01/01/2025

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.

01/01/2025

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.

01/01/2025

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.

23/01/2025

Thursday 23rd January 10am – 12.30pm Alton Water
(£15 per person). Meet in the pay & display car park by Tattingstone Wonder IP9 2PB (£3 for the day via phone call). From the A137 take Stutton Lane and then turn left into Church Road. The small car park is on your right, opposite The Wonder.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: great crested grebe, goldeneye, goosander, fieldfare, redwing, goldcrest, coal tit, yellowhammer, brambling and lesser redpoll possible, great white egret, kingfisher.
Booking in advance is essential please.

25/01/2025

Why not start the New Year with a New Hobby! On Saturday 25th January 9.30am-3pm I'm leading an Introduction to Birdwatching Workshop for EWT at Fingringhoe Wick. This will involve a classroom session and guided walks round the reserve; and topics covered will include optics, fieldcraft, woodland birds & water birds. For further information and bookings please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

27/01/2025

Monday 27th January 1.30 – 4pm Copt Hall Marshes NT
(£15 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, barn owl, short eared owl possible, fieldfare, redwing, golden plover, stonechat, brent geese, marsh harrier, hen harrier possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

31/01/2025

Friday 31st January 10am – 4pm North Warren/Aldeburgh
(£30 per person). Meet in the pay & display car park in Thorpe Road, Aldeburgh IP16 4NR (near the ‘Scallop’ on the beach) for a “Wild Goose Chase”. We’ll explore part of North Warren RSPB reserve, lunch at Thorpeness Meare (where there are toilets and hopefully free roadside parking), and then drive south through Aldeburgh to Fort Green pay & display car park (where there are toilets), IP15 5DE and walk part of Town Marshes. Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: white fronted goose, barnacle goose, brent goose, bean goose possible, shoveler, pintail, spoonbill, marsh harrier; scarcer species possible eg water pipit, snow bunting, divers or seaduck offshore.
Booking in advance is essential please.

04/02/2025

Tuesday 4th February 10am – 12.30pm Wrabness EWT
(£15 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 one or two grassy areas.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent geese, red breasted merganser, goldeneye, slavonian grebe, wigeon, teal, green woodpecker, redwing, jay, barn owl, scarcer species like eider, shag or divers possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

07/02/2025

I'm joining Fellowship Afloat 7th-9th February to help lead their Winter Birding Break based on the "Trinity" lightship at Tollesbury. For further details please check their website at www.fact.org.uk.

12/02/2025

Wednesday 12th February 9.30am – 4pm Minsmere RSPB
(£30 per person + £9 reserve entry or bring RSPB membership card). Meet in the reserve car park. TM473672. IP17 3BY. Please bring a packed lunch. The plan is to do the coast circuit (c2 miles), have lunch back at the cars and then do the Island Mere circuit (c2 miles).
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bittern, bearded tit, marsh tit, treecreeper, nuthatch, water pipit, whooper swan, yellow legged and Caspian gull; otter possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

14/02/2025

Friday 14th February 10am – 1pm Tollesbury Wick EWT
(£15 per person). Meet in the free car park in Woodrolfe Road, Tollesbury CM9 8SE. It’s then a few minutes’ walk to the nature reserve.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent geese, wigeon, teal, shoveler, gadwall, pintail, red breasted merganser, waders (eg avocet, godwits, golden plover), marsh harrier, barn owl, stonechat, scarcer grebes and divers possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

15/02/2025

On Saturday 15th February 9.30am-3pm I'm leading an Introduction to Birdwatching Workshop for Essex Wildlife Trust at The Naze Centre. This will include a classroom session and guided walks. For further information and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01255 679379

17/02/2025

Monday 17th February 10am – 12.30pm Manningtree & Mistley
(£15 per person). Park and meet in Riverside Avenue East (off the B1352, Station Road) CO11 1US. We’ll have a walk west and birdwatch from the river wall; and then drive the short distance to Mistley Walls (the road running alongside the River Stour between Manningtree and Mistley Towers), where we’ll scan the river from the roadside, or possibly walk through to Mistley Quay if time allows.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: black tailed godwit, little egret, wigeon, teal, pintail, goldeneye, red breasted merganser, shelduck, lapwing, green sandpiper, snipe, greenshank, avocet, kingfisher, red kite, raven and smew possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

20/02/2025

Thursday 20th February 10am – 4pm Hollesley Marshes/Boyton Marshes
(£30 per person). Meet in Hollesley Marshes RSPB car park, IP12 3JW (signed from Woodbridge Walk near Hollesley Bay prison). Please bring a packed lunch. After lunch we’ll drive to nearby Boyton Marshes RSPB, IP12 3LR.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: barnacle goose, white fronted goose, marsh harrier, common buzzard, wigeon, teal, black tailed godwit, avocet, stonechat, Cetti’s warbler; scarcer species possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

21/02/2025

On Friday 21st February 9.30am-12.30pm I'm leading a Wader ID Workshop for EWT at Fingringhoe Wick. This will include a classroom session and a guided walk on the reserve. For further information and bookings please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

24/02/2025

Monday 24th February 10am – 12.30pm Shut Heath Wood EWT
(£15 per person). Meet in the off-road parking area for the nature reserve at TL855131. From Braxted Park Road take Tiptree Road through Gt Braxted village. Where the woodland ends there is a hidden turning on the right just before the junction with Braxted Road. Drive through the gateway and there is room for several cars to park at the edge of the track. Nearest postcode is CM8 3ED. Paths are likely to be muddy!
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: green, great spotted and lesser spotted woodpeckers, treecreeper, nuthatch, mistle thrush, fieldfare, goldcrest, common buzzard, woodcock possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

28/02/2025

Friday 28th February 9.45am wildlife boat trip
(£20 per person). We’ll be joining Tony Haggis for a 2-2½ 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 warm, weatherproof clothing!
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders (eg avocet, oystercatcher, godwits), brent goose, marsh harrier, common buzzard, red breasted merganser, pintail, hen harrier, short eared owl; common seal. Scarcer species such as scoter or divers possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

07/03/2025

On Friday 7th March I'm giving a talk entitled "Tales from the Riverbank" to Mile End WI.

21/03/2025

On Friday 21st March 9.30am-12.30pm I'm leading a Raptor ID Workshop for EWT at Fingringhoe Wick. This will include a classroom session and a guided walk on the reserve. For further information and bookings please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

25/03/2025

On Tuesday 25th March I'm giving a talk entitled "Encouraging Wildlife Into Your Garden" to Boxted Wildlife.

04/05/2025

On Sunday 4th May at 5.15am I'll be leading a Dawn Chorus walk for Essex Wildlife Trust at The Naze. For further details and bookings please contact the Centre Team on 01255 679379.

10/05/2025

On Saturday 10th May 9.30am-12.30pm I'm leading Bird Song Workshop for Essex Wildlife Trust at The Naze Centre. This will include a classroom session and guided walk. For further details and bookings please contact the Centre Team on 01255 679379.

16/06/2025

On Monday 16th June I'll be giving a talk entitled "Tales from the Riverbank" to Ongar Wildlife Society.

09/09/2025

I'll be joining the team at Sizewell Hall to co-lead their Birdwatching Break 9th-12th September, including giving a couple of talks and leading guided walks. For further details please visit their website at www.sizewellhall.org.uk.

17/09/2025

On Wednesday 17th September I'm giving an illustrated talk to Colchester U3A at Highwoods Community Centre.

25/09/2025

On Thursday 25th September I'm giving a talk entitled "The Essex Coastal Marshes in Winter" to West Mersea Wildlife Forum.

23/10/2025

On Thursday 23rd October I'm giving a talk entitled "Essex Diary" to Witham U3A.

11/11/2025

On Tuesday 11th November I'm giving a talk entitled "Wild Essex in Winter" to Mersea Island Horticultural Society.

19/11/2025

On Wednesday 19th November I'm giving a talk entitled "Tales from the Riverbank" to Billericay WI.