01/07/2021

Guided walks last 2.5 hours and finish with refreshments back at the cars. Group size is a maximum of 7 (plus me as leader).

30/12/2021

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.

25/01/2022

Tuesday 25th January 10am – 12.30pm to Stone Point, The Naze
(£10 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. The car park is on the right. This is a longer walk and we’ll be heading out along the beach to Stone Point (c5 miles total).
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders (eg bar tailed godwit, avocet, grey plover, sanderling), rock pipit, merlin, short eared owl, marsh harrier; common seal
Booking in advance is essential please.

28/01/2022

Friday 28th January 10am – 12.30pm Alton Water
(£10 per person). Meet in the car park by Tattingstone Wonder IP9 2PB. 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, brambling and lesser redpoll possible, kingfisher.
Booking in advance is essential please.

31/01/2022

Monday 31st January 10am – 12.30pm Old Hall Marshes RSPB
(£10 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 seen recently include: marsh harrier, brent goose, waders (eg curlew, avocet, black tailed godwit, golden plover), red breasted merganser, barn owl, short eared owl; bearded tit, cattle egret, hen harrier and scarcer geese possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

03/02/2022

Thursday 3rd February 10am – 12.30pm Wrabness EWT
(£10 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, red breasted merganser, goldeneye, slavonian grebe, wigeon, teal, diver and shag possible, bullfinch, green woodpecker, jay, redwing, barn owl.
Booking in advance is essential please.

08/02/2022

Tuesday 8th February 10am – 12.30pm Fingringhoe Wick EWT
(£10 per person). Meet in the reserve car park. TM041195. CO5 7DN. Access is via South Green Road or Furneaux Lane (both quite narrow!) in Fingringhoe village.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent geese, waders (including avocet, godwits, knot), little egret, marsh harrier, peregrine, common buzzard, goldeneye, red breasted merganser, kingfisher; merlin and hen harrier possible
Booking in advance is essential please.

11/02/2022

Friday 11th February 10am – 12.30pm Colne Point
(£10 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 lane through the farm/cottages, past the sewage works (where it becomes a rougher surface), through the gate and over the seawall to the small car park area. (The section between the farm and sewage works has been resurfaced.)
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders, brent goose, corn bunting, barn owl, marsh harrier, stonechat, short eared owl and merlin possible.
Booking in advance is essential please,

16/02/2022

Wednesday 16th February 10am – 12.30pm Cockaynes Wood EWT
(£10 per person). Access is off Alresford Road, between Wivenhoe and Alresford – park and meet in the lane just north of the railway leading east. TM052216. This reserve is jointly managed by Essex Wildlife Trust and Cockaynes Wood Trust and has a mix of habitats – heath, grassland, woodland and ponds. It is likely to be muddy!!
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; also scarlet elf cup fungi.
Booking in advance is essential please.

22/02/2022

Tuesday 22nd February 10am – 12.30pm East Mersea
(£10 per person). Meet in the layby on East Mersea Road at approx TM016147. Take the B1025 to Mersea Island, cross the Strood and bear left (East Mersea Road) towards East Mersea, and the layby is on the right after c50m. We’ll then walk east along the seawall to view Pyefleet Channel, Reeveshall Marsh and across to Langenhoe Marshes (approx 2 miles each way).
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders (eg avocet, godwits), wigeon, teal, marsh harrier, red breasted merganser, great white egret, yellowhammer, corn bunting, hen harrier possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

24/02/2022

Thursday 24th February 10am – 12.30pm Alresford Creek
(£10 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: yellowhammer, wigeon, teal, red breasted merganser, waders (eg avocet, godwits, curlew, knot), marsh harrier, common buzzard, great spotted woodpecker.
Booking in advance is essential please.