One was seen in Popple Way on 5 and 6 July 1975, and one was seen at Aston on 19 February 1995.

[ thought or known species of introduced or captive origin ]

Uncommon but increasing visitor which may have bred.

The Ring necked Parakeet is a native of Africa and the Indian sub-continent, and was introduced to Britain as a cage bird. As a result of escapes from captivity and deliberate releases large free flying colonies now exist in south east England and, large flocks are increasingly seen in Hertfordshire.

The earliest record is of one at Bragbury End from 10 to 14 March 1974 (this was the first record of this species for Hertfordshire), they were not recorded again until one was seen at an unrecorded location on 16 February 2001.

Between 2001 and 2010, there were three records: one at Fairlands Valley Lakes on 25 and 27 October 2003; one at an unrecorded location on 30 December 2003; one at the Golf Course, Aston on 23 February 2008.

Between 2010 and 2019 they were recorded at: Chells Manor (five flying over on 28 October 2012, two on 4 December 2015, six in a garden on 13 November 2019); Fairlands Valley Lakes (one on 24 August 2016, one on 18 February 2018, one on 27 February 2019, two on 29 December 2019); Fairview Road (one heard and seen on 20 May and 17 September 2014); Jackdaw Close (31 March 2014); King George V Playing Fields (two on 2 November 2017); Martins Way (one on 26 March 2018); Norton Green (one heard on 29 October 2011); Roebuck Hotel (eight flying over on 3 December 2016); St Nicholas (one in a garden on 25 May 2018).    

Since 2020 sightings have increased significantly with records (and maximum numbers) from: Ashtree Wood (15+ on 19 February 2022); Aston (three on 6 November 2020); Aston Allotments (four on 6 December 2021); Aston Lane, Aston (four on 24 May 2021);  Astonbury Lane: (two on 28 November 2020); Astonbury Manor (two on 3 April 2020); Astonbury Wood (one on 21 May 2020 and one on 18 December 2022); Blackberry Mead (10 on 27 June 2022); Bragbury End (c.10 on 31 January 2024); Chells Manor (11 on 13 December 2021); Clark’s Farm, Aston End (three on 2 January 2022); Drakes Drive (one on 4 March 2020, one on 13 August 2021); Edmonds Drive (10 on 19 February 2024); Fairlands Valley Lakes (22 on 26 December 2023); Glebe Shops, Chells (eight flying over on 16 January 2020); Gresley Way (three on 10 January 2022); Hampson Park (two on 25 March 2024); Holders Lane, Aston End (two on 22 April 2021); Jackdaw Close: 13 on 7 December 2022); Minsden Road (five on 18 December 2022); Mobbsbury Way (one on 16 July 2021); Mobbsbury Wood (10+ on 9 February 2022); Pin Green (seven on 27 September 2023); Tatlers Lane, Aston End (two on 28 May 2023); Weston Road Cemetery (two on 17 August 2021); Watton Road, Bragbury End (32 on 31 January 2023).

The most seen together is the 32 at Watton Road, Bragbury End on 31 January 2023.

In 2018 local breeding was suspected when a young bird was seen.

One unusual record, six were seen mobbing a Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) at the White Way on 12 January 2023.

One spent the afternoon in a dead Elm Tree in Fairview Road in July 1975, and was thought to have escaped from the Bird Gardens that existed at that time at Knebworth House.

[ thought or known species of introduced or captive origin ]