Membership Change, January 2015.
It is with many regrets that the Irish Rare Birds Committee announce that Dave Suddaby has stepped down from the IRBC after more than six years of dedicated service. During his tenure on the Committee, Dave brought a depth of knowledge and experience to the assessment process, with a particular ability to cut to the kernel of the trickier identification conundrums. The remaining members of the IRBC wish to express their warm appreciation of his contribution and expect that he will continue to tax them with a stream of Appendix 1 rarities for assessment!
However, with Dave's departure, the Committee are delighted to announce that Niall Keogh has accepted an invitation to join the Committee as a voting member. Niall will need no introduction to most birders in Ireland as he has been birding here since he was a child! He is best known for his interest in seabirds, having found Bermuda Petrel, Macaronesian Shearwater and Fea's-type Petrel over the years and has undertaken a considerable amount of survey work offshore on the R.V. Celtic Explorer. However, Niall has also found many other rarities, including Ireland's second Cetti's Warbler, multiple Gull-billed Terns, Ross's Gull, Atlantic Yellow-legged Gull and others. We welcome Niall to the Committee, and feel sure that the Irish birding community will wish him well in his new role.