Michael Holdsworth

If I had a question about Spotted Flycatchers in general, or their status at the Tetworth Estate in particular, Michael would have the the answer, with unequivocal enthusiasm. He had a kind of...flycatcher radar. My sincere condolences to his family, and all his friends who were privileged to know him.

Christoph Zockler "This is shocking news indeed! A great loss for Wicken Fen conservation. He was so inspiring and encouraging in many of our conservation activities in Wicken Fen and beyond. Very sad!"

Tony Roberts "So very sad to hear the news of Michael. I did not really know him well, but he did some ringing at Westfield Farm Comberton where we met a few times. Very best wishes to all his family"

Rowena Baxter "I'm so very sorry to hear this. He achieved so much, but with so much more to do. The local birding community will certainly miss him a great deal."

Clive Sinclair “I am surprised and saddened by the news. I only knew him by through meetings of the Council but was impressed by his quiet efficiency and he will be greatly missed.”

Jon Heath “I am so sorry to hear this terrible news. I was only exchanging emails with Michael the other day about his beloved Spotted Flycatchers. Michael will be greatly missed; his ringing and local birding knowledge were second to none. I have known Michael ever since I joined the CBC as a youngster, and he even kindly came over to my garden for a private ringing session several times. My thoughts and sympathies are with his wife Sue and family during this difficult time.”

My deepest sympathies go out to Sue and the rest of Michael's family. Michael was an extremely patient and skilled ringer, that taught numerous members of the Wicken Fen Group and will be missed all that knew him.

I was so sorry to hear the sad news about Michael. His work on spotted flycatchers in Cambridgeshire was exemplary and the data he was collecting so important in trying to understand the nature of their worrying decline. In order to collect this data he had to gain the trust of landowners and householders on whose land and in whose gardens the birds nested. The fact that he did this so successfully is a testament to his patience and polite persuasiveness that not only allowed him to gain the access he needed but also embued the residents with an interest and enthusiasm for the birds and who subsequently looked forward to his visits so they could share in his knowledge. A sad, untimely and irreplacable loss. Condolences and very best wishes to Michael's family and friends.