Scarce and declining residents.

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was an uncommon breeding bird in Hertfordshire during the nineteenth century. Foster (1914) claimed that they were fairly common in woods near Stevenage. Having declined by 83% between 1970 and 2015, their numbers nationally are now giving concern.

In the 1973 Breeding Atlas they were confirmed as breeding in two of Stevenage’s tetrads, probable breeding from seven tetrads in the 1992 Atlas and, only possible breeding from two tetrads in the 2012 Atlas. 

They formerly bred at, Astonbury Wood (last recorded on 26 April 2010), Box Wood (last recorded on 11 May 1985) and, Watery Grove, where despite being recorded by the Common Bird Census as being present during the 1981, 1989, 1995, 1997 and 1999 breeding seasons, they have never been more than occasional visitors to the wood (last recorded on 3 February 2000). They have also been seen in Monks Wood (last record 9 April 2022), Parsonsgreen Wood, Great Ashby (one record 4 December 2014), Pryors Wood (last record 16 April 2013), Ridlins Wood (last record 17 April 1999) and, Whomerly Wood (last record 1975).

Away from the woodlands they have been seen at: Chells on 5 July 1970, 1972 (young birds being fed July) and 1974; Pin Green 1974; Aston End 1975; the Industrial Area 1980; Sish Lane 1981; male(s), “drumming” at Shephalbury Park 1988, one in the London Road between Brickdale House and Tesco’s Car Park in the springs of 1988 and 1989; one at Chesfield Park on 28 March 1989; one at Great Ashby on 16 November 2007; female in a Great Ashby Garden on 19 May 2020; one at Fairlands Valley Park on 18 March 2022.

The 2012 Winter Atlas confirmed their presence from the tetrad covering Norton Green.

The most recent record is of one at Monks Wood on 9 April 2022.