Stuart started watching birds in his home town of St.Ives at the age of 8 and through the local Huntingdon RSPB group he quickly became involved with the local birding scene. From the mid 1980’s Stuart became more interested in rare birds in Britain and rapidly built up a collection of photographs from the great rarity photographers of the era including, amongst others, Tim Loseby, David Tipling and Steve Young as he began to travel further afield in search of rare birds. This quest continues and although more laid back these days, by December 2009, he had seen 538 species in Britain & Ireland, according to the arbiter of British Listing, the UK400 Club. He is also very keen on his county list and to date has seen 285 species in his home county of Cambridgeshire.

A passionate interest in birds and commitment to their conservation combined with Stuart’s natural enthusiasm and leadership skills led to him being elected as Chairman of St.Neots Bird & Wildlife Club in 1999, a post he held until 2006. During his time in office Stuart saw many local conservation initiatives come to fruition through fund-raising activities and he ensured that St.Neots Bird & Wildlife Club played an important part in local environmental and conservation related issues. Stuart was also a member of the Governing Council of Cambridgeshire Bird Club 2000-2005 and he now holds the post of Photographic Editor for the Cambridgeshire Bird Report. Since 1998 Stuart has also given lectures on a variety of subjects to bird clubs, conservation organisations and community groups. Stuart is also involved in conservation initiatives further afield and serves on the governing council of the Neotropical Bird Club, assisting vital species conservation work in South America.

Stuart is a Staff Leader for Sunbird and a Senior Leader for WINGS and has led many birding tours, guided walks and birding workshops, and his birding travels have taken him to some wonderful locations both in the UK and across 6 continents. His extensive knowledge and experience has been built up over 30 years by visiting many countries including the following.

• Europe: Finland (4); Italy (3); Spain (5); Eire (10); Majorca; Sweden; Latvia; France (3); Belgium (2); Norway; Holland (2); Estonia; Germany (2) Switzerland; and Poland (11); a country where he has accumulated well over 5 months in the field with visits at varying times of the year.

• Africa: Morocco (2); The Gambia and South Africa.

• North America: Stuart has spent over 4 months in the field in this region with trips to Arizona, Florida; Colorado; Ohio; Texas (5); Utah; Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ontario and Minnesota.

• South & Central America: Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Barbados, Venezuela and Trinidad & Tobago (2);

• Asia: Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong

• Australasia: Queensland, Australia and Papua New Guinea

Stuart regularly contributes to several birding publications both as a writer and photographer and his works, both written and photographic can be seen in Birding World; Birdwatching; Birdwatch; Cotinga; Neotropical Birding; British Birds; World Birdwatch; Birds of Alaska; The Diary of a Suffolk Naturalist and most recently in American Bird Conservancy. More details of Stuart’s photography can be found on the ‘Photographer’ page.

Of course, the above activities take place in Stuart’s ‘spare’ time when he swaps his pin-striped suit for waterproofs and wellies. In his full-time occupation he is currently Head of Business Support for The Learning and Strategy & Commissioning Directorates within Children and Young People’s Services at Cambridgeshire County Council. A chartered manager and member of both the Institute of Leadership and Management, and also The Chartered Management Institute, Stuart is responsible for the strategic leadership and professional development of 135 staff providing essential support to Schools, Early Years Settings, Outdoor Education, Special Educational Needs, Commissioning Enhanced Services and Education Welfare Benefits. Stuart is also currently studying for a degree in Public Administration and Corporate Leadership.