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.

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.

09/01/2025

Thursday 9th January 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), red breasted merganser, brent goose, little egret, marsh harrier, green woodpecker, Cetti’s warbler, reed bunting.
Booking in advance is essential please.

14/01/2025

Tuesday 14th January 10am – 3.30pm Abberton Reservoir EWT
(£30 per person). 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. Depending on the weather and the latest bird news, we’ll probably view from the Causeway and then walk round the nature reserve, and later visit Wigborough Bay and Layer Breton Causeway. Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: pintail, goldeneye, goosander, smew, scaup, great white egret, kingfisher, marsh harrier, peregrine, stonechat, rock pipit; scarcer species such as canvasback & black necked grebe possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

17/01/2025

Friday 17th January 11.45am 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 11.45am (for 12 noon 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, golden plover, sanderling, godwits), brent goose, marsh harrier, common buzzard, red breasted merganser, pintail, hen harrier, short eared owl; common seal. Scarcer species such as black necked grebe or divers possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

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.

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.

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.

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.