Events Diary

Guided Walks

01/01/2024

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).

Ladybirders (The Naze)

02/01/2024

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.

Ladybirders (Fingringhoe Wick)

02/01/2024

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.

Talk to Corringham Ladies Guild

14/03/2024

On Thursday 14th March I'll be giving an illustrated talk entitled "Spring is Sprung" to Corringham Ladies Guild.

Guided walk at Alresford Creek (1 space)

22/03/2024

Friday 22nd March 10am – 12.30pm Alresford Creek
(£12 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: yellowhammer, wigeon, teal, red breasted merganser, waders (eg avocet, godwits, curlew, knot), marsh harrier, common buzzard, great spotted woodpecker.
Booking in advance is essential please.

Essex Birdwatching Society Conference

23/03/2024

On Saturday 23rd March I'll have my stand at the Essex Birdwatching Society Conference at Writtle University College, when I'll have a selection of my wildlife photos and greetings cards for sale.

Guided walk at Heybridge Gravel Pits (4 spaces)

26/03/2024

Tuesday 26th March 10am – 12.30pm Heybridge Gravel Pits
(£12 per person). Meet in Daisy Meadows pay & display car park in Basin Road, Heybridge Basin CM9 4RW. We’ll walk across the lock and the seawall overlooking the gravel pits and the River Blackwater.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: brent goose, wigeon, teal, black tailed godwit, avocet, greenshank, bearded tit, marsh harrier, Cetti’s warbler.
Booking in advance is essential please.

Wildlife boat trip (FULLY BOOKED)

28/03/2024

Thursday 28th March 11.15am wildlife boat trip
(£18 per person). We’ll be joining Tony Haggis for a 2½ 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 (for 11.30am 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! You may also like to bring something to eat as we’ll be out over lunchtime!
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders (eg avocet, oystercatcher, godwits), brent goose, marsh harrier, common buzzard, red breasted merganser, pintail, hen harrier, short eared owl, eider possible; common & grey seals. Scarcer species possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

Guided walk at Brightlingsea (2 spaces)

02/04/2024

Tuesday 2nd April 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, grey partridge, wheatear and other migrants possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

Guided walk at Manningtree & Mistley (5 spaces)

05/04/2024

Friday 5th April 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, shelduck, lapwing, green sandpiper, snipe, greenshank, avocet, kingfisher, Mediterranean gull, red kite and raven possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

Talk to Essex Birdwatching Society

05/04/2024

On Friday 5th April I'll be giving an illustrated talk entitled "A Wildlife Tour of East Anglia" to Essex Birdwatching Society following their AGM at the Quaker Meeting House in Chelmsford.

Talk to Mersea Island Horticultural Society

09/04/2024

On Tuesday 9th April I'll be giving an illustrated talk entitled "Spring is Sprung" to Mersea Island Horticultural Society.

Guided walk at Lakenheath Fen (4 spaces)

12/04/2024

Friday 12th April 10am – 4pm Lakenheath Fen RSPB
(£25 per person + £4 reserve entry or bring RSPB membership card). Meet in the RSPB car park in Station Road (B1112), Lakenheath, IP27 9AD. TL724865. There is a visitor centre with toilets. The main circular trail is approx 3 miles. Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bittern, bearded tit, common crane, kingfisher, water rail, garganey, sedge warbler, grasshopper warbler, hobby.
Booking in advance is essential please.

Guided walk at Fingringhoe Wick & Abberton Reservoir (8 spaces)

17/04/2024

Wednesday 17th April 10am – 4pm Fingringhoe Wick/Abberton Reservoir EWT
(£25 per person + site 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. Drive to Fingringhoe Gravel Pits for lunch (please bring a packed lunch). After lunch we’ll drive to Abberton Reservoir and meet in the EWT car park.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: nightingale, whitethroat, blackcap, chiffchaff, brent geese, waders (including avocet & godwits), little egret, marsh harrier, peregrine, common buzzard, kingfisher, sand martin, common tern, yellow wagtail, little ringed plover, great white egret, rarities possible.
Booking in advance is essential please.

New to Birdwatching + Wildlife & Photography Workshops

18/04/2024

On Thursday 18th April I'll be leading New to Birdwatching (am) + Wildlife & Photography (pm) Workshops for Essex Wildlife Trust at Fingringhoe Wick. For further details and booking please contact the Centre Team on 01206 729678.

Talk for EWT at The Naze

20/04/2024

On Saturday 20th April at 2pm I'll be giving an illustrated talk entitled "Wildlife of the Tendring Peninsula" for Essex Wildlife Trust at The Naze Centre. For further details please contact the Centre Team on 01255 679379.

Birdsong Workshop

20/04/2024

On Saturday 20th April I'll be leading a Birdsong Workshop (am) for Essex Wildlife Trust at The Naze. For further details and bookings please contact the Centre Team on 01255 679379.

Talk for West Mersea Wildlife Forum

25/04/2024

On Thursday 25th April I'll be giving an illustrated talk entitled "Tales from the Riverbank" to West Mersea Wildlife Forum.

Talk to West Mersea Wildlife Forum

25/04/2024

On Thursday 25th April I'll be giving a talk entitled "Tales from the Riverbank" to West Mersea Wildlife Forum at the West Mersea WI Hall.

Guided walk at Arger Fen (2 spaces)

26/04/2024

Friday 26th April 10am – 12.30pm Arger Fen SWT
(£12 per person). Meet in the layby at CO8 5BN. TL930353. From the A134 at Nayland turn left (W) at Nags Corner, signed to Wissington and Bures. Continue along Wiston Road/Bures Road (‘wiggly’ road for a few miles); then turn right (N) at a crossroads onto Smallbridge Entry (this road is very narrow); pass paddocks, then WA Church seed store; then layby is on your right. (See also Suffolk Wildlife Trust website for location map.)
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: nightingale, blackcap, garden warbler, red kite, raven; bluebells, early purple orchid, wild garlic.
Booking in advance is essential please.

Wildlife boat trip (5 spaces)

27/04/2024

Saturday 27th April 11.45am wildlife boat trip
(£18 per person). We’ll be joining Tony Haggis for a 2½ 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 (for 12 noon 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! You may also like to bring something to eat as we’ll be out over lunchtime!
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: waders (eg avocet, oystercatcher, godwits), brent goose, marsh harrier, common buzzard, Mediterranean gull, red breasted merganser, eider and sandwich tern possible; common seal.
Booking in advance is essential please.

Guided Dawn Chorus at Cockaynes Wood (FULLY BOOKED)

03/05/2024

Friday 3rd May 6 – 8.30am Dawn Chorus at Cockaynes Wood
(£12 per person). Maybe more “Early Morning Chorus” rather than strictly “Dawn Chorus”?! 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/hear include: mistle thrush, nightingale, great spotted woodpecker, treecreeper, linnet, yellowhammer, common tern, great crested grebe; butterflies (eg green hairstreak, orange tip); bluebells.
Booking in advance is essential please.

Guided walk at Alton Water (6 spaces)

07/05/2024

Tuesday 7th May 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, kingfisher, coal tit, goldcrest, sand martin, common tern, chiffchaff, blackcap, garden warbler, nightingale, yellowhammer.
Booking in advance is essential please.

Guided walk at Minsmere (3 spaces)

10/05/2024

Friday 10th May 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. The plan is to do the coast circuit (c2 miles), have lunch and then the Island Mere circuit (c2 miles). Please bring a packed lunch.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: marsh harrier, bittern, avocet, terns, kittiwake, sand martin, Mediterranean gull, barnacle goose, nightingale, marsh tit, hobby, bearded tit, warblers.
Booking in advance is essential please.

Guided walk at Wrabness (3 spaces)

13/05/2024

Monday 13th May 10am – 12.30pm Wrabness EWT
(£12 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: sand martin, nightingale, turtle dove, cuckoo, song thrush, linnet, whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, blackcap, common buzzard, yellowhammer.
Booking in advance is essential please.

Guided walk at Upper Hollesley Common & Hollesley Marshes (5 spaces)

16/05/2024

Thursday 16th May 10am – 4pm Upper Hollesley Common/Hollesley Marshes
(£25 per person). Meet in Upper Hollesley Common car park in Heath Road, IP12 3HU. From Melton take the B1083; then left onto Heath Road (signed to Hollesley and Sutton Heath); drive through Sutton Heath; the car park is on the left almost opposite Red Lodge.
Please bring a packed lunch. After lunch we’ll drive to nearby Hollesley Marshes RSPB, IP12 3JW.
Species we’ll be hoping to see include: woodlark, stonechat, Dartford warbler, coal tit, redstart, hobby, avocet, marsh harrier, cuckoo; also butterflies (eg small copper), green tiger beetle.
Booking in advance is essential please.

Birdwatching Break

04/06/2024

On 4-7 June I'll be helping to lead a Birdwatching Break at Sizewell Hall on the Suffolk coast. For further details visit their website at www.sizewellhall.org.uk.