KJSD

Very sad to hear the news of Stuart's passing, an amazingly likeable person, a good birder, and a legend in Pembrokeshire birding terms.  Others knew him much better than I, and no doubt a fuller and more fitting tribute to him will be made, but I have many memories of Stuart that I will continue to hold dear - one in particular stands out: a 'dip' to North Wales for an Elegant Tern that descended into fits of laughter and resulting in Stuart being coined the "International Man of Mystery" - why I cannot remember but it was hilarious....).

My most recent memory is of ringing Stuart just after finding the Surf Scoter at Broad Haven on 22nd December; he was my first thought as he lived so close, and after a transfer of handsets in the Devonald household to put me in touch with him, he was with me in minutes in wet and windy conditions sharing a lovely bird.  A great man, already sorely missed.

Ironically I was on my way to Broad Haven when I heard the sad news, therefore the 7 Purple Sandpipers I enjoyed at close range at the north end of the beach are for him, as were the 2 Lapland Buntings and a Jack Snipe on Dale Airfield (all impossible to see on the ground).