lee Evans
|
|
|
7 September
|
Small skua sp. (8)
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Alan Harris
|
Probably Long-tailed Skuas. |
|
7 September
|
Grey Phalarope
|
Startops End Reservoir
|
A
|
David Bilcock
|
|
|
30 August
|
White-winged Black Tern
|
Wilstone Reservoir
|
A
|
Roy Hargreaves,
David Bilcock,
Mike Wallen
|
|
|
30 August
|
White-winged Black Tern
|
Wilstone Reservoir
|
A
|
Lee Evans
|
|
|
17 August
|
Shag
|
Hilfield Park Reservoir
|
A
|
Jack Fearnside
|
|
|
16 August
|
White Stork (2)
|
Tring
|
A
|
David Bilcock
|
|
|
21 July
|
Honey Buzzard
|
Hertford
|
A
|
Stuart Reynolds
|
|
|
23 June
|
Black Stork
|
Tring
|
A
|
Bill Pegram
|
Accepted by BBRC. |
|
21 June
|
Montagu’s Harrier
|
Tewin
|
NP
|
|
Accepted as harrier sp. |
|
8 June
|
Icterine Warbler
|
Wilstone Reservoir
|
A
|
Roy Hargreaves
|
First accepted record for Herts. |
|
29 May
|
Hoopoe
|
Ickleford
|
A
|
Lesley Wareham
|
|
|
20 May
|
Great Reed Warbler
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Mike Ilett
|
Accepted by BBRC. |
|
14 May
|
Harrier sp.
|
Sandon
|
A
|
David Booth
|
Accepted as harrier sp. |
|
9 May
|
Red-backed Shrike (pair)
|
Norton Green
|
NP
|
|
|
|
4 May
|
Spoonbill
|
Amwell NR
|
A
|
Jan Hein
van Steenis
|
|
|
24 April
|
Hoopoe
|
Rickmansworth
|
NP
|
|
|
|
22 April
|
Common Crane (3)
|
Tyttenhanger GP
|
A
|
Ricky Flesher
|
Identification accepted
but, due to the presence
of close rings, presumed
from captive origin. |
|
21 April
|
Stone Curlew
|
Norton Green
|
A
|
David Beer
|
|
|
17 April
|
Avocet
|
Tyttenhanger GP
|
A
|
Steve Blake,
Ricky Flesher
|
|
|
11 April
|
Great White Egret
|
Wilstone Reservoir
|
A
|
Roy Hargreaves
|
|
|
8 April
|
Goshawk
|
Patmore Heath
|
NP
|
|
|
|
4 April
|
Grey Phalarope
|
Hilfield Park Reservoir
|
A
|
Bob Cripps
|
|
|
16 February
|
Merlin
|
Slip End
|
A
|
Mike Ilett
|
|
|
12 February
|
Hen Harrier
|
Otterspool
|
A
|
Jim Terry
|
|
|
7 February
|
Hoopoe
|
Hatfield
|
NP
|
|
|
|
2 February
|
Large falcon sp.
|
Benington
|
A
|
Alan Ford
|
Deemed to be an escape. |
|
27 January
|
Willow Tit
|
Hertford
|
NP
|
|
|
|
23 January
|
Merlin
|
Baldock
|
A
|
Rob Davies
|
|
|
3 January
|
Hen Harrier
|
Sandon
|
A
|
Mike Ilett
|
|
|
1 January
|
Willow Tit
|
Essendon
|
NP
|
|
|
| 
