BTO National Woodcock Survey 2023
This summer the BTO are organising a national Woodcock survey. For more details about how to contribute in Hertfordshire please click here where a list of priority sites can be found along with a link to the BTO and the interactive map displaying the survey sites. Details of other ongoing national surveys can also be found by clicking the survey tab on the left-hand side of the website
LOCAL PATCH BIG WEEKEND 2023 - 29th April to 1st May
Following a twitter poll the dates of the 2023 Herts Local Patch Big Weekend are confirmed as Saturday 29th April to Monday 1st May. This is of course a bank holiday weekend allowing for an additional 24 hours of glorious patch birding!
More details to follow, but the format is expected to be very similar to last year's event, a review of which can be found here >> 2022 Herts Local Patch Weekend
Herts Bird Club Conference 2023
More than 80 people attended the Herts Bird Cub/BTO Conference on Saturday 4th March, the first in person event since March 2020.
Talks included: how the BTO is supporting efforts to halt the alarming decline in Curlew and other wading birds in UK; the bird life of Stocker's Lake; an update on 2012's Birds of Hertfordshire; and a review of 2022 birding highlights in Hertfordshire.
Read more and watch videos of the presentations here >> 2023 Bird Conference
Herts Bird Photo of the Year 2022 - WINNER
Congratulations to Ian Williams whose photo of the Hinxworth Hoopoe was voted Herts Bird Photo of the Year 2022 at Herts Bird Conference on 4 March 2023.
Ian's stunning photo captured in beautiful light received the most votes of the ten photos on display at the conference.
View all ten finalists here > 2022 Bird Photo Finalists
Changes to records published on website
The Herts Bird Club Committee has reviewed records which are published on the website front page and are making the following changes effective 1st November 2022.
| Current Publication | Publication from 1st Nov | |
| Red Kite * | All Records | 10 or more birds |
| Common Buzzard | No Records | 10 or more birds |
| Bullfinch | No Records | All Records |
| Lapwing | No Records | All Records |
All records including those not published on the website are gratefully received and are included in the Herts Bird Club Database.
*Red Kites are now widespread throughout the county
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HNHS News
Autumn Conference and 2026 AGM - Saturday 7 November
Members and friends are warmly invited to join us for the 2026 Autumn Meeting and Annual General Meeting on Saturday 7 November at the offices of Affinity Water, Tamblin Way, Hatfield, AL10 9EZ (2-5.30pm).
The featured speakers this year are Martin Ketcher, voluntary warden of the Purwell Nine Springs nature reserve in Hitchin for 46 years and Wendy Morrison, Director of the Chilterns Heritage & Archaeology Partnership. Winners of the annual HNHS awards will be announced.
HNHS Award nominations: 2026
Members are invited to submit nominations for the HNHS 2026 Awards, which will be presented at the Autumn Conference on Saturday 7 November.
Our two annual categories are the Trevor James Award for an outstanding Hertfordshire Naturalist and the 1875 Award for an outstanding contribution to natural history in Hertfordshire. Further information – including information about past winners – can be found on this website, together with a one page nomination form that covers the main criteria.
The Hertfordshire Naturalist 2026 – contributions sought
Stuart Warrington, editor of the Hertfordshire Naturalist, is looking for for contributions to the 2026 edition.
These can be articles or observations or photos about the wildlife, habitats or geology of the county. We are happy to look at a range of content and styles, so please do consider making a contribution to our long-running journal.