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Michael Holdsworth

February 20, 1949 - September 9, 2021

It is with much sadness that we mark here the passing of Michael Holdsworth. He died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack while on holiday in France on September 8th. Our deepest sympathies are with his wife Sue and the rest of the family. His loss will leave a huge hole in the Cambridgeshire Bird Ringing scene and the Bird Club, Wicken Fen and the Spotted Flycatcher community he built up, to mention just a few of his achievements. He inspired and helped so many people advancing their skills in ringing and ornithology. Please use this space to share your memories of Michael.

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  • 2021-10-19 20:46:34 View / Comment (0)
    Mark Peck

    Mark Peck

    Mark Peck

    On behalf of the Wicken Fen Ringing Group we convey sincere condolences to Sue and family. Michael was a key member of the Group from its early years, making a significant contribution to the scientific knowledge of the birds of Wicken Fen. His primary focus was the reed bed habitat, monitoring breeding populations of Reed and Sedge Warblers, recording the establishment and ongoing success of Cetti’s Warblers and targeting his beloved Cuckoos. He established the first BTO Constant Effort Site (CES) for Wicken Fen at the Reed Bed, where many trainee ringers developed their skills under his expert eye and experienced advice. He will be greatly missed by us all.

  • 2021-10-07 11:12:18 View / Comment (0)
    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Malcolm Busby "I first met Mike must be twenty years ago at least when he bought his girls to the children's environmental group we ran at Milton Country Park. After that whenever we met which was only occasionally he was always polite and helpful. His knowledge, enthusiasm and professionalism was always evident and it was obvious he cared deeply for birds and the wider environment. He will be sorely missed by the bird club I am sure, but that will be nothing to the loss his family feels and to them I send my thoughts and commiserations."

  • 2021-10-07 11:12:00 View / Comment (0)
    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Mark Hawkes "This is very sad news - I met with Michael (in the pub) to ask him to take on the Ringing Report after Digby Milwright sadly passed away - this was many years ago now, and during my occasional correspondence with him about the annual report (and other matters) I always found him a real pleasure to deal with. He was a very knowledgeable and likeable chap. This is big loss for the local ringing scene and the CBC annual report. Condolences to his family."

  • 2021-10-07 11:11:51 View / Comment (0)
    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Peter Wilkinson "That is very sad news. Glad to have known him. Although we never ringed together, we saw each other fairly regularly through Kingfishers Bridge and also corresponded about various matters of mutual interest. Commiserations to his family."

  • 2021-10-07 11:11:40 View / Comment (0)
    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Duncan McNiven "That's dreadful news. Exchanged emails only last Wednesday with Michael. His work on Spotted Flycatchers was exemplary and he brought together a community of residents in this village who's garden flycatchers he monitored and enthused them with his love of the birds. So sorry to hear that."

  • 2021-10-07 11:07:26 View / Comment (0)
    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Rob Pople “Very sad news, as you/others have said. I didn't really know Michael that well, outside of CBC Council meetings, but he did give me (and Ann Scott) a lift up to the BTO Annual Conference in Swanwick a few years back, and it was great to spend some more time with him then, and hear from him on some of his many areas of expertise (he and Ann also kindly kept a bit of an eye out for me, as a Swanwick ‘newby’, during the Conference itself – which was surprisingly daunting, with some many long-time regulars!). Anyway, he always struck me as a very knowledgeable and kind man, and his efforts to promote (knowledge of) ringing locally – through his excellent website plus own articles and projects – was particularly admirable (BTO HQ, Michael and I had been in discussions about him to becoming the ‘Ringing and Nest-recording Ambassador’ for Cambs., when this proposed new role became rolled out more widely). As is often the case, I'm sure I'll learn even more about his achievements and areas of expertise, when others who knew him better share their memories in due course”.

  • 2021-10-07 11:06:58 View / Comment (0)
    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Roger Swain “Like everyone else I'm surprised, shocked & saddened by this news. I didn't know Michael well, but have been immensely impressed by his quiet, efficient work for the Club which we'll miss badly. Ironically, I'd just read his spotted flycatcher report in the latest Club bulletin.”

  • 2021-10-07 11:06:45 View / Comment (0)
    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Mike Foley “Terrible, shocking news. Michael was unique.”

  • 2021-10-07 11:06:11 View / Comment (0)
    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Peter Bircham “I am so shocked by this news. Michael and I have been ringing buddies for many years and we planned a winter at Chippenham when he returned from France. Now?”

  • 2021-10-07 11:05:44 View / Comment (0)
    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    From Robin Cox, CBC President "When spotted flycatchers were found to be breeding in a garden in Meldreth, Michael was soon on the spot with rings and geolocators. Word spread among a small group of villagers who also took more than a passing interest in the birds and were fascinated and educated by Michael; he was never lost for an answer to any of their numerous questions. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge, or should we say BWP knowledge, of birds but especially spotted flycatchers. Thanks to Michael's enthusiasm the village group have "adopted" the flycatchers which they had not hitherto even heard of. They are busy building flycatcher nestboxes and are anxiously waiting for the birds  to return but they are mortified that Michael will not be there  to share their welcome."

  • 2021-10-06 20:27:18 View / Comment (0)
    Jonathan Heath

    Jonathan Heath

    Jonathan Heath

    A memory from Martin Walters: I first knew Michael when we both worked at Cambridge University Press where I was responsible for part of the biology list, notably botany, zoology and ecology. He always showed great interest, and offered valuable advice. Some years ago my wife Sarah and I met Michael and Sue, quite by chance, on safari in Kenya, at Naivasha I think. They were on their way to the Maasai Mara. As Sarah and Sue chatted, Michael and I ambled onto a boardwalk overlooking the lake. We watched as hippos floated and grunted and jacanas walked over lily pads. Then Michael spotted an unusual wader with a straight, slim bill. I had never knowingly seen a marsh sandpiper before, and certainly not so close. That shared moment of quiet birdwatching has stayed with me. This summer I exchanged emails with Michael for his advice after I found the nest of a pair of spotted flycatchers near the river in Great Shelford. His knowledge of these beautiful birds is considerable and he must have spent many hours studying their local breeding habits and distribution. Martin Walters

  • 2021-10-07 11:05:11 View / Comment (0)
    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Louise Bacon

    Peter Herkenrath (Germany), CBC Chair in the 2010s "It's been with great sadness that I learned about Michael's passing. I will keep many good memories of him. It was a pleasure to work with him on CBC Council and he was such a support to me when I was Chairman. I remember many discussions with him - for example during trips to the BTO annual conference at Swanwick - when he shared his knowledge about birds, bird ringing and the people side of birding. My condolences to Michael's family. "

  • 2021-09-22 11:05:04 View / Comment (0)
    Vince Lea

    Vince Lea

    Vince Lea

    Michael training a young ringer to handle a Redwing... and lost in thought about his next big trip or another project no doubt!

  • 2021-09-22 10:53:58 View / Comment (0)
    Vince Lea

    Vince Lea

    Vince Lea

    I wonder how many trainees he taught to ring. Michael contributed so much to the bird ringing community in Cambridgeshire. He had a regular monthly session during the winter at Lark Rise Farm in Barton and very often had a different trainee with him. I only kept notes but admired his depth of knowledge and patient explanation. It seems he was regularly at so many different places, I don't know how he fitted it all in, but the data was always processed promptly and we'd get a short report on the findings from each visit with interesting notes about some particular bird or other every time.

  • Mark Peck 2021-10-19 20:46:34 wrote:

    On behalf of the Wicken Fen Ringing Group we convey sincere condolences to Sue and family. Michael was a key member of the Group from its early years, making a significant contribution to the scientific knowledge of the birds of Wicken Fen. His primary focus was the reed bed habitat, monitoring breeding populations of Reed and Sedge Warblers, recording the establishment and ongoing success of Cetti’s Warblers and targeting his beloved Cuckoos. He established the first BTO Constant Effort Site (CES) for Wicken Fen at the Reed Bed, where many trainee ringers developed their skills under his expert eye and experienced advice. He will be greatly missed by us all.

    Mark Peck 2021-10-19 20:46:34 wrote: On behalf of the Wicken Fen Ringing Group we convey sincere condolences to Sue and family. Michael was a key member of the Group from its early years, making a significant contribution to the scientific knowledge of the birds of Wicken Fen. His primary focus was the reed bed habitat, monitoring breeding populations of Reed and Sedge Warblers, recording the establishment and ongoing success of Cetti’s Warblers and targeting his beloved Cuckoos. He established the first BTO Constant Effort Site (CES) for Wicken Fen at the Reed Bed, where many trainee ringers developed their skills under his expert eye and experienced advice. He will be greatly missed by us all.

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