Globetrotting schoolgirl, 11, becomes the youngest twitcher to spot 3,000 different species of bird

Mya-Rose Craig, 11, has travelled the world with her parents spotting birds

She has now spotted 3,300 types of birds in a number of countries

RSPB says she is the youngest in the UK to reach the milestone, and probably in the world

Mya-Rose first went birdwatching with parents Chris and Helena as a baby

Her 3,000th bird was a Bowerbird in Queensland Australia



A globe-trotting schoolgirl is believed to be the youngest twitcher in the world to spot an impressive 3,000 different species of bird.



Dedicated Mya-Rose Craig, 11, has travelled the globe with her parents, spotting, recording and ticking off thousands of species of birds.



The young birdwatcher, who lives in Compton Martin, Somerset, has now spotted 3,300 types of birds in a number of different countries.



Dedicated: Mya-Rose Craig, 11, is believed to be the youngest birdwatcher in the world to spot an impressive 3,000 different species of bird

Landmark: Mya-Rose is seen here with friendly Crimson Rosella parrots at O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, Lamington National Park, Queensland, Australia

Milestone: A Regent Bowerbird, the 3,000th species of bird to be spotted by Mya-Rose Craig - who took this photograph in Queensland, Australia

Her landmark 3,000th spot - a Bowerbird - came during a six week trip to Queensland, Australia, in Summer 2013.

The RSPB say Mya is definitely the youngest person known to have reached the milestone in the UK, and quite possibly in the world.



Mya-Rose has been bird-watching with her family since she was just a few months old.



With her mother Helena and father Chris at her side, she has travelled the length and breadth of Britain finding and spotting hundreds of different birds.

Family trip: Mya-Rose would accompany her parents on bird-watching trips as a baby - and her third word was 'birdie'

Early start: Mya-Rose as a baby - with a spotting scope

Family activity: Mya-Rose, who lives in Compton Martin, Somerset, has been bird watching with her family since she was just a few months old

Home and away: Mya-Rose with a duck at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust centre in Slimbridge and on the hunt for emus at Mission Beach, Australia



When she was four years old her mother decided that she was old enough to start counting birds on her own.



Since then she has travelled to Columbia, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Egypt, Malaysia, Majorca and Australia looking for birds.



'She used to come with us when she was tiny. We first took her to the Isle of Scilly when she was only a few months old,' said her Mrs Craig, 45.

'It’s what me and my husband have always done but Mya is really into it as well.Even her third word was “birdie”!

Top pick: Mya-Rose's favourite bird that she has seen was a Southern Cassowary which she also spotted in Australia

Favourite spot: Mya-Rose's photo of a Southern Cassowary at Mission Beach

Itinerary: Mya-Rose's travel plans to get her to the 3,000 bird mark. She has been lucky enough to travel the globe in order to reach the landmark figure



'By the time she was four we felt it was OK to let her start counting the birds on her own.'

In 2012, when Mya-Rose was 10, her parents decided to take her out of school for six months and instead tutored her themselves, so that they could take her on the trip of a life time.



The family spent six weeks in Columbia, six weeks in Bolivia and nine weeks in Peru, ensuring a two week return home between each trip so Mya-Rose could meet up with friends.



Her impressive 3,000th spot - a Bowerbird - came on their latest trip - a six week break in Queensland, Australia.

Well-travelled: Mya-Rose with her father Chris at Daintree National Park, Australia and at Brisbane Airport



Globe trekker: Schoolgirl Mya-Rose is keen to keep up the hobby and is already planning her next trip

Mrs Craig, a retired partner in a law firm, added: 'When we went to Australia the birds were all new but she was really able to note all of the features and then identify them in the book after.



'She has now actually seen 3,300 birds now. She hit her 3,000th in Australia it was a Bowerbird.

'Her favourite bird that she has seen has been a Southern Cassowary which she also saw in Australia.



'They’re quite big and they look like an emu. They can be really tricky to find so we were chuffed when we saw one.



Record breaker: Bird charity the RSPB say Mya-Rose is definitely the youngest person known to have reached the milestone in the UK, and quite possibly in the world

Hobby: Mya-Rose with Nigel Jarrett (left) and Sayam Chowdhury (right) from Spoon-billed Sandpiper team at WWT Slimbridge and Bangladesh, and her mum Helena

Spotters: Mya-Rose Craig with Urban Birder David Lindo (left) and with Wildlife Whisperer Simon King at Slimbridge WWT Bird Fair in Gloucestershire



'We saw one that had some chicks as well. They can also be quite dangerous which makes it a bit more fun!'

The schoolgirl is keen to keep up the hobby and is already planning her next trip.

Mrs Craig and retired TV executive Mr Craig, 45, say whilst they are keen to continue travelling with their daughter they don’t think they’ll be allowing her any more time off school.



Mrs Craig added that it was unlikely her daughter would be able to spot all 10,000 varieties of birds but that wouldn’t stop her trying.

Road trip: In 2012, when Mya-Rose was 10, her parents decided to take her out of school for six months, tutoring her themselves, so they could take her on the trip of a life time

'Mya-Rose is keen to keep birding - though I’m not sure it’s fair to say she’ll get them all,' she said.

'The problem with trying to find all 10,000 varieties is that you have to keep revisiting countries and it costs millions of pounds to do that.



'We aren’t really trying to beat any records - we’re just doing it for ourselves really.



'She is keen to have a bit more time of school but we’re not so sure about that!'