On Wednesday 9th October 10am-4pm I'm leading a Wader ID course for Essex Wildlife Trust at Fingringhoe Wick. This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk, and then another guided walk after lunch. For further details and bookings please contact AHF admin on 01621 862960.

Friday 11th October 10.00am-1.00pm 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. There’s the option to stay on for lunch in the visitor centre or bring a picnic.
It’s migration time so it’s hard to predict, and almost anything could turn up, but species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent geese, sanderling, warblers, firecrest, thrushes, skuas. Rarities such as yellow browed warbler, wryneck, red backed shrike, ring ouzel 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.

On Thursday 24th October at 7.30pm I'm giving a talk entitled "Tales from the Riverbank" to West Mersea Wildlife Forum.

Thursday 24th October 10.30am-12.30pm Colne Point EWT reserve
(£7 per person). Meet in the reserve car park at the far end of Lee Wick Lane, St Osyth. TM108125. Follow the lane through the farm, past the sewage works (where it becomes a rough surface) and over the seawall to the small car park area.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders, corn bunting, rock pipit, grey partridge, marsh harrier, stonechat, black redstart or something rarer such as great grey shrike possible
Booking in advance please

On Friday 25th October at 11am I'm giving a talk about "The Wild Naze" at Jaywick Martello Tower.

On Monday 28th October at 7.30pm I'm giving a talk entitled "Essex Diary" to Harwich & Dovercourt Camera Club at Ramsey War Memorial Hall.

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.

On Wednesday 6th November 10am-1pm I'm leading a half day course on "Birding & Photography" at Fingringhoe Wick (Essex Wildlife Trust). This is aimed at beginners and improvers and does not cover the technical side of cameras/photography. Includes a classroom session offering hints and tips, followed by a guided walk round the reserve to put the theory into practice. For further details and bookings please contact the visitor centre on 01206 729678.

On Thursday 7th November 10am-4pm I'm leading a day course for Essex Wildlife Trust at Abbotts Hall Farm to "Improve Your Birdwatching - Duck ID". This will include a classroom session followed by a guided walk to put the theory into practice. After lunch we'll drive to Abberton Reservoir causeway in search of more duck species. For further details and bookings please contact EWT admin on 01621 862960.

Friday 8th November 10.30am-12.30pm Wrabness EWT nature reserve
(£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, grebes, wigeon, teal, eider and shag possible, bullfinch, green woodpecker, jay, barn owl
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 16th November 11am-1pm 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 10.45am. 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 are possible.
Booking in advance is essential please as places are limited

On Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th November I have a stand at the Christmas Fayre at Beth Chatto Gardens in Elmstead Market 10am-4pm, where I'll have a selection of framed wildlife photos, greeting cards, calendars and keyrings for sale.

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 29th November 10.30am-12.30pm Brightlingsea (Batemans Tower)
(£7 per person). Meet at the far end of Promenade Way, Brightlingsea CO7 0HH near Batemans Tower (beyond the lido, boating lake and toilet block) (free roadside parking should be available). TM078162.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders, wildfowl, marsh harrier, stonechat, red breasted merganser, divers and seaducks possible
Booking in advance please

On Saturday 30th November 10.30am-3.30pm I have a stand at the Christmas Fayre at St Michael's Church Hall, Kirby le Soken, where I'll have a selection of my framed wildlife photos, greetings cards, calendars and keyrings for sale.

Friday 13th December 10am-1pm Fingringhoe Wick EWT
(£10 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. Optional stay on for lunch in the visitor centre for those that wish.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent geese, waders (including avocet, godwits, knot), little egret, marsh harrier, common buzzard, goldeneye, red breasted merganser, kingfisher, merlin and hen harrier possible
Booking in advance please

Saturday 28th December 10.30am-12.30pm Mistley
(£7 per person). Meet towards the eastern end of Mistley Walls, near the culvert/bridge. TM114321. The Walls is the road running alongside the river (Stour) between Manningtree and Mistley Towers. We’ll scan the river from the roadside and also walk through to Mistley Quay for a different viewpoint.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: black tailed godwit, turnstone, avocet, red breasted merganser, goldeneye, shelduck, pintail, little egret, kingfisher
Booking in advance please