RSPB Watford Local Group

23/10/2026

Our November talk by Ben Andrew - former Countryfile competition winner. Join us at The Stanborough Centre

04/10/2026

Join us for our October meeting.

31/08/2026

Come along to our first indoor meeting of the new season! Should be an interesting talk.

The speakers will also have greeting cards for sale.

31/07/2026

30/06/2026

Stocker's Lake rescheduled
We have rescheduled the walk postponed last week for Thursday 2nd July starting at 9.30 am For more information contact [email protected]

22/06/2026

Our Summer 2026 Newsletter is here, with a special focus on citizen science.

How everyday sightings in Watford feed real conservation decisions — plus trip reports, local nature wins, member stories and this year’s photo competition results.

Have a read whether you’re a regular birder or just curious about what’s happening in our local greenspaces.

Read the newsletter here

https://group.rspb.org.uk/watford/wp-content/uploads/sites/168/2026/06/00-RSPB-Watford-Newsletter-2026.pdf

21/06/2026

☀️🥵We have postponed the local walk at Stockers Lake scheduled for Wed 25 June. We hope to reschedule after the heatwave has passed.🥵☀️

20/06/2026

Thursley and Crooksbury Commons – 13th June

A bunch of us made the trip to Thursley and Crooksbury Commons in Surrey in our annual search for seasonal heathland birds. Those who got to Thursley first soon found a Grass Snake swimming on Moat Pond.

We headed off to the right along the sandy track beyond the pond. There were Stonechats everywhere. We were soon rewarded with our first Dartford Warbler of the day flitting in birch saplings, and a male Redstart was moving near the base of conifers to the right of the track. Moving out across the marshy heath, we came across the first of several Common Lizards tucked in at the side of the boardwalk. Next came a perched Wood Lark, then a Tree Pipit perched high, singing, flying up and parachuting back down again in its characteristic way. We also saw a further five Dartford Warblers, four of them together, so probably a family. A Hobby flashed past at one point. Other than that, it was a few Mallard, Teal, Tufted Duck, Pochard and Moorhens on the central pond, and t**s, Treecreeper and a very persistent Chiffchaff in the trees near the car park. We also saw some dragon and damselflies.

Off to the Woolpack in Elstead, where we added Greenfinch and House Martin from the pub garden. At 2000 we left for Crooksbury Common close by. There was plenty of daylight left for a circular walk, picking up Song Thrush, a noisy Wren and two Stock Doves on a wire. As darkness fell we took up position towards the top of the hill. It was a bit of a wait. Eventually we had two excellent views of Woodcock in flight. Then a lot of Nightjar churring from several spots at once. Six great views of them came in the end, including of one perched in silhouette. As we ended, a Tawny Owl was calling off in the distance.

Worth not getting home ‘til midnight for!

The Woodland Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (No. 294344) and in Scotland (No. SC038885). A non-profit-making company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No. 1982873.

16/06/2026

Listen to the Wren in slo-mo!

14/06/2026

Count the Birds Oxhey Park - 12th June

As one of our events we carried out a survey in Oxhey Park.

Before we left our starting point we had seen two Magpies, a Robin, a Moorhen and had heard a Blackcap!

We set off towards the railway line hearing Wrens as we went. We saw another Moorhen with one young.

We heard and then saw a Red Kite. It landed on a tree for a while and then flew off to the delight of our youngest companion.

As we turned up the slope we heard various t**s – it was some time before we actually managed to see any of them! We heard more Wrens and a Song Thrush. More Magpies gathered on the grass. Woodpigeons and Carrion Crows were fairly easy to spot. We were pleased to see a Jay perched on a tree – a first for one member of the group.

Walking along the top of the park we saw Blackbirds and a large group of Starlings. These were virtually impossible to count as they were so active! Someone noticed a “different pigeon” – it was a Stock Dove. We heard Nuthatches and A Great-spotted Woodpecker.

Finally we returned to the riverside and found more Moorhens and many Mallards including hybrid ones with white fronts.

We also saw several Grey Squirrels, a Banded Demoiselle and an Orange-tip butterfly. All in all a very pleasant morning and a useful contribution to and to the survey run by BTO British Trust for Ornithology