01/01/2026

On the first Monday of the month I lead Ladybirders (a guided birdwatching walk for ladies) for Essex Wildlife Trust at The Naze. For dates, further details and bookings please contact the Centre team on 01255 679379.

01/01/2026

On alternate Wednesdays I lead Ladybirders (a guided birdwatching walk for ladies) for Essex Wildlife Trust at Fingringhoe Wick nature reserve. For dates, further details and bookings please contact the Centre team on 01206 729678.

01/01/2026

Guided walks last 2.5 hours (unless otherwise stated) and finish with refreshments back at the cars. Group size is a maximum of 8 (plus me as leader).
Booking in advance is essential on all walks please.
Lift shares may be possible for some walks - please ask!
If you are booked and have to cancel within 2 weeks of the day (or fail to attend) it will incur the full charge if I'm unable to fill your place.

26/06/2026

Friday 26th June 10am – 12.30pm Blue House Farm EWT
(£15 per person). Meet in the reserve car park in Blue House Farm Chase, North Fambridge CM3 6GU. TQ 857969. Following completion of a 40 hectare wetland creation project, this site is looking very promising. It’s a linear walk over rough ground to the banks of the River Crouch; and there are 3 hides overlooking pools.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, skylark, barnacle goose, reed bunting, waders (eg black tailed godwit, avocet, & scarcer species possible), bearded tit, cuckoo, yellow wagtail, common tern; butterflies (eg small heath, wall brown); dragonflies (eg ruddy darter, southern migrant hawker).
Booking in advance is essential please.

30/06/2026

Tuesday 30th June 10am – 4pm Strumpshaw Fen RSPB
(£30 per person + £4.50 reserve entry or bring RSPB membership card). Meet in the RSPB car park in Low Road, Strumpshaw, NR13 4HS, TG341065 (about 6 miles east of Norwich). We’ll take two circular walks – c1½ miles in the morning, and c2½ miles after lunch. Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bittern, hobby, kingfisher; butterflies (eg swallowtail); dragonflies (eg Norfolk hawker); Chinese water deer, otter; orchids.
Booking in advance is essential please.

03/07/2026

Friday 3rd July 2.00 – 10pm Minsmere RSPB & Westleton Heath
(£30 per person + £10 reserve entry or bring RSPB membership card). Meet in the reserve car park at 2pm. TM473672. IP17 3BY. The plan is to walk round the reserve (c2½ miles), and then drive, via a stop-off for stone curlew, to Westleton Heath car park to search for heathland species and nightjar. Please bring a packed tea.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bittern, avocet, terns, sand martin, Mediterranean gull, warblers, common crane; stone curlew, Dartford warbler, stonechat, woodlark, nightjar.
Booking in advance is essential please.

09/07/2026

Thursday 9th July 10am – 12.30pm Gt Holland Pits EWT
(£15 per person). Meet in the small reserve car park. TM204190. CO13 0EU for satnav. It's not easy to find!! Travelling from Kirby Cross towards Clacton, at the end of Gt Holland turn right at the mini roundabout (by the old Lions Den pub) onto Little Clacton Road. It is on your right after about ½ mile just after a lefthand bend - the track is to the left of a white house called "Seawinds". If you get as far as Dairy House Farm you've missed it!
Species we'll be hoping to see include: common woodland birds, long tailed tit, chiffchaff, great spotted and green woodpeckers, jay, bullfinch, common buzzard; butterflies - white letter hairstreak, purple hairstreak, white admiral, small heath, common blue, wall brown, purple emperor possible; dragonflies – southern hawker, ruddy darter, emerald damselfly
Booking in advance is essential please.

10/07/2026

Friday 10th July 10am – 4pm Lakenheath Fen RSPB
(£30 per person + £4 reserve entry or bring RSPB membership card). Meet in the RSPB car park in Station Road (B1112), Lakenheath, IP27 9AD. TL724865. There is a visitor centre with toilets. The main circular trail is approx 3 miles. Please bring a packed lunch, which we’ll take out with us and have part way round.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bittern, bearded tit, common crane, kingfisher, water rail, common tern, sedge warbler, grasshopper warbler, hobby; dragonflies.
Booking in advance is essential please.

18/07/2026

On Saturday 18th July 1.30 - 4.30pm I'm leading a Butterfly ID Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

18/07/2026

On Saturday 18th July 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Dragonfly ID Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

21/07/2026

Tuesday 21st July 10am – 12.30pm Elmstead Woods
(£15 per person). Meet in the village car park in Clacton Road (A133), Elmstead Market (CO7 7DA) (between the traffic lights and Beth Chatto Gardens, near the junction with Bromley Road, car park entrance next to Market Close). The walk will be approximately 2 miles, but please note that we’ll go through a cattle field where the ground is trampled and very uneven. The site includes new woodland, old woodland and a section of the Tenpenny Brook.
Species we’ll be hoping to find include: common buzzard, warblers (eg whitethroat, willow warbler and blackcap), green woodpecker, yellowhammer, house martin; butterflies & dragonflies (eg banded demoiselle).
Booking in advance is essential please.

24/07/2026

Friday 24th July 10am – 12.30pm Chalkney Wood
(£15 per person). Meet in the Forestry Commission car park in Tey Road at TL872279. I think the nearest postcode is CO6 2LQ. From the A1124 between White Colne and Earls Colne take Tey Road south for 1/2 mile or so. The car park is signed to the left on a sharp right-hand bend and is c200m down a dirt track.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: treecreeper, common buzzard, great spotted woodpecker, grey wagtail, kingfisher and nuthatch possible; butterflies (eg purple emperor, purple hairstreak, white admiral, silver washed fritillary); dragonflies (eg banded demoiselle, migrant hawker, brown hawker).
Booking in advance is essential please.

01/08/2026

Saturday 1st August 9.45am wildlife boat trip
(£21 per person). We’ll be joining Tony Haggis for a 2 hour boat trip around the beautiful Walton Backwaters. Meet in the car park at Titchmarsh Marina in Walton on the Naze CO14 8SL at 9.45am (for 10am boat trip). From Kirby Road (B1024) turn into Coles Lane (signed for Titchmarsh Marina and Harbour Lights restaurant) and drive to the boatyard car park at the far end (it’s a long narrow lane with speed bumps!). Maximum 11 places (plus me!) so please book early to avoid disappointment. Please bring weather-appropriate clothing!
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders (eg avocet, oystercatcher, godwits), marsh harrier, peregrine, Mediterranean gull, terns; common seal. Scarcer species such as osprey possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

06/08/2026

Thursday 6th August 10am – 2pm Rainham Marshes RSPB
(£20 per person). Meet in the RSPB car park, New Tank Hill Rd, Purfleet, RM19 1SZ (pay & display parking or free if you have RSPB membership card). The circular walk is approx 2.5 miles, with 4 hides; and there are toilets at the Visitor Centre and near Butts Hide (half way round). Please bring a packed lunch, which we’ll take round with us.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, peregrine, hobby, bearded tit, Cetti’s warbler, water rail, common tern, warblers, waders (avocet, snipe, black tailed godwit), barn owl, scarcer species possible; and we’ll also look for water vole, marsh frog, brown hairstreak butterfly, and dragonflies.
Booking in advance is essential please.

08/08/2026

On Saturday 8th August 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a New to Birdwatching Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

13/08/2026

Thursday 13th August 10am-12.30pm Foxearth Meadows
(£15 per person). (Near Glemsford, not far from Long Melford). Meet at the reserve entrance at TL833459. The nearest postcode is Constable’s Barn CO10 7HZ and the entrance is c200m NW from there. Details of how to find Foxearth Meadows can be found on the A Rocha website www.arocha.org.uk. There is a composting toilet at the site. This is quite a new nature reserve specifically managed for its dragonflies and damselflies and we’ll be hoping to see a number of different species (22 species have so far been recorded). We’ll also hope to see marsh tit, common warblers, nightingale, kingfisher, hobby.
Booking in advance is essential please.

18/08/2026

Tuesday 18th August 10am – 1pm The Naze
(£15 per person). Meet in the pay & display car park near the EWT visitor centre in Old Hall Lane, Walton on the Naze, CO14 8LE. TM264235. Drive through Walton and then follow Hall Lane, Naze Park Road and Old Hall Lane to the end! The car park is on the right. The plan is to take a route that will explore Walton Hall Marshes as well as the scrub area (approx. 3 miles).
Species we’ll be hoping to find include: returning waders (eg greenshank, whimbrel, black tailed godwit, avocet, green sandpiper), sandwich tern, migrant passerines (eg spotted and pied flycatcher, willow warbler, wheatear, whinchat), rarities possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

26/08/2026

Wednesday 26th August 10am – 1pm Abberton Reservoir EWT
(£15 per person + site entry donation or bring EWT membership card). Meet at the north (reserve) end of Layer de la Haye Causeway (there’s plenty of parking along the causeway) – B1026 - Church Road/Wigborough Road. We’ll probably view from the causeways and Wigborough Bay, depending on the latest bird news.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: common tern, red crested pochard, great white egret, spoonbill, cattle egret, yellow wagtail, returning waders (eg black tailed godwit, ruff, green sandpiper, greenshank, little ringed plover), marsh harrier, hobby, osprey and other rarities (eg black tern) possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

28/08/2026

Friday 28th August 10am – 4pm Bawdsey (East Lane) & Boyton Marshes
(£30 per person). Meet in the free car park at the far end of East Lane, Bawdsey IP12 3AP. We’ll walk north towards Shingle Street past a series of lagoons and arable/marsh land, and keep stopping to scan out to sea. It’s a good migrant spot if conditions are right! We’ll then drive to Boyton Marshes (c7 miles away) where there should be more waders. Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: warblers, swallows & martins, redstart, wheatear, whinchat, shoveler, tufted duck, common sandpiper, gannet & skuas possible, marsh harrier, and hopefully one or two surprises!
Booking in advance is essential please.

03/09/2026

Thursday 3rd September 10am – 1pm Old Hall Marshes RSPB
(£15 per person). Meet in the reserve car park at the far end of Old Hall Lane, Tolleshunt D’Arcy CM9 8TP. TL959122. From the B1026 take Chapel Road/Back Road and turn in to Old Hall Lane, which is quite a narrow lane. Drive to the far end, over the speed bumps round the gardens/cottages, through the metal gates, over the cattle grid and follow signs to the car park (open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri). The walk is approx 3 miles (the short circuit!) over uneven ground, including the seawall.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, hobby, common tern, waders (eg avocet, black tailed godwit, ruff, golden plover, spotted redshank, greenshank, little stint, wood sandpiper (and maybe a rarity or two), bearded tit, cattle egret and spoonbill possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

09/09/2026

Wednesday 9th September 10am – 12.30pm Dovercourt West End
(£15 per person). Meet in the car park on the left just before the recycling centre in West End Lane, Dovercourt CO12 3SF. TM247301. The walk is 2-3 miles, mostly along an earth seawall.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: sandwich tern, common tern, oystercatcher, ringed plover, reed warbler, sedge warbler, marsh harrier, linnet, stonechat, scarcer species possible at this time of year.
Booking in advance is essential please.

10/09/2026

On Thursday 10th September 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Bird Migration Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

12/09/2026

Saturday 12th September 10.45am wildlife boat trip
(£21 per person). We’ll be joining Tony Haggis for a 2 hour boat trip around the beautiful Walton Backwaters. Meet in the car park at Titchmarsh Marina in Walton on the Naze CO14 8SL at 10.45am (for 11am boat trip). From Kirby Road (B1024) turn into Coles Lane (signed for Titchmarsh Marina and Harbour Lights restaurant) and drive to the boatyard car park at the far end (it’s a long narrow lane with speed bumps!). Maximum 11 places (plus me!) so please book early to avoid disappointment. Please bring weather-appropriate clothing!
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders (eg avocet, oystercatcher, godwits), marsh harrier, Mediterranean gull, terns; common seal. Scarcer species such as osprey possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

15/09/2026

Tuesday 15th September 10am – 12.30pm Frinton on Sea to Holland Haven
(£15 per person). Meet on the Greensward at the southern end of The Esplanade near Frinton Golf Club, CO13 9EP. There is plenty of free parking along The Esplanade and Second Avenue. We’ll walk along the seawall to Holland Haven and back via the Country Park and by the golf course (approx 3½ miles).
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: yellow wagtail, common buzzard, whitethroat, sedge warbler, reed warbler, reed bunting, waders (eg avocet, green sandpiper, ruff, black tailed godwit, snipe), wheatear, stonechat, terns offshore, scarcer species possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

23/09/2026

Wednesday 23rd September 10am – 1pm Tollesbury Wick EWT
(£15 per person). Meet in the free car park in Woodrolfe Road, Tollesbury CM9 8SE (where there are toilets). From there it’s a few minutes’ walk to the nature reserve.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: teal, shoveler, gadwall, waders (eg avocet, godwits, golden plover), terns, wheatear, marsh harrier, barn owl, stonechat, scarcer species possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

25/09/2026

Friday 25th September 10am-1pm Hanningfield Reservoir EWT
(£15 per person + site entry donation or bring EWT membership card). Meet in the EWT reserve car park in Hawkswood Road, CM11 1WT, TQ725970 (the site opens at 10am, so view from the causeway if you arrive early!).
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: common woodland birds, coal tit, treecreeper, goldcrest, great spotted woodpecker, red crested pochard, marsh harrier, yellow legged gull, waders (eg green sandpiper, black tailed godwit, ruff), scarcer species possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

28/09/2026

Monday 28th September 9.30am – 4pm Minsmere RSPB
(£30 per person + £10 reserve entry or bring RSPB membership card). Meet in the reserve car park. TM473672. IP17 3BY. The plan is to do the coast circuit (c2 miles), have lunch in the car park, and then do the Island Mere circuit (c2 miles). Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders (may include scarcer species such as ruff, spotted redshank, little stint, curlew sandpiper), marsh harrier, bearded tit, treecreeper and marsh tit in the woodland, skuas and shearwaters may be passing offshore, rarities are possible (eg red backed shrike and pectoral sandpiper).
Booking in advance is essential please.

10/10/2026

On Saturday 10th October 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Wader ID Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

07/11/2026

On Saturday 7th November 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Raptor ID Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

05/12/2026

On Saturday 5th December 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Duck ID Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.