01/01/2026

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.

01/01/2026

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.

01/01/2026

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.
Lift shares may be possible for some walks - please ask!
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.

28/10/2026

Wednesday 28th October 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: marsh harrier, hobby, common tern, waders (eg avocet, black tailed godwit, ruff, golden plover, spotted redshank, greenshank, little stint, wood sandpiper (and maybe a rarity or two), bearded tit, cattle egret and spoonbill possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

06/11/2026

Friday 6th November 9.15am wildlife boat trip
(£21 per person). We’ll be joining Tony Haggis for a 3 hour boat trip around the beautiful Walton Backwaters. Meet in the car park at Titchmarsh Marina in Walton on the Naze CO14 8SL at 9.15am (for 9.30am 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 warm, weatherproof clothing!
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders (eg avocet, oystercatcher, godwits), marsh harrier, Mediterranean gull, red breasted merganser, brent goose; common seal. Scarcer species possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

07/11/2026

On Saturday 7th November 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Raptor ID Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

11/11/2026

Wednesday 11th November 10am – 12.30pm Brightlingsea
(£15 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), brent geese, wigeon, teal, red breasted merganser, marsh harrier, green woodpecker, Cetti’s warbler, reed bunting.
Booking in advance is essential please.

13/11/2026

Friday 13th November 10am – 12.30pm Colne Point
(£15 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 through the farm/cottages (past “private” and “keep out” signs!), past the sewage works (where it becomes a rougher track surface), through the gate and over the seawall to the small car park area.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent geese, waders (eg curlew, golden plover, lapwing), corn bunting, marsh harrier, common buzzard, peregrine, stonechat, something rarer such as merlin or short eared owl possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

20/11/2026

Friday 20th November 10am – 4pm Wallasea Island RSPB
(£30 per person). Meet in the reserve car park at the far end of Creeksea Ferry Road, Canewdon, SS4 2HD. TQ955945. There is a toilet on site; and a number of trails and viewing screens. Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent geese, wigeon, teal, shoveler, pintail, short eared owl, marsh harrier, hen harrier, avocet, golden plover, black tailed godwit, stonechat, corn bunting.
Booking in advance is essential please.

24/11/2026

Tuesday 24th November 10am – 12.30pm Wrabness EWT
(£15 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, wigeon, teal, red breasted merganser, goldeneye, slavonian grebe, green woodpecker, jay, barn owl, yellowhammer, brambling possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

27/11/2026

Friday 27th November 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 in the car park, and then do the Island Mere circuit (c2 miles). Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bearded tit, bittern, treecreeper, nuthatch, marsh tit, siskin, goldeneye, hopefully starling murmuration; scarcer species such as snow bunting, Bewick’s & whooper swan, hen harrier possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

01/12/2026

Tuesday 1st December 10am – 12.30pm Cockaynes Wood EWT
(£15 per person). 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 include: mistle thrush, fieldfare, redwing, treecreeper, yellowhammer, great spotted woodpecker, common buzzard, siskin, lesser redpoll and brambling possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

04/12/2026

Friday 4th December 10am – 3.30pm Lackford Lakes SWT
(£30 per person + site entry donation or SWT membership card). Meet in the visitor centre car park off the A1101 (Bury St Edmunds to Mildenhall road); turning on the right between Flempton and Lackford (brown tourist sign); IP28 6HX, TL801706. Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: siskin, redpoll, nuthatch, marsh tit, kingfisher, water rail, goosander, goldeneye, shoveler, lapwing, bittern possible and hopefully starling murmuration.
Booking in advance is essential please.

05/12/2026

On Saturday 5th December 9.30am - 12.30pm I'm leading a Duck ID Workshop at Fingringhoe Wick for EWT. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk round the nature reserve. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

09/12/2026

Wednesday 9th December 1.30 – 4pm Copt Hall Marshes NT
(£15 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, marsh harrier, barn owl, short eared owl & hen harrier possible, fieldfare, redwing, golden plover, stonechat, brent geese.
Booking in advance is essential please.

11/12/2026

Friday 11th December 10am – 3.30pm Tollesbury Wick EWT
(£30 per person). Meet in the free car park in Woodrolfe Road, Tollesbury CM9 8SE (where there are toilets). From there it’s a few minutes’ walk to the nature reserve; and we’ll be doing the full circuit (approx 5½ miles). Please bring a packed lunch, which we’ll carry with us to have part way round.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent goose, teal, wigeon, shoveler, gadwall, waders (eg lapwing, avocet, godwits, golden plover), marsh harrier, barn owl, stonechat, scarcer species such as slavonian grebe or great northern diver possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

18/12/2026

Friday 18th December 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: marsh harrier, waders (eg avocet, black tailed godwit, golden plover), brent geese, wigeon, teal, bearded tit, peregrine, merlin, hen harrier possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

22/12/2026

Tuesday 22nd December 10am – 12.30pm Alresford Creek
(£15 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: wigeon, teal, red breasted merganser, waders (eg avocet, godwits, curlew, knot), marsh harrier, common buzzard, great spotted woodpecker, yellowhammer, linnet, brambling possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.