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Wildlife and Sightseeing Trip

Wildlife and Sightseeing Trip

Cost: £180 for up to 10 people 

Wildlife trip - a medium to longer length trip to explore the quieter
secluded creeks and their inhabitants amongst the mudflats and marshes.

Wildlife trips are available all year round, HOWEVER, the best months to see large flocks of birds are during the months of November through until March. For these particular trips it is advisable to limit the numbers onboard to a maximum of 6 people for better viewing of the wildlife.

During the winter months we have over 300,000 birds inhabit our coastline, travelling in from Scandinavia, our mudflats are like a massive larder to these birds to feed up on. During the months of November to April you are likely to see, but not limited to the following birds: Curlews, Cormorants, Egrets, Turnstones, Knots, Marsh Harriers, Shags, Sanderling, Dunlin, Brent Geese, Swans, Shell Ducks, Mallard, Oyster Catchers, Bar-Tailed Godwits, Black-Tailed Godwits, Ringed Plover, Redshank and Greenshank, Whimbrel, Herons, Greylag Geese, Guillemots, Red-Throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Avocets, Spoonbills and not forgetting the Herring Gull and Black-Headed Gulls. 

The spring through till autumn season is not as busy amongst the creeks with all our migratory waders. We will still have our resident waders such Curlews, Cormorants, Egrets, Turnstones, Marsh Harriers, Swans, Mallard, Oyster Catchers, Redshank, Herons, Greylag Geese, Avocets, Herring Gull and Black-Headed Gulls. We are also very lucky to have visitors on our coastline that have travelled over 3000 miles just to breed on our beaches before returning all the way back to Africa. I am of course referring to the Common and Little Terns, the swallows of the sea with their high pitched chirping overhead.

Types of trips available to book are listed below:

1. Low water waders - exploring Tollesbury and Salcot creeks round the low tides gives us a fantastic opportunity to see the wading birds feasting on the mudflats and possibly see divers off in the deeper water. You never know, we might even see the seal sunbathing on the mudbank! This trip is available all year round, spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Cost: £180 for up to 10 passengers. Duration: 2 hours.

2. High water marsh waders - exploring the Tollesbury and Salcot creeks amongst the high tide allows us to get amongst the intricate marshlands where ducks, geese and waders retreat to. Occasionally we will be joined by the seal during the trip but as with all wildlife, it is never guaranteed. This trip is a lovely trip for general sightseeing also as we are able to enter the Tollebsury harbour where the old lightship, Trinity, is moored up amongst the marshes where the series 'Liar Liar' was filmed. This trip is available all year round, spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Cost: £180 for up to 10 passengers. Duration: 2 hours.

3. High water murmurations - exploring Tollesbury creeks on high tide provides us with spectacular sights as the birds gather up in the air together forming mesmerising patterns overhead whilst ducks paddle amongst the tide-flooded lagoons of marshland. This is a trip specific to the winter months and is only available November through until March.  

Cost: £180 for up to 10 passengers. Duration: 2 hours.

4. Whole day adventure - spend the morning exploring the creeks and observing the wading birds amongst the mudflats. Stop off for lunch at Mersea or Tollesbury (tide dependant) and if there’s time you have the chance to explore the village before your afternoon trip. Spend the afternoon amongst the tidal lagoons of marshland where the birds retreat and gather in numbers performing mesmerising patterns in the sky overhead. This is a trip specific to the winter months and is only available November through until March.  

COST: £360 for up to 10 people, lunch not included.

Places to eat in Tollesbury: Sail Loft Tearoom OR Harbour View restaurant

Places to eat in Mersea: Blackwater Pearl Café, Oyster Bar, Coast Inn, Victory Pub, The Dukes Seafood

Every trip is different and you never know what you might see. We frequently see seals on these trips and occasionally we are lucky enough to also see porpoises too!

To book the above trip please drop me a text on 07791 859624 with your preferred date, what type of trip you are interested in and for how many people and I will have a look at the tides and see what is available for the day. Please bear in mind that due to the nature of my business I may not be able to answer your call or text immediately if I have a passengers onboard at the time of you call or text. However, leave me a voice message or drop me a text and I will respond at my earliest convenience.

Booking in advance is essential and payment upfront to secure your booking is required in full at the booking stage without exception. 

Prior to booking your trip with me please ensure you read the Pre-Booking Notes.