The first Herts Local Patch Big Weekend event took place on the weekend of Sat 23rd & Sun 24th April giving Herts birders (individuals or teams) 48 hours to find as many birds as possible on their local patches. In
addition, various challenges were set in the form of bonus points, awarded for example for recording 3 or more species of owl or 8 or more species of warbler. Top of the bonus points on offer were the 20 bonus points going for any team that ditched vehicles in favour of carbon-free birding on foot.
On the day, eleven teams took part including individual efforts from six teams: The Wilstone Wanderer, The Rickmansworth Rambler, Tyttenhanger Rick, the Wilbury Wanderers, There and Back Again (focussing Ellenbrook Fields and surroundings) and the legendary Harpo No-hoper, walking from his home in Harpenden. The remaining five teams were made up of 3 to 4 members: The Tyttenhanger Birders, St Albans RSPB & Friends, Fairlands Birders, the Ver Valley Footsloggers and the Hemel Harriers. Credit must first go to five of these eleven teams who spent the weekend on foot gaining an extra 20 bonus points for their carbon-efficiency!
As it was, the weekend proved very good for birds with evidence of migration in full swing, perhaps helped by the mild temperatures and north-easterly breeze. In all, 116 different species were recorded across Herts by participating teams – a total that is just shy of the average for the whole of Herts over the same weekend in recent years. Five of the eleven teams recorded 85 species or over with the St Albans RSPB & Friends recording a whopping 91 different species. 
Among the highlights were Arctic Tern, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Whimbrel, Garganey, Little Gull, Sandwich Tern, Tree Pipit and Cattle Egret (a county rarity).
Only the Ver Valley Footsloggers managed to record all three common species of owl, but four teams recorded 4 or more species of wader. Congratulations must go to the Harpo No-hoper who, contradicting his own team-name, found the only ‘patch tick’ of the competition in the form of a Bar-tailed Godwit. There’s always hope! There was non-avian interest as well with most teams noting 3 or more species of butterfly and four teams recorded early dragonflies including some still in larval form by the Hemel Harriers.
And so, to the winner…! Despite some last-minute forays into the dark on Sunday night when the clock struck midnight the leaderboard revealed a clear winner. 
Congratulations to Ian Bennell aka The Wilstone Wanderer for doggedly pursuing every last species on his Tring patch (an impressive 90 species) and gaining him 140 points. Among his top birds were Cattle Egret, Garganey, Little Gull, Arctic Tern and Grasshopper Warbler not to mention seven species of wader. Ian wins the Herts Bird Club mug from which he can sip a well-earned brew and a notebook for future sightings!
Just 4 points behind him and no doubt with sore feet, the Ver Valley Footsloggers, took second place with a remarkable 85 species recorded in the Ver Valley. A fine effort by John Pritchard, Alan Winn, Alison Debenham and John Fisher who win the Herts Bird Club notebook and can hold their heads high having expended no fuel miles in pursuit of their goal.
Mention must also go to third place shared by the Tyttenhanger Birders and the St Albans RSPB & Friends who each recorded 90 or more species giving them each 131 points. Not a winning total but a very impressive effort nonetheless. 
The Tyttenhanger Birders do however win the “Best Bird” award with their sighting of not one but two Sandwich Terns on Saturday morning over Tyttenhanger gravel pits. Although not officially listed as a County rarity, Sandwich Tern is the rarest bird recorded based on historical records submitted to the Herts Bird Club. With just 236 previous records it pips Cattle Egret and Bar-tailed Godwit to the post with their 261 and 267 previous records respectively. The Tyttenhanger Birders win a painting of a Sandwich Tern by local wildlife artist Matt Moreton.
There’s not enough room to give every team a mention but a fantastic effort was put in by all teams regardless of final scores and reinforced the value and enjoyment of local patch birding. It’s safe to say, the weekend proved a big success and paves the way for future similar events – maybe this Autumn – that give Herts birders an opportunity to pit their skills against each other while having fun.
