On Wednesday 15th January 10am-4pm I'm leading an "Improve Your Birdwatching - General" course for Essex Wildlife Trust at Abbotts Hall Farm in Gt Wigborough. This will include a classroom session followed by a short guided walk, and then a longer guided walk after lunch. For further details and bookings please contact the admin team on 01621 862960.

On Thursday 16th January at 7.30pm I'm giving a talk entitled "Wildlife of the Tendring Peninsula" to Alresford Camera Club.

Friday 17th January 10.00am-1.00pm to Stone Point, The Naze
(£10 per person). Meet in the pay & display car park near the EWT visitor centre. TM264235. Drive through Walton and then follow Hall Lane and Naze Park Road to the end! The car park is on the right. This is a longer walk as we’ll be heading out along the beach to Stone Point (c5 miles total). Optional stay on for lunch in the visitor centre for those that wish.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders (including sanderling, grey plover and avocet), goldcrest, marsh harrier, merlin, brent goose, snow bunting possible; common seal.
Booking in advance please.

On Saturday 18th January 10am-1pm I'm leading a "Birding & Photography" course for Essex Wildlife Trust at Fingringhoe Wick. For further details and bookings please contact the visitor centre on 01206 729678.

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

Saturday 1st February 10.30am-12.30pm Holland Haven Country Park
(£7 per person). Meet in the pay & display car park (at the northern end), just north of Holland on Sea, off the B1032 between Gt Holland and Holland on Sea. TM220175. There are brown tourist signs.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: stonechat, brent goose, wigeon, teal, marsh harrier, peregrine, common buzzard, purple sandpiper, barn owl, short eared owl; white fronted goose, water rail and bearded tit possible.
Booking in advance please

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

Friday 14th February 10.30am-12.30pm Wrabness EWT
(£7 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, bullfinch, green woodpecker, jay. Scarcer species such as eider, scoter, divers possible.
Booking in advance please

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

Saturday 29th February 12.00-2.00pm 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 11.45am. 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 plenty or warm, weatherproof clothing!
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders (including avocet, golden and grey plover, black tailed godwit), wildfowl (including brent geese, wigeon, teal, red breasted merganser), peregrine, marsh harrier, hen harrier and merlin possible, Mediterranean gull; common seal. Scarcer species such as eider, scoter, divers possible.
Booking in advance please

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

Friday 13th March 10.30am-12.30pm Shut Heath Wood EWT
(£7 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. Nearest postcode I can find is CM8 3ED.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: treecreeper, nuthatch, lesser spotted woodpecker as well as green and great spotted, redwing, common buzzard, woodcock, tawny owl possible
Booking in advance please

Friday 27th March 10.30am-12.30pm Gt Holland Pits EWT
(£7 per person). Meet in the small reserve car park. TM204190. CO13 0EU for satnav. It's not easy to find!! Travelling from Kirby Cross towards Clacton, at the end of Gt Holland turn right at the mini roundabout (by the old Lions Den pub) onto Little Clacton Road. It is on your right after about ½ mile just after a lefthand bend - the track is next to a white house called "Seawinds". If you get as far as Dairy House Farm you've missed it! Please note that the ground is uneven (it is an old gravel pits) and may be muddy!
Species we'll be hoping to see include: common woodland birds, long tailed tit, chiffchaff,
woodpeckers, jay, bullfinch, goldcrest, mandarin, common buzzard; also adder and primroses.
Booking in advance please