Arctic Warbler twitch – Kilnsea 14 October 2017
Having got back from an after school twitch to see a Rock Thrush the day before at 9 pm, I was straight to bed. The next day was a Saturday and I had another bird to see!
Arctic Warbler is a non-rarity in the UK but is one of only 3 non-rarity birds that I have not seen. They all tend to occur on the east coast of England, which is across the country to where I live, as we are based on the South West coast.
We were up very early (meaning the middle of the night!) again on Saturday 14th October 2017, the first day of my half-term holiday. There was an Artic Warbler at Kilnsea in East Yorkshire which is next to Spurn a huge birding hotspot. I slept whilst Dad drove us to the bird and we arrived at about 8.30am. The Artic Warbler was being seen in the pub car park and so we joined about another 30 birders to look for it.
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| Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Arctic Warbler twitch, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire 14 October 2017 Photograph copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig |
It wasn’t long before we saw the Arctic Warbler, showing high in the trees about the car park, getting really great views. We watched it off for another couple of hours before we headed off. It was really flighty so, despite my best efforts, I didn’t get a photograph of it. It was really amazing to see this bird. It wasn’t the rarest but it was special. Now only two non-rarities to see in the UK, Little Auk and Icterine Warbler which are both also east coast birds. It was also a new world for me, number 4725, not that I’m counting.
We then drove down the road to Easington, to see a Rose-coloured Starling which was in someone’s front garden and actually managed to get some photographs of it.
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| Rose-coloured Starling, Easington, East Yorkshire 14 October 2017 Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig |
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| Rose-coloured Starling, Easington, East Yorkshire 14 October 2017 Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig |
I had revision to do on the way home and Dad drove me home as quick as he could, as I had a party and sleepover with friends at 3 pm. As usual, I didn’t mention what I had been doing…all my friends had been sleeping in all morning in preparation for the party.
It was my 3rd new bird of the season and I was hopeful that there would be more to come. Hi, I’m Dr. Mya-Rose Craig. I am a 19-year-old prominent British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, environmentalist, diversity activist as well as an author, speaker and broadcaster. At age 11 I started the popular blog Birdgirl, and at age 17 I became the youngest person to see half of the birds in the world.
About The Author
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood
This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.
Hi Mya I've found your blog after watching you on Hugh's Wild West. It's brilliant that you are so interested in birds, other wildlife and the environment, and I'm very impressed with your initiative to get city youngsters interested the same subjects.