R.I.P Stuart Ayre - Good friend and true legend

On Monday 16^th I was returning from the dales of Durham and called in for the second time recently to a friends house; Stuart Ayre. I approached the gate and noted it was open, the lock was not in place and I found this most odd. The garden bird feeders had gone and the house was empty. I left a note to say ‘Foghorn was here’, it was a small note asking how Stuart was getting on as he had recently received an operation to remove pancreatic cancer. As I walked back down the path and out of the gate I uttered the words that were going through my mind; my suspicions were confirmed yesterday evening when my Mum received a phone call from Stuarts fairly long time partner to inform me of the sad news that on the morning of the 01 April Stuart died in his home. My Mum informed me of the news and told me what Stuart’s partner had told her, she said she did not want to speak to me in case I got upset about it. I am/was upset as Stuart was a good friend to me the few years that I knew him.

I met Stuart on the 20^th of May 2009, I remember the day as I was out on Waldridge Fell looking for Cuckoo. I met Stuart on the reserve and found he was also a member of the DBC (Durham Bird Club), the next day I went with Stuart up to Langdon Beck to see my first ever Black Grouse (that is how I remember the date). I shared many good times with Stuart, a memorable trip to Norfolk with Stuart, Andrew, and Derek C (The Finch) where I had numerous lifers and enjoyed seeing the Trumpeter Finch at Blakeney Point, male Red-backed Shrike at Cley, and most of the breckland specialities. I enjoyed a superb evening down on the North Tees Marshes with Stuart; adding Whiskered Tern and White-rumped Sandpiper to my British List within 5 minutes of arrival. I enjoyed just general days out birding with Stuart and assisted him with his BTO tetrad squares. However perhaps the most memorable experience I shared with Stuart was the Eastern Crowned Warbler at Trow Quarry, without Stuart I would not have seen the bird. I could not drive at the time and so I went with Stuart after college on that tense Friday afternoon and enjoyed superb views of the bird in both the bins and scope. That was a great day and I shared the experience with many birdwatchers, the rarity magnitude of the species is what stood out for me.  

Stuart was a true legend; he didn’t act his age, he always had time for me, he helped me grow in my passion for birding, and so much more. An all round great guy! I will really miss Stuart and knowing that I will never see him or bird with him again really does give me a lump in my throat, although we did not go out birding during 2011 we were still good friends and kept in touch.

Stuart certainly enjoyed life and lived it to the very full, so I will finish with some lyrics from one of my favourite old time classics, these particular lyrics fit in very well I feel:

Well it's all right, riding around in the breeze

Well it's all right, if you live the life you please

Well it's all right, doing the best you can

Well it's all right, as long as you lend a hand

Thanks for lending a hand in my birding so far Stuart. So this blog post is dedicated to you Stuart, many happy memories of birding time spent together will ALWAYS be remembered.

Me and Stuart

A one from the early days when I had my brace on. Taken at Cow Green Reservoir, Durham.

R.I.P Stuart.