Mike Langman

Joining a Torbay school YOC (Young Ornithologists Club) at the age of 11, Mike’s eye for detail in the natural world was soon acknowledged – he became a junior leader at 14 and started to lead RSPB outings at 16! He worked at the RSPB HQ at Sandy for 9 years (1982-1991) in the exhibitions unit, before becoming a YOC Activities Organiser, which included organising the detailed logistics of holidays, days out and roadshows throughout the UK. He returned to Devon in 1992 and is now a professional bird artist with 73 published titles. he is also a birding guide, public speaker and served as Devon Bird recorder for nearly 10 years.

Mike has an extraordinary knowledge of Devon's birds (especially his local area of Torbay together with its other natural history and habitats) and his opinion is regularly sought on bird identification, both at county and national level. As a birdwatcher he has found a new bird for Britain: a Yelkouan Shearwater at Berry Head, and 4 species new to Devon: Siberian Stonechat, Caspian Gull, Pacific Diver and Iberian Chiffchaff.