Gamebird sighted in Abbots Langley garden (From Watford Observer)

Red-legged partridge sighted in Abbots Langley garden

4:30pm Wednesday 23rd January 2013 in News By Rebecca Perring, Reporter

As the cold snap sets in it is thought a gamebird nesting in a resident’s front garden in Abbots Langley may have come to the village in search for food.

Cathy and Brian Birch who live in Tibbs Hill Road were alerted to the red-legged partridge, as it peered though their back door at the start of this month.

The bird, which is common in the countryside and usually seen in groups feeding on the ground in fields for roots and seeds, had started to build a nest in the stones of the couple’s front drive.

Mrs Birch, 55, said: "We were all quite surprised. It is ever so bizarre, it first came right up to our back door and peered in. He continues to do this.

"I was first told about this bird, when my friend mentioned she had thought she was seeing things when she saw it walking around. He seems to have taken to Abbots Langley and doesn’t want to leave."

"It is a great old bird and it has a green tag on its leg which makes us think someone may have lost him.

"Our main concern is this bird may be lonely."

The couple’s neighbours have also reported seeing the bird in their garden. However there is now growing concerns for the bird’s whereabouts, as it seems to have disappeared when the snow started to fall.

Sarah Buckingham, spokesman from the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, said: "It has probably come in from the countryside in search of food because the ground is frozen because of the snow.

"There are quite a few birds about in gardens at the moment that you might not normally see."