Rare passage migrants.

Redstarts have always been scarce as breeding birds in Hertfordshire.

One was seen at Stevenage on 24 April 1930. Foster (1934) claimed that they used to nest near Stevenage (a pair was seen by Doctor C. Grosvenor on 15 May 1932) but had, by then deserted the area except on rare occasions.

They were badly affected by the Sahel drought of 1968/69, when it was estimated that 75% of their number were lost.

In the 1960s and 1970s birds were seen at: Box Wood (7 September 1966, 7 September 1967, 15 April 1968); Fairlands Valley (male 1969); Popple Way (female 30 August 1975); Un-recorded location (male 21 April 1974, one killed by a Cat 12 September 1978); Watery Grove (30 April 1970).

In the 1980s and 1990s they were recorded from: Chells Way (14 March 1989); Norton Green (10 April 1988); Ripon Road (21 October 1981); Un-recorded location (7 August 1980, 24 September 1994, 24 March 1995, 24 April 1996, 20 September 1997).

Since 2000 they have been seen at: Aston Allotments (male 16 April 2015); Derby Way (male 14 September 2007); Dyes Lane (a male and female from 27 to 29 August 2021); Norton Green Tip (2 September 2015, male 10 April 2017, male 30 August 2020); River Beane east of Chells Manor (female 21 September 2008); Un-recorded location (female 20 April 2006, 18 August 2010).