Autumnal birdwatching in Essex

Brent geese can be seen in autumn flying over the Essex coast

As the winter months approach, three golden opportunities for autumn bird watching are taking place in Essex.

Experts from the RSPB will be on hand to help you get a closer look at the migrating birds as they return from Siberia to the UK.

The birdwatching events will take place at Rainham Marshes, Leigh-on-Sea and the River Stour.

As well as these, Southend will also play host to a talk from world renowned wildlife photographer John Beatty.

Between Tuesday, 3 through to Sunday, 15 November, v-formations of brent geese will be flying over Leigh-on-Sea, as part of the greatest migrations of birds in the world.

RSPB volunteers will be on-hand on the seafront at Leigh-on-Sea each day from 10am and 4pm, offering telescopes and advice to visitors.

Throughout November the ancient wetland of Rainham Marshes will be welcoming thousands of lapwings, black-tailed godwits and golden plovers from Iceland.

There will be a Kid's Birdwatching Club beginning at 10am on Saturday, 24 October and Saturday, 21 November.

Meanwhile, the RSPB's Stour Estuary Reserve will see an estimated 30,000 migrating birds this autumn.

'Birds by Barge' will allow visitors to view divers, grebes and scoters on the estuary on Tuesday, 10 November and Wednesday, 25 November.

Wildlife Photography

Global adventurer photographer John Beatty will be giving a talk on wildlife photography in Southend as part of his 'Wild Vision' series.

The talk will be held on Friday, 13 November at the Southend Palace theatre .

John's wildlife photography ranges from the American deserts, East Africa and the Galapagos Islands.

In all John has been to 38 different countries.