David Michael Smith has been involved with
Carlton Marsh since 1982, training to be a bird ringer from 1983 and went on to
ring more than 10,000 birds until he retired in 2013. His most famous control was
a Sedge Warbler that he ringed here in August 1986 and was found
a month later in September as a skeleton in an Eleonora’s Falcon nest in
Lanzarote. This was the first ever British ringed Sedge Warbler to be recovered on the Canary Islands.
Then there was the Icterine
Warbler, which he famously trapped in September 1988, and that was the first
record for South Yorkshire. A very rare bird in land.
Dave has contributed many
records of birds and other forms of wildlife over the years, and joined our ‘Mothing
group’ from 2016. More importantly, he has co-written our Annual Natural
History Report since 1983.
Dave became the Chairman of
the Barnsley Birds Study Group in the 1990’s and went on to lead Birding trips with
Naturetrek to Majorca until his health deteriorated.
Our loss will be Northumberland’s
gain, as I am sure Dave will contribute to their wildlife sightings.
We here at Carlton Marsh wish you,
Linda, Karen and Stuart a very happy, healthy new life in your new home at the
coast.
Best wishes
Cliff
Linda & Dave - Carlton Marsh November 2007
Dave giving a bird ringing demonstration to the public on one of our open days in the Noughties.
