Uncommon residents.

During the Nineteenth Century Grey Partridges were numbered in millions, in 2003 it was estimated that there were only 75,000 pairs in the Country. This decline has occurred during the twentieth century, becoming more noticeable after the Second World War and accelerating during the 1960’s. The decline has been attributed to the use of insecticides on cereal crops and the loss of suitable habitat. Chemical seed dressings were recognised as causing problems to Partridges as early as the 1840’s. The Herts Bird Club Grey Partridge Survey of 2005 estimated a reduction in population of 90% to 98% since 1992. During the survey two birds were found in the tetrad covering Norton Green, and four were found in the tetrad covering Boxbury Farm.  

In 1856 24 were shot at Aston End on 9 September, 55 shot at Broom Barns on 12 September and 17 shot at Monks Wood on 13 September.

The Game Book of Colonel Unwin-Heathcote of Shephalbury Manor records that 119 Partridge were shot at Shephalbury in 1893. From the same book: 30 were shot at Astonbury on 6 September 1893; two at Shackledell on 12 October 1893; 16 at Ridlins Wood on 22 November 1893; 29 at Aston End on 13 September 1894; 58 at the, Monks Wood, “home beat” on 10 September 1895;  and, 70 at Chesfield on 18 September 1895.

Records from the 1960’s 1970s are: a nest containing 10 eggs found near Mobbsbury, Chells on 23 June 1965; a pair at Mossbury on 24 April 1966; Box Wood on 29 May 1966; eight at Box Wood on 11 March 1967; Watery Grove 1967; a pair seen in Fairlands Valley on 14 May 1969; coveys of 15 and 20 at Bragbury End and, the Hertford Road area on 31 December 1973; six by Tilekiln Wood on 5 August 1974; pair Hertford Road 1974; a covey of 20 by Roebuck October 1975; two seen in the walled garden of Astonbury House on 16 April 1978; 15 seen near Watery Grove on 19 October 1979; 10 in a field adjacent to Box Wood on 30 November 1979.

The records for the 1980s and 1990s are: pairs at Box Wood and Ridlins Mire in 1981; four at Box Wood on 25 January 1983; Norton Green 1983; 29 in two coveys at Norton Green on 6 January 1984; three pairs at Pryors Wood 1990; a covey of 28 seen in October and November 1992 at Norton Green; one at Watery Grove on 5 May 1993; two Holders Lane, Aston End on 7 May 1997; 12 at Bragbury End on 8 November 1997; Watton Road on 19 December 1998; Astonbury 13 February 1999; Norton Green Tip 9 April 1999.

More recently the largest coveys have been: Aston (14 between 20 December 2010, and 9 January 2011, 12 on 29 December 2021); near Astonbury (up to 12 between 21 and 25 October 2010); Aston End (12 on 2 November 2007, 25 October 2010 and, 16 October 2011); east of Chells Manor (12 on 2 December 2010); Norton Green (two coveys totaling 19 birds on 2 January 2008 and 12 on 22 December 2022); Watton Road, Bragbury End (15 on 2 January 2023).

The 1973 Breeding Atlas confirmed breeding from the tetrad covering Chesfield Park and considered breeding as probable from the other 10 tetrads covering Stevenage. The 1992 Breeding Atlas considered breeding as probable from five tetrads and, the 2012 Atlas from three.

Recent local breeding: An adult with four young at Norton Green Tip on 14 July 2014 and, an adult with seven young also seen there on 19 September, two adults and, chicks at Norton Green Tip on 16 July 2016, two adults and, approximately 10 nearly full grown birds at Chesfield Park on 26 July 2016, a covey of two adults and, five young at the rear of Lister Hospital on 3 August 2016, a covey of 10 birds at Norton Green Tip on 7 August 2017 which included juvenile birds, a single brood at Aston End in 2020 and c.10 birds including juveniles near Aston End Road on 27 July 2022.

The 2012 Winter Atlas recorded their presence from five of the tetrads covering Stevenage.

Unusual records are; a pair shot near Stevenage in 1886 by a Mr W. Garrett which had white wings and tails, a feature known as symmetrical albinism and, a covey of eight seen in Rectory Lane on 10 November 2005. 

The most recent local record is two at Dyes Lane on 14 April 2024.