Common breeding resident.

Described by Foster (1914) as, “Common everywhere and often very abundant wherever there is sufficient cover near water”.

Even as late as the 1980’s, Moorhens were persecuted by Gamekeepers.

Moorhens were confirmed as breeding in seven tetrads covering the town in the 1973 Breeding Atlas, all eleven in the 1992 Atlas and from seven in the 2012 Atlas.

The 2012 Winter Atlas confirmed their presence from nine of Stevenage’s tetrads.

Despite their familiarity today, they were still considered to be rare at Fairlands Valley Lakes in 1975. Two birds became established on the Islands at Fairlands Valley Lakes in 1976 but, they did not breed there until 1979. The first record from there is of two on 9 and 10 September 1974.

The largest number recorded at Fairlands Valley Lakes is 51 during the WeBS Counts for September and, October 2016.

During the 2018 breeding season eight broods were recoded from Fairlands Valley Lakes.

Between 1972 and 1999 at least one breeding territory was recorded from Watery Grove by the Common Bird Census with, the exception of 1985 and 1991. Two territories were held in 1978, 1989 and 1995.

Known to perch in trees and bushes, one was seen in a Larch tree at Box Wood on 17 January 1965.

Although Moorhens in Britain are sedentary, some are winter visitors from the Continent. A bird ringed at, Driehoek, Castricum, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands on 20 October 2002, was seen at Stevenage on 17 October 2008.