01/07/2021

Guided walks last 2.5 hours and finish with refreshments back at the cars. Group size is a maximum of 8 (plus me as leader).

01/01/2023

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.

01/01/2023

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.

21/12/2023

Thursday 21st December 10am – 12.30pm Kirby le Soken
(£12 per person). Something a bit different pre-Christmas! We’ll park/meet in Island Lane, (off Walton Road), Kirby le Soken, on the left opposite the back of Silvertons, CO13 0DA. (When you turn in to Island Lane, Silvertons in on your right. On the left, you pass cottages, then there’s a small car park and 19 to Go catering stand). We’ll take a circular walk route via Quay Lane, part of the Walton Backwaters and Island Lane; and finish with lunch (not included) at 19 to Go.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent goose, wigeon, pintail, waders (eg avocet, godwits, knot, curlew, golden plover), marsh harrier, peregrine, stonechat, yellowhammer, barn owl possible; common seal.
Booking in advance is essential please.

29/12/2023

Friday 29th December 10am – 12.30pm Wrabness EWT
(£12 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, green woodpecker, jay, barn owl, scarcer species such as eider, shag or divers possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

05/01/2024

Friday 5th January 10am – 12.30pm Colne Point (sewage works circuit)
(£12 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 (past “private” and “keep out” signs!) through the farm/cottages area, past the sewage works (where it becomes a rougher surface), through the gate and over the seawall to the small car park area.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent goose, golden plover, rock pipit, corn bunting, barn owl, common buzzard, marsh harrier, stonechat; short eared owl, hen harrier and merlin possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

09/01/2024

Tuesday 9th January 10am – 3.30pm Abberton Reservoir EWT
(£25 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, long tailed duck, great white egret, kingfisher, marsh harrier, peregrine, stonechat; scarcer species possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

11/01/2024

Thursday 11th January 10am – 12.30pm Alton Water
(£12 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, goldeneye, goosander, fieldfare, redwing, goldcrest, coal tit, brambling and lesser redpoll possible, kingfisher.
Booking in advance is essential please.

19/01/2024

Friday 19th January 10am – 1pm to Stone Point, The Naze
(£12 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). There is an option to stay on for lunch together at the EWT visitor centre.
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; scarcer species such as eider and snow bunting possible; common seal.
Booking in advance is essential please.

22/01/2024

Monday 22nd January 1-4pm Mersea Island
(£12 per person). Meet on Victoria Esplanade, West Mersea CO5 8BH near the Two Sugars Café (there is free roadside parking just west of the café by the anchor, and toilets opposite). Later we’ll drive to Shop Lane at East Mersea and walk to the seawall to view Reeveshall Marsh and across to the raptor roost on Langenhoe Point (there is likely to be quite a bit of standing as we wait for the harriers to arrive).
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent geese, turnstone, sanderling, red breasted merganser, eider, great northern diver, Mediterranean gull, yellowhammer, corn bunting, marsh harrier, hen harrier.
Booking in advance is essential please.

25/01/2024

Thursday 25th January 9.30am – 4pm Minsmere RSPB
(£25 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 and then 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.

31/01/2024

Wednesday 31st January 1.30 – 4pm Copt Hall Marshes NT
(£12 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.

02/02/2024

Friday 2nd February 10am – 4pm North Warren/Aldeburgh
(£25 per person). Meet in the pay & display car park in Thorpe Road, IP16 4NR (near the ‘Scallop’) for a “Wild Goose Chase”. We’ll explore part of North Warren RSPB reserve and then drive south through Aldeburgh to Slaughden (approx. IP15 5NA) and walk part of Town Marshes.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: white fronted goose, barnacle goose, brent goose, bean goose possible, spoonbill, marsh harrier; scarcer species possible eg water pipit, snow bunting, divers or seaduck offshore, glossy ibis present in 2023.
Booking in advance is essential please.

08/02/2024

Thursday 8th February 10am – 12.30pm Manningtree & Mistley
(£12 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, Mediterranean gull, red kite, raven and smew possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

13/02/2024

Tuesday 13th February 10am – 12.30pm Brightlingsea
(£12 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.

15/02/2024

Thursday 15th February 10am – 12.30pm Kirby le Soken
(£12 per person). We’ll park/meet in Island Lane, (off Walton Road), Kirby le Soken, on the left just past the back of Silvertons, CO13 0DA. (When you turn in to Island Lane, Silvertons in on your right. On the left, you pass cottages, then a small car park and 19 to Go catering stand, then there is parking if you turn through the next gap on the left, where Thrive Outdoor used to be). We’ll take a circular walk route via Quay Lane, part of the Walton Backwaters and Island Lane; and finish with lunch (not included) at 19 to Go.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent goose, wigeon, pintail, waders (eg avocet, godwits, knot, curlew, golden plover), marsh harrier, peregrine, stonechat, yellowhammer, barn owl possible; common seal.
Booking in advance is essential please.

21/02/2024

Wednesday 21st February 10am – 12.30pm Blue House Farm EWT
(£12 per person). Meet in the reserve car park in Blue House Farm Chase, North Fambridge CM3 6GU. TQ 857969. Following recent completion of a 40 hectare wetland creation project, this site is looking even more promising. It’s a linear walk over rough ground to the banks of the River Crouch; and there are 3 hides overlooking pools.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent goose, barnacle goose, black tailed godwit, lapwing, marsh harrier, skylark, reed bunting, barn owl, scarcer species possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

23/02/2024

Friday 23rd February 10am – 12.30pm Shut Heath Wood EWT
(£12 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, goldcrest, common buzzard, woodcock possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

27/02/2024

Tuesday 27th February 10am – 12.30pm Wrabness EWT
(£12 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, green woodpecker, redwing, jay, barn owl, scarcer species like eider, shag or divers possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.