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)
What to look for in......October
Winners of the Herts Local Patch Big Weekend 2026 receive their prizes
Following the Local Patch Big Weekend challenge that took place over the weekend of 25th & 26th April, winning teams have received their prizes. In all 9 teams took part recording 111 different species over the weekend.
New UK-wide survey - Birds in Greenspaces
This new BTO citizen science survey, will run from April to June 2026, is open to all, and aims to find out just how important public-access greenspaces are for UK birds.
Go to Bird in Greenspaces to learn more including how to take part
2026 Rookery Survey
Rooks are busy nest building at this time of year and the Herts Bird Club is once again asking submission of Rookery nest counts in Hertfordshire in 2026.
In 2025, 228 Rookeries with 4338 nests were found, a big increase on the 2024 totals as a result of better observer coverage. Rooks have been surveyed for a long period in Hertfordshire going back to a complete survey in 1960/61 where 521 Rookeries with 15739 nests were found (Sage & Nau, 1963). Numbers declined until the 1990's, but appear to be stable since, with a loss of Rookeries in the south of the county and trend towards more but smaller Rookeries (Knight, Herts Bird Report 2021).
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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.