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.

30/10/2025

Thursday 30th October 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, waders (eg black tailed godwit, ruff, green sandpiper, greenshank, little ringed plover and maybe a rarity or two), marsh harrier, hobby, osprey and other rarities possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

05/11/2025

Wednesday 5th November 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 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 and also walk through to Mistley Quay for a different viewpoint.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: black tailed godwit, little egret, brent geese, wigeon, teal, pintail, shelduck, goldeneye, lapwing, green sandpiper, avocet, kingfisher.
Booking in advance is essential please.

07/11/2025

Friday 7th November 10am – 12.30pm Brightlingsea
(£15 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.

11/11/2025

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

13/11/2025

Thursday 13th November 10am – 4pm Wallasea Island RSPB
(£30 per person). Meet in the reserve car park at the far end of Creeksea Ferry Road, Canewdon, SS4 2HD. TQ955945. There is a toilet on site; and a number of trails and viewing screens. Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent geese, wigeon, teal, shoveler, pintail, short eared owl, marsh harrier, hen harrier, avocet, golden plover, black tailed godwit, stonechat, corn bunting.
Booking in advance is essential please.

15/11/2025

On Saturday 15th November 9.30am-12.30pm I'm leading a Raptor ID Workshop for Essex Wildlife Trust at Fingringhoe Wick. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk. For further details and bookings please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

18/11/2025

Tuesday 18th November 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 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.

19/11/2025

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

21/11/2025

Friday 21st November 10am – 3.30pm Lackford Lakes SWT
(£30 per person + site entry donation or SWT membership card). Meet in the visitor centre car park off the A1101 (Bury St Edmunds to Mildenhall road); turning on the right between Flempton and Lackford (brown tourist sign); IP28 6HX, TL801706. Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: siskin, redpoll, nuthatch, marsh tit, kingfisher, water rail, goosander, goldeneye, shoveler, lapwing, bittern possible and maybe starling murmuration.
Booking in advance is essential please.

27/11/2025

Thursday 27th November 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.
Booking in advance is essential please.

03/12/2025

Wednesday 3rd December 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: 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.

05/12/2025

Friday 5th December 10am – 12.30pm Colne Point (sewage works circuit)
(£15 per person). Meet in the reserve car park at the far end of Lee Wick Lane/Beach Road, St Osyth. CO16 8EX. TM108125. Follow the long winding lane through the farm/cottages (past “private” and “keep out” signs!), past the sewage works (where it becomes a rougher track surface), through the gate and over the seawall to the small car park area.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent geese, waders (eg curlew, golden plover, lapwing), corn bunting, marsh harrier, common buzzard, peregrine, stonechat, something rarer such as merlin or short eared owl possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

06/12/2025

On Saturday 6th December 9.30am-12.30pm I'm leading a Duck ID Workshop for Essex Wildlife Trust at Fingringhoe Wick. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk. For further details and bookings please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

09/12/2025

Tuesday 9th December 10am – 12.30pm Alresford Creek
(£15 per person). Parking/meet near the memorial by the ruins of St Peter’s church in Ford Lane, Alresford. Nearest postcode is CO7 8AZ. TM064206. We’ll walk a circuit across the fields to the River Colne and along Alresford Creek (approx 3 miles).
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: wigeon, teal, red breasted merganser, waders (eg avocet, godwits, curlew, knot), marsh harrier, common buzzard, great spotted woodpecker, yellowhammer, linnet, brambling possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

11/12/2025

Thursday 11th December 10am – 12.30pm Cockaynes Wood EWT
(£15 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.

19/12/2025

Friday 19th December 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, 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.

30/12/2025

Tuesday 30th December 10am – 12.30pm Walton Channel
(£15 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. There’s the option to join me for lunch (not included) afterwards at The Social Kitchen food bar in Island Lane, Kirby le Soken.
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.