Many Kerry birders will have met Ian, and his mother Joan, who came to Kerry from England almost every autumn for at least the last two decades, in their often successful search for Nearctic vagrants, waders and seabirds. They would stay in or around Dingle for a fortnight or more each September, roaming the Peninsula and occasionally venturing further afield to north Kerry, but birding the Dingle area was his main passion.
Ian was always friendly, always helpful, and always wonderfully enthusiastic about birds and birding. Over the years he donated birding gear such as telescopes, tripods and binoculars to some of the local beginner groups and other birders, and was equally generous with giving use of his many fantastic rarity photos. The Dingle Peninsula Bird Reports are full of such examples, and a few from the many he gave to be posted on this blog are shown below, but use the search function below to see just how many images he contributed to this blog, and many others.
Ian passed away at home on Saturday 28th November after a long battle with cancer. You'll be missed, Ian. But not forgotten. Our thoughts are with Joan who we are sure, will miss him greatly.
Lesser Yellowlegs, Cappagh Beach, 9th September 2017 (Ian Jones).
Adult American Golden Plover, Ferriter's Cover, 9th September 209 (Ian Jones).
Turtle Dove, Dunquin, 22nd September 2019 (Ian Jones).
