Benington Hertfordshire Wildlife Page

Wildlife

With so much countryside around the village, there are plenty of opportunities for observing wildlife.

Both fallow deer and muntjacs are common sights and care should be taken when driving, especially at night. It is not uncommon to see 20 or more fallow deer at a time.

Numerous species of birds can be spotted, including tawny, barn and little owls, sparrowhawks and woodpeckers. There are also buzzards resident close to the village.

Details of sightings are welcome so that we can include them on this page.

Fallow deer near Combes Wood

Buzzard

Click here to find out about Benington's only Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

For more information about wildlife, visit the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust's website at www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/herts

Green Plovers (or Lapwings, or Peewits) are on the list of endangered birds, but seem to be making a comeback in and around Benington and a large flock were seen in December 2008.

Deer sightings

In early January 2006 my son and I saw over 100 fallow deer feeding in a dip in the fields to the right of Combes Wood. We saw one stag with antlers and three white deer.

This is the largest herds I have seen together and guess the preceding cold spell of weather had brought them all together to feed.

Mrs Ruth Hitchcock

Bird sightings around Combs / Banfield Woods
w/e 9-4-2006

Chiffchaff - singing
Blackcap x 2 - singing
Buzzard - still present
Cuckoo - very early
Marsh tit
Great spotted woodpecker x 4

Andy Pratt

Bird sightings around Combs / Banfield Woods
w/e 2-4-2006

1 pair Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
1 Nuthatch
1 Male Sparrowhawk
c 15 Redwing
1 Buzzard
1 Brambling
1 Blackcap - singing
2 Chiffchaff
2 Great Spooted Woodpecker
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Mistle Thrush

Andy Pratt

Bird sightings in Benington,
week ending 24 February 2005

Hawfinch - up to 4 around Church/Gardens all week.
Little Owl - Several calling around village all week.
Kestrel - Lordship Garden.
Sparrowhawk - Lordship Garden
Goldfinch - 25+ Lordship Garden.
Yellowhammer - 6+ on Lammas.
Brambling - 6+ Roosting in Lordship Garden all week.
Bullfinch - Lordship Garden.
Chiffchaff - Church Green.
Song Thrush - 2 singing around Church Green.
Mistle Thrush - 2 by Church.
Redwing - Few around village all week.
Fieldfare - 100+ around village all week.
Green Woodpecker - Lordship Garden/Church Green.
Great Spotted Woodpecker - several around Church/Lordship Garden.
Nuthatch - 4+ Lordship Garden.
Treecreeper - Lordship Garden.
Long-tailed Tit - 15+ Lordship Garden.
Goldcrest - Lordship Garden.
Red Legged Partridge - 2 off High Elms Lane 18/2

Past sightings

5 April 2005
Hobby and calling/drumming Lesser Spotted Woodpecker by Church (R Webb)

3 April 2005
Female Brambling with greenfinch flock (R Webb)