Herts Bird Club – making the most of local birdwatching

We are upgrading our website and are keen to get your feedback. Please fill out a short survey 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.

Avian Flu advice

Latest news

Herts Rare Bird Panel

After many years of stability there has been a number of changes to the Rare Bird Panel this year. Tony Blake was County recorder for a number of years and as well as a member of the Rare Birds Panel, having moved from Hertfordshire he has decided it is time to step down. Jack Fearnside was the longest serving member of the Rare Birds Panel and after many years has decided it’s time to step down. Chris Ruis was County recorder for Herts and due to work commitments and also moving away from Hertfordshire has also decided to step down.
I would like to thank all three for their support and great discussions over the years and wish them all well for the future.

We have been working on replacements and can confirm that Chris Hocking has agreed to take over as County Recorder and Graham White and Rob Martin will join the Herts Rarity Panel. Their profiles can be found under Rarer Birds in Hertfordshire.

Mike Ilett (Chairman of the Rare Birds Panel) 

Latest Hertfordshire Bird Report

The Hertfordshire Bird Report 2024

The Hertfordshire Bird Report 2024 was published and circulated to members in November 2025. (Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society Vol 57 (2) pp. 89-168 ISSN 0375 3409)

Contents

Editorial (Clifford Smout)

Guidelines for observers - a checklist of the birds of Hertfordshire

Review of the year (Clifford Smout)

Read more

Latest HNHS publication

 

Herts Invertebrate Project

Read here about how to join this new recording initiative.

Herts Atlas of Mammals, Amphibians and Reptiles

Please submit sightings and field signs of mammals, amphibians and reptiles to our countywide survey, full details at the Herts MARA website.

Hertfordshire Bird Atlas

All the results from the most recent Atlas (2007-12) and both previous atlas surveys available here.

Bird records

Please send us your Herts bird sightings through the records submission page. Use the Breeding status dropdown where applicable and Comment field to add notes of interest.

Latest sightings of interest are published on the right hand side of this page, once they have been checked by a moderator. Search for older published records by month/site/species in Sightings Archive. 

 

See details of some great places to visit in Hertfordshire at this time of year.

Take part in our  projects and surveys.

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 birdweb@hnhs.org

Injured or orphan birds ? advice here.

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.

Who's who in the Herts Bird Club.