The April edition of Birdwatching Magazine had a full page article called “Backchat with Mya-Rose Craig” with some quick fire fun question and answers.
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.
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.
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush 30 October 2017 Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig
There are some days that stand out in terms of how lucky I am to have the parents I do – obsessed with birds as much as me but still prepared to put their passion alongside rather than ahead of mine.
There had been news of a Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush found in the Brecon Beacons on a Thursday, whilst I was at school. I headed to school the next day which was Friday 13th October 2017 with no sitting of the bird before I left home, so I assumed that like many others, it was a one day bird. It was my last day of term before the autumn half term holiday, so I was hoping that the holidays was going to be good for birds. This year I am in Year 11 and taking my GCSE exams in June. I have my mock exams in November so really need to do lots of revision during the holiday too.
Mum was in London and expected back that evening so that Friday was just an average day for me. We are not allowed to look at our phones at school and so I didn’t pick up the texts from my dad.
I boarded my school bus home at 3.25 pm as usual, when I saw my dad making his way from one bus to another. He knocked on our bus window and asked if I was on board? I knew I had to get off the bus, so told my mates that I probably had a dentist appointment. As I got off the bus, he whispered (so as not to embarrass me) that the Rock Thrush was still there and that we had just about enough time to get there. What a legend my dad is. He had already seen a Rock Thrush before and all this effort was just so that Mum and I could see it.
We drove straight towards Bristol and met up in a car park with Mum and her friend Lorna, who was staying with us. It was to be Lorna’s first twitch! They had been in London for a couple of nights and Mum had rushed back early to meet us.
Dad drove pretty fast to get to the beautiful Brecon Beacons in Mid Wales, getting us there at 5.30pm. As we rushed along the path to where the bird was being seen, we bumped into our long time birding friend and big British twitcher Julian Thomas. He told us that the Rock Thrush was still there but was being seen a little way away from the path. It had been raining and was very cloudy, so the light was fading fast.
Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig digiscoping Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Brecon Beacons 13 October 2017 Photograph copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig
Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig digiscoping Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Brecon Beacons 13 October 2017 Photograph copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig
Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush twitch, Brecon Beacons 13 October 2017 Photograph copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig
Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush twitch, Brecon Beacons 13 October 2017 Photograph copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig
When we got to the bird, it was perched in view, but some way away. Once we had seen it, although not fantastically, it was a big relief. We then watched and waited and eventually were rewarded with slightly better views just as it started to rain. It was my second new bird of the autumn and great to see this European Rock Thrush.
Record shot of Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Brecon Beacons 13 October 2017 Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig
Record shot of Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Brecon Beacons 13 October 2017 Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig
Needless to say, Lorna was not overly impressed with her first (and probably last) twitch! After some chips in Abergavenny, we made it home by 9 pm. On the way home, I posted my very terrible “record shots” on twitter, much to the hilarity of my birding followers. The Rock Thrush was also a new bird in the world for me (4724), which was fantastic.
Postscript
The Rock Thrush stayed around for a while, which was lucky, as we were able to return on Monday 30th October 2017, which was an inset day before I went back the next day.
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush 23 October 2017 Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush 23 October 2017 Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig
Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush 23 October 2017 Photograph taken by and copyright Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig
This time the weather was clear and sunny and the bird really confiding. We got some brilliant views and had another lovely birding day out with my parents.
About The Author
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.
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.
These are some photographs from my recent ringing at Chew Valley Ringing Station. I love ringing and I’m grateful to everyone at the ringing station who helps and supports me. Mike Bailey is my trainer there and he is brilliant, dedicating his retirement to the ringing station.
Special thanks also to Pete Burston, for all his patience as a trainer.
Ringing a Goldcrest on 27 Sept 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig
East Harptree School Environmental Club at the ringing station on 8 Oct 2015 I have taken them out birding before but missed them because of school photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig
Two scarce Lesser Redpoll at the Ringing Station on 8 Oct 15 New ringing birds for Chris Craig and Pete Burston Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig
Ringing a Great Tit on 8 Oct 2015 after East Harptree School had gone home Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig
Ringing with Pete Burston on 8 Oct 2015 after East Harptree School had gone home Photograph taken by and copyright Helena Craig
Ringing a Teal at Chew Valley Ringing Station 10 Oct 2015 Photograph taken by Chris Craig
Ringing a Teal at Chew Valley Ringing Station Oct 2012 Photograph taken by Chris Craig
Ringing a Teal on 10 Oct 2015 Photograph taken by Chris Craig
Ringing a Nuthatch on 11 Oct 2015 Photograph taken by Chris Craig
Ringing Redpoll sp ringed on 25 Oct 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig
About The Author
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.
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.
A Young Birder’s Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Chew Valley Lake Photograph taken by and copyright Oliver Edwards Photography
Last year I was interviewed by Ben Hoare, the features editor at BBC Wildlife Magazine, for an article in BBC Countryfile Magazine. I met Ben at Chew Valley Lake at the beautiful Woodford Lodge. We had an amazing time chatting about birds and anything else that came up. We were chatting so much that we ended up being there for a couple of hours. I had loads of fun, really enjoying my first proper interview! So much that I forgot all about the tape recorder.
Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Chew Valley Ringing Station Photograph taken by and copyright Oliver Edwards Photography
A few weeks later, I met Oliver Edwards a photographer from Bristol, at the Chew Valley Ringing Station. Oliver took lots of photographs of me at the ringing station and around the lake, which I also really enjoyed. It did not take long for me to get over any slight shyness! He was an amazing photographer and I love having so many cool photographs of my birding and ringing.
Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Chew Valley Lake Photograph taken by and copyright Oliver Edwards Photography
Interview with a Young Birder
The interview was published in the September 2014 edition of BBC Countryfile Magazine. In it, I explained why I thought birds were cool and why birding is brilliant fun for children and adults to take part in. There was even a mention of my interview on the front page which was amazing.
As well as the magazine interview, there was also an online article by me, where I shared my top ten tips for bird watching beginners http://bit.ly/1zhu2D8.
Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig at Chew Valley Lake Photograph taken by and copyright Oliver Edwards Photography
About The Author
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.
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.
Ringing a Goldcrest on 27 Sept 2015
East Harptree School Environmental Club at the ringing station on 8 Oct 2015
Two scarce Lesser Redpoll at the Ringing Station on 8 Oct 15
Ringing a Great Tit on 8 Oct 2015 after East Harptree School had gone home
Ringing with Pete Burston on 8 Oct 2015 after East Harptree School had gone home
Ringing a Teal at Chew Valley Ringing Station 10 Oct 2015
Ringing a Teal at Chew Valley Ringing Station Oct 2012
Ringing a Teal on 10 Oct 2015
Ringing a Nuthatch on 11 Oct 2015
Ringing Redpoll sp ringed on 25 Oct 2015
