Sad news of Julian Parfitt

Geoff Dicker wrote this about Julian Parfitt who has sadly died: 

 

“It is with a great deal of sorrow that I have to tell you all that my friend and fellow birder Julian Parfitt passed away on 28th January after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Julian was known to many WOS members for the work he did on Salisbury Plain, monitoring rare breeding and wintering birds. He made several significant discoveries in this area. He had the sharpest pair of eyes that I have ever known and could spot a Merlin or a Harrier long before others noticed the bird. Latterly he had developed a passion for “twitching” and we enjoyed many a dawn to dusk rush around the UK chasing rarities. He did manage a couple of successful trips abroad to Spain in search of raptors before his illness became too much.

I am sure that all of Julian’s friends in Wiltshire will wish to convey their condolences and best wishes to Julian’s wife Caroline and his daughter Olivia.”