Grasshopper Warbler on King's Meads, Hertford, 28th May 2026

5/30/2026

A late evening trip in the heat to try and see Barn Owls on the Meads. This ended in failure, but I know at least one has been seen there recently. This was the viewing area.

One of the local Rabbits seemed to be in no hurry to make way!

The New River held a fishing Cormorant.

A nice surprise was seeing the long staying female Goosander on The New River. It has been around Hertford for months and seems incredibly settled as well as affording great views.

As it got darker a Cuckoo flew past and then I heard the unmistakable sound of a reeling Grasshopper Warbler, just like an angler's fishing reel. With a bit of patience I figured out roughly where it was located and waited for it to show as they are incredibly skulking birds. These were my first views.

It then moved to a slightly more open position and I took some hand held video, sadly just as a train was going past! However, you can just about hear it reeling.

And then some time for some stills. It was starting to get darker so I had to push the ISO up, but worth it for such a great bird.