01/01/2024

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.
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.

02/01/2024

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.

02/01/2024

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.

21/11/2024

On Thursday 21st November at 7pm I'll be giving a talk entitled "Essex Diary" to Frinton WI at the McGrigor Hall.

22/11/2024

Friday 22nd November 1.30 – 4pm Copt Hall Marshes NT
(£12 per person). Meet in the car park by the church in Copt Hall Lane, Little Wigborough (off the B1025) CO5 7RD, for an afternoon walk particularly hoping for raptors and owls.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: yellowhammer, reed bunting, marsh harrier, barn owl, short eared owl possible, fieldfare, redwing, golden plover, stonechat, brent geese, marsh harrier.
Booking in advance is essential please.

24/11/2024

On Sunday 24th November 10am-3pm I'll have a sales table at Frinton WI's Christmas Table Top Bonanze at the McGrigor Hall, where I'll have a selection of framed wildlife photos, greetings cards and calendars for sale.

25/11/2024

Monday 25th November 10am – 12.30pm Brightlingsea
(£12 per person). Meet near the toilet block at the far end of Promenade Way, Brightlingsea CO7 0HH (beyond the lido and boating lake, towards Bateman’s Tower) (free roadside parking should be available). TM078162.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: a selection of waders (eg black tailed godwit, avocet, curlew), brent geese, wigeon, teal, red breasted merganser, marsh harrier, green woodpecker, Cetti’s warbler, reed bunting.
Booking in advance is essential please.

28/11/2024

Thursday 28th November 9.30am – 4pm Minsmere RSPB
(£25 per person + £9 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 and then the Island Mere circuit (c2 miles). Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bearded tit, bittern, treecreeper, nuthatch, marsh tit, siskin, goldeneye, starling murmuration; scarcer species such as snow bunting, Bewick’s & whooper swan, hen harrier possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

03/12/2024

Tuesday 3rd December 10am – 12.30pm Wrabness EWT
(£12 per person). Meet in the reserve car park. TM167315. CO11 2TF. Take the first left just past the bridge on Wheatsheaf Lane (off the B1352 between Bradfield and Wrabness) and the car park is on your right (there is a height barrier). Most of the paths are tarmac/hard surface, with only one or two grassy areas.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent geese, wigeon, teal, red breasted merganser, goldeneye, slavonian grebe, green woodpecker, jay, barn owl, yellowhammer, brambling possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

06/12/2024

On Friday 6th December 9.30am-12.30pm I'm leading a Duck ID Workshop for Essex Wildlife Trust at Fingringhoe Wick. For further details and bookings please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

11/12/2024

Wednesday 11th December 10am – 12.30pm Walton Channel
(£12 per person). Meet opposite the turning to Walton Lifestyles/Columbine Centre on Princes Esplanade (B1034) in Walton on the Naze, CO14 8PZ where there is free parking. We’ll walk through to join the seawall along the Walton Channel overlooking the Walton Backwaters and Walton Hall Marshes.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: curlew, black tailed and bar tailed godwits, avocet, stonechat, reed bunting, skylark, little egret, brent geese, marsh harrier, common buzzard.
Booking in advance is essential please.

13/12/2024

Friday 13th December 10am – 1pm Old Hall Marshes RSPB
(£12 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, waders (eg avocet, black tailed godwit, golden plover, brent geese, wigeon, teal, bearded tit, peregrine, merlin, hen harrier possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

19/12/2024

Thursday 19th December 10am – 12.30pm Kirby le Soken
(£12 per person). Something a bit different pre-Christmas! We’ll park/meet in Island Lane, (off Walton Road), Kirby le Soken, on the left just past the back of Silvertons, CO13 0DA. (When you turn in to Island Lane, Silvertons in on your right. On the left, you pass cottages, then a small car park and The Social Kitchen catering stand, then there is parking if you turn through the next gap on the left, where Thrive Outdoor used to be). We’ll take a circular walk route via Quay Lane, part of the Walton Backwaters and Island Lane; and finish with lunch (not included) at The Social Kitchen.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent goose, wigeon, pintail, waders (eg avocet, godwits, knot, curlew, golden plover), marsh harrier, peregrine, stonechat, yellowhammer, barn owl possible; common seal.
Booking in advance is essential please.

27/12/2024

Friday 27th December 10am – 3.30pm Fingringhoe Wick EWT
(£25 per person + site entry donation or bring EWT membership card). Meet in the reserve car park. TM041195. CO5 7DN. Access is via South Green Road or Furneaux Lane (both quite narrow!) in Fingringhoe village. Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent geese, waders (including avocet, godwits, knot), little egret, marsh harrier, peregrine, common buzzard, red breasted merganser, kingfisher; merlin and hen harrier possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

30/12/2024

Mondy 30th December 10am – 12.30pm Cockaynes Wood EWT
(£12 per person). Access is off Alresford Road, between Wivenhoe and Alresford – park and meet in the lane just north of the railway leading east. CO7 9JX. TM052216. (Alternative parking round the corner just south of the railway at the turning to Brett Aggregates.) This reserve is jointly managed by Essex Wildlife Trust and Cockaynes Wood Trust and has a mix of habitats – heath, grassland, woodland and ponds.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: mistle thrush, fieldfare, redwing, treecreeper, yellowhammer, great spotted woodpecker, common buzzard, siskin, lesser redpoll and brambling possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.