Swift Mapper records
With the welcome return of Swifts to our skies, once again we encourage you to enter your Swift nesting records on Swift Mapper rather than submit them to the bird club website
Swift Mapper is a website and an app created by the RSPB and Swift conservation groups to map Swifts and their nesting sites. Full details can be found on the website: Swift Mapper where the app can be downloaded and interactive maps can be found.
The 2nd Herts Local Patch Big Weekend – Sat 29th Apr – Mon 1st May
Three whole days of local birding over the early May Bank Holiday weekend gave Herts birders the chance to focus intently on their patches and see what they could find. Falling in the peak period of Spring migration the weekend proved largely dry with easterlies dominating Saturday and then a stronger southerly breeze on Sunday.
Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits Bird Report 2021 published
The Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits Bird Report for 2021 is now available. Download a copy HERE
This 66 page report continues the tradition of detailed and well written reports about this site. Edited and produced by Ricky Flesher and Peter Christian, it includes a review of the year; accounts for all 126 species recorded at Tyttenhanger in 2021; many photos; insightful data and graphics; a breeding birds summary; arrival and departure dates for migrants; species year lists back to 2004, and much more!
Go to Tyttenhanger Site Guide to download reports back to 2011
Volunteer bird surveyors wanted
The Redlist Revival/Life Map project organised by Edward Darling from Gray's Farm near Royston, is looking for bird surveyors to do 2x 1km transects within nine parishes in Hertfordshire. The nine parishes/areas are Wallington, Therfield, St Pauls Walden, Knebworth, Albury, Panshanger, Wareside, Much Hadham and St Albans.
If you are able to identify the birds that might be expected within the county by sight and sound, please contact Edward Darling edward.darling@redlistrevival.org directly who will put you in contact with the landowner.
1st for Herts - Peregrine Nest Live Cam!
Over 46,000 views of the Live Cam page! (as of 18 April)
In a first for Hertfordshire a live webcam on a Peregrine Falcon nest has been launched today (31-March-2023) at St Albans Cathedral.
Go to Peregrine Live Cam to view where you can also download a Peregrine Falcon Fact File providing further information.
The Live Cam has been launched by St Albans Cathedral working with the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and Barry Trevis and follows their first successful breeding season at the cathedral in 2022.
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HNHS News
HNHS / Herts Bird Club Autumn Meeting & AGM
HNHS members and non-members are warmly invited to join us from 2 to 5.30pm on Saturday 7 October for the Autumn Meeting and AGM. We are once more grateful to Affinity Water for agreeing to host the meeting at their offices in Tamblin Way Hatfield AL10 9EZ
This year's programme of wildlife talks includes news of the positive part that anglers are playing in nature conservation in the Colne Valley and a landscape-scale assessment of Water Voles along the River Lea. A popular community approach to conservation being applied in St Albans will be described by its founder.
Please note that AGM papers, including proposed constitutional amendments, were emailed to members on Tuesday 12 September (or posted to those not on email). There will be a £5 entry charge for the whole meeting, but no charge for members attending the AGM only.
Celebrating the life and achievements of Trevor James (1947 - 2020)
The many natural history achievements of outstanding Hertfordshire naturalist, Trevor James, were celebrated at a conference on Saturday 9 September.
Despite exceptionally hot weather, an audience of more than 50 HNHS/Bird Club members and friends enjoyed a day of talks at Redbourn Parish Centre. These related to Trevor's national contribution to biological recording and his particular areas of wildlife interest.
For those who were unable to attend, links to video recordings of the tributes paid and the main presentations can be found below.
Hertfordshire 'Wild Snaps' wanted!
Calling HNHS / Herts Bird Club photographers. Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust is inviting entries for its 2023 Wild Snaps competition for anyone who has captured a special wildlife moment on camera this year.