Working with Essex Wildlife Trust at Fingringhoe Wick nature reserve - leading guided birdwatching walks for ladies on alternate Wednesdays 10am-12noon and 1-3pm. For further details and bookings please contact the visitor centre on 01206 729678.

On Saturday 4th April 10am-1pm I'm leading a "Wildlife & Photography" course for Essex Wildlife Trust at Fingringhoe Wick. This will include a classroom session offering hints and tips (but not covering the technical side of cameras), followed by a guided walk around the nature reserve to put the theory into practice. For details and bookings please contact the centre team on 01206 729678.

On Wednesday 8th April 10am-4pm I'm leading a day course on Bird Song for Essex Wildlife Trust at Abbotts Hall Farm. This will include a classroom session looking at how and why birds sing and identifying some of the songsters, followed by a short guided walk to put the theory into practice. After lunch we'll drive to Abberton Reservoir in search of different species. For further details and bookings please contact the EWT admin team on 01621 862960.

Giving my "Essex Diary" talk to Shenfield St Mary's Open Branch.

On Saturday 11th April 10am-4pm I'm leading a full day's guided birdwatching for Essex Wildlife Trust at Fingringhoe Wick nature reserve to see how many species we can spot. For further details and bookings please contact the centre team on 01206 729678.

Thursday 16th April 10.30am-12.30pm Wrabness EWT
(£7 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: nightingale, turtle dove, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, blackcap, chiffchaff, bullfinch, green woodpecker.
Booking in advance please

Giving my "Bird Migration" talk to Saffron Walden Museum Society.

On four consecutive Tuesdays 10am-1pm I'm leading a "Bird Song for Beginners" course for Essex Wildlife Trust at Fingringhoe Wick. These sessions form a course but can also stand alone. Tuesday 21st April - garden birds; Tuesday 28th April - warblers; Tuesday 5th May - nightingale + skylark; Tuesday 12th May - finches +.

Giving my "Wildlife of the Tendring Peninsula" talk to Manningtree & District Photographic Society.

Friday 24th April 10am-1pm Hanningfield Reservoir EWT
(£10 per person + £2 suggested reserve entry donation or bring EWT membership card). Meet in the EWT reserve car park in Hawkswood Road, CM11 1WT. TQ725970. Our visit should be at a good time for birds and bluebells.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: common woodland birds, coal tit, treecreeper, blackcap, great spotted woodpecker, red crested pochard, swift, marsh harrier, common tern; also bluebells
Booking in advance please

On Friday 1st May 10am-4pm I'm leading a day course on Bird Song for Essex Wildlife Trust at Abbotts Hall Farm. This will include a classroom session looking at how and why birds sing and identifying some of the songsters, followed by a short guided walk to put the theory into practice. After lunch we'll drive to Abberton Reservoir in search of different species. For further details and bookings please contact the EWT admin team on 01621 862960.

On Saturday 2nd May 10am-4pm I'm leading a full day "Bird Song" course for Essex Wildlife Trust at Hanningfield Reservoir. This will include a classroom session followed by a short guided walk to put the theory into practice; and after lunch we'll take a longer walk around the nature reserve in search of more birds. For further details and bookings please contact the centre team on 01268 711001.

On Wednesday 6th May 10am-4pm I'm leading a Warbler ID course for Essex Wildlife Trust at Abbotts Hall Farm. This will include a classroom session followed by a short guided walk to put the theory into practice. After lunch we'll drive to Copt Hall in search of more warbler species. For further details and bookings please contact the EWT admin team on 01621 862960.

Saturday 9th May 11.30am wildlife boat trip
(£16 per person). We’ll be joining Tony Haggis again for a 2-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. From Kirby Road (B1024) turn into Coles Lane (signed for Titchmarsh Marina and Harbour Lights restaurant) and drive to the car park at the far end (it’s a long narrow lane with speed bumps!). Maximum 12 places so please book early to avoid disappointment. Please bring warm, weatherproof clothing!
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders (including avocet, ringed plover, bar tailed godwit), marsh harrier, Mediterranean gull, terns; common seal. Scarcer species possible.
Booking in advance please

On Sunday 10th May and Saturday 16th May I'm leading Dawn Chorus walks for Essex Wildlife Trust at The Naze. Both walks start at 5.30am and will last about 2 hours, followed by optional breakfast in the visitor centre. For further details and bookings please contact the centre team on 01255 679379.

Friday 22nd May 10am-3pm Fingringhoe Wick EWT
(£15 per person + £2 suggested reserve 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 (or light lunches are available in the visitor centre).
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: nightingale, chiffchaff, willow warbler, blackcap, garden warbler, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, turtle dove, common tern; also butterflies and dragonflies.
Booking in advance please