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.

29/04/2025

Tuesday 29th April 10am – 12.30pm Arger Fen SWT
(£15 per person). Meet in the layby at CO8 5BN. TL930353. From the A134 at Nayland turn left (W) at Nags Corner, signed to Wissington and Bures. Continue along Wiston Road/Bures Road (‘wiggly’ road for a few miles); then turn right (N) at a crossroads onto Smallbridge Entry (this road is very narrow); pass paddocks, then WA Church seed store; then layby is on your right. (See also Suffolk Wildlife Trust website for location map.)
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: nightingale, blackcap, garden warbler, red kite, raven; bluebells, early purple orchid, wild garlic.
Booking in advance is essential please.

02/05/2025

Friday 2nd May 6 – 8.30am Dawn Chorus at Cockaynes Wood
(£15 per person). Maybe more “Early Morning Chorus” rather than strictly “Dawn Chorus”?! 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/hear include: mistle thrush, nightingale, great spotted woodpecker, treecreeper, linnet, yellowhammer, common tern, great crested grebe; butterflies (eg green hairstreak, orange tip); bluebells.
Booking in advance is essential please.

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.

09/05/2025

Friday 9th May 10am – 1pm Abberton Reservoir
(£15 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. We’ll probably view from the old road and causeways, depending on the latest bird news.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: little ringed plover, nightingale, blackcap, yellow wagtail, common tern, swift, common buzzard, hobby, great white egret, cattle egret, spoonbill; rarities possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

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.

15/05/2025

Thursday 15th May 10am – 4pm Upper Hollesley Common/Hollesley Marshes
(£30 per person). Meet in Upper Hollesley Common car park in Heath Road, IP12 3HU. From Melton take the B1083; then left onto Heath Road (signed to Hollesley and Sutton Heath); drive through Sutton Heath; the car park is on the left almost opposite Red Lodge.
Please bring a packed lunch. After lunch we’ll drive to nearby Hollesley Marshes RSPB, IP12 3JW.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: woodlark, stonechat, Dartford warbler, coal tit, redstart, hobby, avocet, marsh harrier, cuckoo; also butterflies (eg small copper), green tiger beetle.
Booking in advance is essential please.

20/05/2025

Tuesday 20th May 10am – 12.30pm Wrabness EWT
(£15 per person). Meet in the reserve car park. TM167315. CO11 2TF. From the B1352 between Bradfield and Wrabness turn left into Wheatsheaf Lane, take the first left just past the bridge, 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: sand martin, nightingale, turtle dove, cuckoo, song thrush, linnet, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, blackcap, common buzzard, yellowhammer.
Booking in advance is essential please.

23/05/2025

Friday 23rd May 10am – 12.30pm Flatford
(£15 per person). Meet in the National Trust car park (£6 in coins or bring NT membership card for free parking). CO7 6UL. Flatford is well signposted from the B1070 in East Bergholt, then follow the one-way system to the car park. There’s the option to stay on for lunch in the tearooms after the walk. This will be more of a general wildlife walk in Constable country; and there are several inclines to negotiate to get views across the valley!
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: warblers (eg blackcap, chiffchaff, Cetti’s, reed, sedge) common buzzard, grey wagtail, swallow, cuckoo; butterflies, solitary bees, dragonflies, wildflowers.
Booking in advance is essential please.

30/05/2025

Friday 30th May 10am – 12.30pm Martlesham Wilds SWT
(£15 per person). Meet in the small car park near St Marys Church off Church Lane, Woodbridge IP12 4PQ (TM260469). A chance to explore this former organic farm on the banks of the River Deben which is in the process of being transformed into a nature reserve by Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: warblers (chiffchaff, blackcap, sedge, reed, Cetti’s), reed bunting, yellowhammer, skylark, common tern, redshank, common buzzard.
Booking in advance is essential please.

06/06/2025

Friday 6th June 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 and then the Island Mere circuit (c2 miles). Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bittern, avocet, terns, kittiwake, sand martin, Mediterranean gull, barnacle goose, nightingale, marsh tit, hobby, bearded tit, warblers.
Booking in advance is essential please.

10/06/2025

Tuesday 10th June 10am – 12.30pm Alton Water
(£15 per person). Meet in the pay & display car park (coins only, £3 for the day) 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, kingfisher, coal tit, goldcrest, sand martin, common tern, chiffchaff, blackcap, garden warbler, nightingale, yellowhammer.
Booking in advance is essential please.

13/06/2025

Friday 13th June 11.15am 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 11.15am (for 11.30am 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 weatherproof clothing!
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: terns (sandwich, common & little), Mediterranean gull, marsh harrier, common buzzard, avocet, ringed plover, oystercatcher; common seals with pups.
Booking in advance is essential please.

16/06/2025

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

18/06/2025

Wednesday 18th June 10am – 12.30pm Elmstead Woods
(£15 per person). Meet in the village car park in Clacton Road (A133), Elmstead Market (CO7 7DA) (between the traffic lights and Beth Chatto Gardens, near the junction with Bromley Road, car park entrance next to Market Close). The walk will be approximately 2 miles, but please note that we’ll go through a cattle field where the ground is trampled and very uneven. The site includes new woodland, old woodland and a section of the Tenpenny Brook.
Species we’ll be hoping to find include: common buzzard, warblers (eg whitethroat, willow warbler and blackcap), green woodpecker, yellowhammer, house martin; butterflies & dragonflies (eg banded demoiselle).
Booking in advance is essential please.

20/06/2025

Friday 20th June 10am – 4pm Lakenheath Fen RSPB
(£30 per person + £4 reserve entry or bring RSPB membership card). Meet in the RSPB car park in Station Road (B1112), Lakenheath, IP27 9AD. TL724865. There is a visitor centre with toilets. The main circular trail is approx 3 miles. Please bring a packed lunch, which we’ll take out with us and have part way round.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bittern, bearded tit, common crane, kingfisher, water rail, common tern, sedge warbler, grasshopper warbler, hobby; dragonflies.
Booking in advance is essential please.

24/06/2025

Tuesday 24th June 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: cuckoo, marsh harrier, common tern, waders (avocet, redshank, lapwing), warblers, bearded tit.
Booking in advance is essential please.

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.