Herts Bird Club – making the most of local birdwatching
This Tree Sparrow appeared in a Hertford Heath garden on 30 August 2010, photograph by Sandra Standbridge.
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.
Hertfordshire Bird Atlas – Now is an ideal time to confirm breeding for many species. Most of our residents and the earliest arriving summer migrants are feeding large nestlings or recently fledged young. Many of those fledglings have a distinctive plumage which you can also use as evidence of confirmed breeding. You can submit these observations as Roving Records to improve the breeding status in your tetrad. Click here for Details of this year's targets and how to join in.
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.
You can now submit your records of other wildlife, including mammals, amphibians, reptiles and dragonflies through the HNHS website.
Another Spotted Flycatcher, this time at Maple Lodge NR on 1 September 2010, photograph by Steve Carter.
One of three Spotted Flycatchers in the area of Page’s Farm, Elstree on 30 August 2010, photograph by Tony Blake.
This Sparrowhawk visited a Rickmansworth garden on 29 August 2010, photograph by Andrew Moon.
A pair of Red-crested Pochards at Startop’s End Reservoir, Tring on 29 August 2010, photograph by Roger Cave.
After a possible sighting of a recently hatched bird, these two juveniles prove breeding for Water Rail at Tewinbury HMWT Reserve. Photographed on 28 August 2010 by Tim Hill.
Two of four Black-tailed Godwits present at Wilstone Reservoir on 23 August 2010. A good comparison between a juvenile (front) and a moulting adult. Photograph by Mike Wallen.
The two Black-tailed Godwits at Wilstone Reservoir on 19 August 2010, photograph by Steve Carter. But what is one saying to the other? A Redstart in a private garden at Southern Green, Buntingford on 18 August 2010, photograph by John Dingemans. One of two Black-tailed Godwits at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring on 16 August 2010, photograph by Mike Wallen.
Black-tailed Godwit at Startop’s End Reservoir, Tring on 13 August 2010, photograph by Mike Wallen.
Black-tailed Godwit at Wilstone Reservoir, Tring on 17 August 2010, photograph by Derrick Davies. For more photographs of Hertfordshire birds, visit the galleries page.
Latest sightings
Interesting recent records submitted through the website are listed here,
older records are in the sightings archive.
2ND SEP: Croxley Common Moor, Kingfisher (G Lapworth)
Croxley Common Moor, Little Egret, 7.40 pm, flying along the river Gade towards the NE corner (my location), then turning almost 180 degrees and flying back towards the SE corner of the moor. (Graham Ross)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Spotted Flycatcher, Tansy Mead (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 17 Common Snipe, West pool 14 Park Mead 3 (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Kingfisher, New River (Simon Knott)
Maple Lodge, Mandarin, eclipse male (Steve Carter)
Maple Lodge, Hobby (Steve Carter)
Maple Lodge, 4 Egyptian Goose, lynsters farm (Steve Carter)
Maple Lodge, Ring-necked Parakeet (Steve Carter)
Sandridge nr St Albans, Little Owl, adult in House Lane paddocks (Wendy Hatton)
Sandridge nr St Albans, 2 Redstart, Heartwood Forest. male & female/imm in hedge running NE from scout hut carpark (TL165107) towards Hillend Farm. 9.30am. (Wendy Hatton)
Sandridge nr St Albans, Wheatear, Hillend Farm. female on dung heap (Wendy Hatton)
Sandridgebury nr St Albans, 2 Yellow Wagtail, horse paddocks SE of Langley Wood. (Wendy Hatton)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Barnacle Goose (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Common Tern (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Hobby (Steve Blake)
Verulamium Park, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, in bushes 100 yds SE of Roman Mosaic. (Robin Pearson)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Common Sandpiper (Jeff Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Common Snipe (Jeff Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Greenshank (M Howard/J Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Common Tern (Jeff Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Whooper Swan (M Howard/J Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Kingfisher (M Howard)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Treecreeper (M Howard)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Hobby (Michael Howard)
1ST SEP: Chiswell Green nr St Albans, Swift, flying north (Alan Gardiner)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 4 Yellow Wagtail, Park Mead by cattle (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 15 Swift, New River at dusk (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Barnacle Goose, West pool (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Lesser Whitethroat (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 5 Whitethroat (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Sedge Warbler (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Garden Warbler (Simon Knott)
Maple Lodge, Spotted Flycatcher (Steve Carter)
Maple Lodge, Hobby (Steve Carter)
Northchurch nr Berkhamsted, 2 Raven, circling over covert road area (Peter Medcalf)
Potters Bar, 2+ Hobby, one hunting over garden and another distant (Anders Gray)
Potters Bar, 21 Swallow, south (Anders Gray)
Redbourn, Kingfisher, Near Chequers PH (Ernest Leahy)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), Red-crested Pochard, female still (Lee G R Evans)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), Spotted Flycatcher (Mike Wallen)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 20 Shoveler, 9 on res, 11 over. (Mike Wallen)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Grey Wagtail (Mike Wallen)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 straight over. (Mike Wallen)
Tewinbury Reserve, Water Rail, on mud right in front of hide (Graeme Leckie)
Tewinbury Reserve, Kingfisher (Graeme Leckie)
Tyttenhanger GPs - fishing lake, 2 Egyptian Goose (Drew Lyness)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 3 Willow Warbler, in tree sparrow hedge (Drew Lyness)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Hobby (Drew Lyness)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 100 Lapwing (Drew Lyness)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Common Tern (Drew Lyness)
Verulamium Park, 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 on elder bushes 100m SE of the Hypocaust. 2 seen same location on 27 Aug
White Hall Farm nr Stevenage, 5 Red Kite, with 5 C.Buzzard & 9 Black head Gulls on one thermal over Whitehall Pumping Sta/Astonbury Wood. 16:05. (Paul Lawrence)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Black Tern, mid afternoon, between the island and cemetary corner (Derek Girvan)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Common Sandpiper, juv (Mike Wallen)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Hobby (Derek Girvan)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Greenshank (Mike Wallen)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Mandarin, 1 drake (Lee G R Evans)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 3 Common Tern (Mike Wallen)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Little Egret (Lee G R Evans)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Spotted Flycatcher (Mike Wallen)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 102 Lapwing (Lee G R Evans)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Kingfisher (Mike Wallen)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Green Sandpiper (Lee G R Evans)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 6 Spotted Flycatcher, still in Hide Meadow (Lee G R Evans)
31ST AUG: Chorleywood, Yellow Wagtail, male (Lee Evans)
Chorleywood, 8 White Wagtail, amongst a flock of 37 alba wagtails on Clement Dane Playing Fields (Lee Evans)
Hemel Hempstead, 5 Swift, over Corner Hall, indiviuals collected together then headed South 17.00 (Dan Forder)
Heronsgate nr Rickmansworth, Wheatear, Female on farmland between Heronsgate and Mill End. (Chris Bessant)
Royston, 2 Raven, off the Icknield Way between Royston and Therfield (Martin Johnson)
Royston, Red Kite (Martin Johnson)
Royston, Spotted Flycatcher, at Flint Hall. (Martin Johnson)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), Common Tern, juvenile (Lee Evans)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 70 Swallow (Lee Evans)
Therfield nr Royston, Hobby, over Reed End (Martin Johnson)
Therfield nr Royston, 2 Yellow Wagtail (Martin Johnson)
Tringford Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Mandarin (G & K Leckie)
Tyttenhanger GPs (exact GP not specified), Common Tern (Lee Evans)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 2 Kingfisher (Steve Blake)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Hobby (Steve Blake)
Willows Farm (Tyttenhanger area), c50 Swallow (Steve Blake)
Willows Farm (Tyttenhanger area), Whinchat (Steve Blake)
Willows Farm (Tyttenhanger area), Wheatear (Steve Blake)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Grey Wagtail (Jeff Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Peregrine Falcon, present for its fourth day (Lee Evans)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 3 Spotted Flycatcher, in meadow behind hide feeding from elders (Jeff Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 4 Yellow Wagtail, flew south (Lee Evans)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Mediterranean Gull, juvenile on spit in front of hide at 15:36 (G & K Leckie/Jeff Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Kingfisher (G & K Leckie)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Greenshank, on mud between hide & outlet, then flew to spit in front of hide (G & K Leckie)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Whooper Swan, adults (Lee Evans)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Common Tern (Lee Evans)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Common Sandpiper (Lee Evans)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Red-crested Pochard (Jeff Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 4 Wigeon (Lee Evans)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Kingfisher (Jeff Bailey)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 3 Hobby (Lee Evans)
30TH AUG: Gaddesden Row, 6 Yellow Wagtail, opposite Ballingdon Farm in with cattle (Ernest Leahy)
Hertford Heath, Tree Sparrow, on feeder in Herford Heath Garden, this is a first for our garden. (Sandra Standbridge)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Greenshank, West pool flew over calling at 8:10am (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 14 Common Snipe, West pool 6 Park Mead 8 (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 9 Common Sandpiper, West pool flock roosting together at dusk (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Kingfisher, East Pool (Kris Leckie/Simon Knott)
Lemsford Springs, 6 Green Sandpiper (Barry Trevis)
Lemsford Springs, 3 Mandarin (Barry Trevis)
Long Marston, 2 Whinchat, juveniles, Boares Croft Farm. 11.00 (Dave Jenkinson)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Red-crested Pochard, The flock of males were not present this morning. (Mike Wallen)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Yellow Wagtail, juvs (Mike Wallen)
Tewinbury Reserve, 6 Water Rail, at least including 3 juv (Drew Lyness)
Tewinbury Reserve, 2 Kingfisher (Drew Lyness)
Tringford Res (Tring Reservoirs), 30 Swallow, approx (Mike Wallen)
Tringford Res (Tring Reservoirs), 50 Sand Martin, approx (Mike Wallen)
Tringford Res (Tring Reservoirs), 50 House Martin, approx (Mike Wallen)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Red Kite (S Blake/R Flesher)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 3 Common Snipe (S Blake/R Flesher)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 4 Common Tern (S Blake/R Flesher)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Common Sandpiper (S Richards)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Grey Wagtail (S Richards)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Dunlin (G Lapworth)
29TH AUG: Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 2 Swift, or 3 (Jan Hein van Steenis)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 4 Mandarin (Jan Hein van Steenis)
Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 3 Yellow Wagtail, over → west (Jan Hein van Steenis)
Batford, 2 Kingfisher, flying over the ford (Paul Unwin)
Beech Farm GP nr St Albans, Yellow Wagtail, Flyover - heading south (Wendy Hatton)
Hatfield Aerodrome (disused), Redstart, male in elderberry 200 metres NE of metal gate late morning (Wendy Hatton)
Hatfield Aerodrome (disused), Redstart, beautiful male just east of gate as reported yesterday 2pm (Paul Moss)
Hatfield Aerodrome (disused), Spotted Flycatcher, heard calling frequently seen once briefly near redstart (Paul Moss)
Hatfield Aerodrome (disused), Whinchat, on fence along footpath between BT site and meadow (Paul Moss)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 12 Common Snipe, Park Mead 11 West pool 1 (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Common Sandpiper, West pool (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Green Sandpiper, West pool (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 2 Kingfisher, East pool (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 10 Swift, East pool (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 23 Shoveler (Simon Knott)
Lemsford Springs, 4 Green Sandpiper (Drew lyness)
Lemsford Springs, Mandarin, Juv (Drew lyness)
Stocker's Lake, Common Sandpiper (Steve Pash)
Stocker's Lake, Little Egret (G Lapworth)
Stocker's Lake, 2 Spotted Flycatcher (G Lapworth)
Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross, 3 Common Tern (Steve Carter)
Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross, Wheatear, immature or female (Steve Carter)
Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross, Yellow Wagtail (G Lapworth)
Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross, 3 Sand Martin (Steve Carter)
Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross, Little Owl (G Lapworth)
Woodoaks Farm nr Maple Cross, 4 House Martin (Steve Carter)
Woolmer Green, Hobby, Seen chasing swallows (Kevin Hornby)
28TH AUG: Amwell NR - Great Hardmead Lake, 3 Hobby, 1 juvenile (Jan Hein van Steenis)
Garden Wood (Tyttenhanger area), 2 Spotted Flycatcher (S Blake/R Flesher)
Hatfield Aerodrome (disused), Redstart, Male - in bush East of metal gate (David Wheatcroft)
Hatfield Aerodrome (disused), Spotted Flycatcher, on hedge West of metal gate, calling (David Wheatcroft)
Hatfield Aerodrome (disused), 4 Whinchat, scattered through site (David Wheatcroft)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Hobby, East pool (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Common Sandpiper, West pool (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Common Snipe, West pool (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 2 Kingfisher, New River (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 50 House Martin, East pool at dusk (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 6 Swift, East pool (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, 2 Wheatear, Park Mead am, West pool at dusk (Simon Knott)
King's Meads nr Hertford, Barnacle Goose, West pool (Simon Knott)
Lemsford Springs, 3 Green Sandpiper (Drew Lyness)
Lemsford Springs, 2 Kingfisher (Drew Lyness)
Lemsford Springs, 2 Mandarin, both juv (Drew Lyness)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Whooper Swan, the regular feral birds (Mike Wallen)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 9 Red-crested Pochard (Mike Wallen)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 9 Swift (Mike Wallen)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), White Wagtail (Mike Wallen)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Yellow Wagtail (Mike Wallen)
Startop's End Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Grey Wagtail (Mike Wallen)
Tyttenhanger Farm (Tyttenhanger area), Wheatear (S Blake/R Flesher)
Tyttenhanger GPs - fishing lake, 2 Egyptian Goose, the match Lake (Graeme Leckie)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, 5 Whinchat (S Blake/R Flesher)
Tyttenhanger GPs - main GP, Hobby (S Blake/R Flesher)
Tyttenhanger GPs - Willows Farm Lake, Greenshank, the farm lake (Graeme Leckie)
Willows Farm (Tyttenhanger area), Wheatear (S Blake/R Flesher)
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Dunlin
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Common Sandpiper
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Mediterranean Gull, 2nd summer?
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), Hobby
Wilstone Res (Tring Reservoirs), 2 Red-crested Pochard
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.
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.
2007 Bird Report now available