Herts Bird Club – making the most of local birdwatching
One of the Jack Snipes at East Hyde on 8 March 2010, photograph by Ben Andrew.
More photographs of recent Herts birds can be found below.
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 January 2010 monthly summary is now available on the publications page.
What's going on
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.
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.
Jack Snipe at Tewinbury on 7 March 2010, photograph by Keith Smith. Red-crested Pochards at Stocker’s Lake on 4 March 2010, photograph by Steve Blake. A record shot of the pair of Garganeys at Amwell Nature Reserve on 4 March 2010, photograph by Simon West. A Red Kite carrying a fish, photographed at East Hyde by Catherine Mackenzie-Davies on 1 March 2010. A Marsh Tit at Amwell Nature Reserve on 25 February 2010, photograph by Derek Girvan. One of three Hawfinches seen in Danemead Wood, Broxbourne on 20 February 2010, photograph by Jan Hein van Steenis. White-fronted Geese at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring on 11 February 2010, photograph by Steve Blake. A partial albino Blackbird at Hertford on 11 February, photograph by Amy Knott. A great shot of the Glaucous Gull found at Amwell Nature Reserve on 31 January 2010, photograph by Jan Hein van Steenis.
Latest sightings
Interesting recent records submitted through the website are listed here,
older records are in the sightings archive.
11TH MAR: Fairlands Valley Park (Stevenage), Goosander, Drake on the Sailing Lake (Alan Ford, David Beer)
Maple Cross, 3 Blackcap, Two males feeding simultaneously on bird table, female seen later. (Nick Bessant)
Stevenage, 2 Red Kite, Stevenage town centre.10.30am (Dave Beer)
10TH MAR: East Hyde, 5 Jack Snipe, mid-afternoon (Robin Pearson / Drew Lyness)
East Hyde, Water Rail (Robin Pearson)
East Hyde, ca40 Yellowhammer, Northern End of Cooters End Lane mid-morning (Alan Jackson)
East Hyde, 150+ Fieldfare, In field to west of Hyde Mill Farm mid-morning (Alan Jackson)
East Hyde, Little Owl, In usual tree west of Hyde Mill Farm mid-morning (Alan Jackson)
East Hyde, Jack Snipe, Briefly on left bank of small channel 11am (Alan Jackson)
Fairlands Valley Park (Stevenage), Goosander, Drake on the Sailing Lake (Alan Ford)
Hertford, 100 Fieldfare, Field by Morgans Walk (Alan Reynolds)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Little Egret, Hollow Mead (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Water Rail, Bird Mead (Simon Knott)
Lynsters Farm nr Maple Cross, Green Sandpiper (G Lapworth)
Lynsters Farm nr Maple Cross, Oystercatcher (G Lapworth)
Maple Cross, 3 Red Kite (Chris Bessant)
Munden Estate nr Bricket Wood, 100+ Redwing (Jeff Bailey)
Munden Estate nr Bricket Wood, 2 Little Egret (Jeff Bailey)
Munden Estate nr Bricket Wood, 6 Ring-necked Parakeet (Jeff Bailey)
Scotsbridge Mill Watercress Beds nr Rickmansworth, 3 Common Snipe (G Lapworth)
Scotsbridge Mill Watercress Beds nr Rickmansworth, Water Rail (G Lapworth)
Scotsbridge Mill Watercress Beds nr Rickmansworth, Little Egret (G Lapworth)
Willows Farm (Tyttenhanger area), 3 Shelduck (Robin Pearson)
9TH MAR: Boxmoor nr Hemel Hempstead, 2 Little Egret, At junction of A41 and Station Rd. and at Bourne End. (Michael Howard)
Cassiobury Park, 8 Ring-necked Parakeet (Ian Bennell)
Cassiobury Park, 20+ Siskin (Ian Bennell)
East Hyde, 6 Jack Snipe, at 6.25pm in small stream showing well. (Alan Jackson)
East Hyde, Blackcap, male in bushes. (Clive Harding)
East Hyde, Green Sandpiper, In small stream at 6.25pm. (Alan Jackson)
East Hyde, Firecrest (Clive Harding)
East Hyde, Jack Snipe (Clive Harding)
Fairlands Valley Park (Stevenage), Goosander, Drake, Sailing Lake (Alan Ford)
Hatfield, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, in Wilkins Green Lane by Great Nast Hyde house
King's Meads nr Hertford, 50 Redwing (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 25 Fieldfare, Park Mead (Simon Knott)
Northchurch nr Berkhamsted, 3 Red Kite, At Cow Roast (Michael Anderson)
Tyttenhanger Farm (Tyttenhanger area), Other, Ruddy Shelduck (Joan Thompson)
Tyttenhanger Farm (Tyttenhanger area), 2 Tree Sparrow (Jeff Bailey)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Green Sandpiper (Jeff Bailey)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 3 Shelduck (Jeff Bailey)
Welham Green, Red Kite, Above A1(M) (Chris Knott)
8TH MAR: Codicote Bottom, Barn Owl, flew across road and into farm. (Keith Pearce)
East Hyde, Firecrest, showing well at times (Andrew Steele)
East Hyde, Little Egret, At the end of the stream feeding (Ben Andrew)
East Hyde, 2 Jack Snipe (Andrew Steele)
East Hyde, 20 Yellowhammer, flock up in railway section (Andrew Steele)
East Hyde, Little Owl, in usual tree (Andrew Steele)
East Hyde, Firecrest, showing well in usual bush between 1:30-2:00pm (John Whitehead)
East Hyde, Jack Snipe, Almost underneath the bridge from 4pm (Ben Andrew)
Fairlands Valley Park (Stevenage), Goosander, Drake still present at 0720 at north end of sailing lake by boat jetty. (Phil Bishop)
Garden Wood (Tyttenhanger area), 100 Fieldfare (David Booth)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Water Rail, Hertford Cut calling (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 16 Common Snipe, Stockade Mead 11 Little Mead 4 East pool 1 (Simon Knott)
Purwell Ninesprings nr Hitchin, Woodcock, Flushed along Gypsy Lane (Paul Thrush)
Rye Meads nr Hoddesdon, Jack Snipe, showing well from Moorhen hide (Vicky Buckel)
Sarratt Bottom (Herts/Bucks), 3 Little Egret (Joan Thompson)
Scotsbridge Mill Watercress Beds nr Rickmansworth, Little Egret (Joan Thompson)
Sherrardspark Wood nr WGC, 4 Crossbill, 2m, 2f (Ken Smith)
St Albans, 2 Red Kite, over Francis Avenue. 3.30pm (Janet and Francis Dowley)
Tyttenhanger Farm (Tyttenhanger area), 2 Golden Plover (David Booth)
Tyttenhanger Farm (Tyttenhanger area), 2 Tree Sparrow (David Booth)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Ringed Plover (David Booth)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 3 Shelduck (David Booth)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Other, Ruddy Shelduck (T.Wood)
Wareside, Barn Owl, perched on old oak tree early in morning (Phil MacMurdie)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Wheatear, near cress beds. (Stuart Wilson)
7TH MAR: Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, Dunlin, 8:40-8:55 am (Jan Hein van Steenis)
East Hyde, Jack Snipe, Feeding close to the bridge at 13.00 (Martin Johnson)
East Hyde, 5 Jack Snipe, still feeding in small channel at 1830hrs only 25 yds from road. Spectacularly sillhouetted against refection of sky on water and showing very well. (Alan Jackson)
East Hyde, Blackcap, Male bird singing (subsong) (Martin Johnson)
East Hyde, 2 Little Egret (Martin Johnson)
Jersey Farm (St Albans), 2 Little Owl, Jersey Farm Woodland Park. Pair present at dusk (Wendy Hatton)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Treecreeper, Little Mead (Simon Knott)
Long Marston, Common Snipe, flushed at Boars Croft Farm (Dave Jenkinson)
Lynsters Farm nr Maple Cross, 2 Egyptian Goose (G Lapworth)
Maple Cross, Red Kite (Nick Bessant)
Panshanger (Welwyn Garden City), Red Kite, Seen on three occasions over this weekend (Christine von Hagen)
Panshanger Park, 10 Linnet (Simon Knott)
Panshanger Park, Kingfisher, River Mimram (Simon Knott)
Panshanger Park, 100+ Linnet, seen on farmland. (Kevin Hornby)
Peters Green nr Harpenden, Red Kite (Martin Johnson)
Rickmansworth, 4 Goldeneye, 2 pairs on Inns lake near Rickmansworth (Nick Bessant)
Smug Oak Lane nr Bricket Wood, 2 Little Owl, pair at regular site in line of oaks TL 14 02 (C. M. Everett)
Stocker's Lake, Water Rail, in willow/alder carr on lake edge (Nick Bessant)
Tewinbury Reserve, Common Snipe (Simon Knott)
Tewinbury Reserve, Jack Snipe (Drew Lyness / Simon Knott / K Smith)
Tewinbury Reserve, Red Kite, circling over farm for a short while but fairly low (K Smith)
Tyttenhanger Farm (Tyttenhanger area), 6 Tree Sparrow, sunning themselves top of hedge near feeder (Geoff Young)
Tyttenhanger Farm (Tyttenhanger area), 5 Yellowhammer (Geoff Young)
Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross, 2 Red Kite (G Lapworth)
Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross, 2 Little Owl (G Lapworth)
Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross, 50 Linnet (G Lapworth)
Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross, 3 Golden Plover (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
The December 2009 monthly summary is now present on the publications page.
Why not join us?
Herts Bird Club membership is only £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 the Club's activities. How to join.
Ringing the changes: an afternoon of talks marking 50 years of bird ringing in Hertfordshire
2007 Bird Report now available