Myrtle Warbler twitchers raise four-figure sum for cancer charity

Birders have raised a four-figure sum for a cancer charity after travelling to see a Myrtle Warbler in Ayrshire.

The bird was found by Jimmy Crawford in his garden in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, on 20 February and was still attending the feeders there and undergoing partial spring moult at the time of writing [2 April 2024]. It represents the first American warbler of any species to be recorded in the county.

Birders have expressing their gratitude for access to the Myrtle Warbler garden by giving back to a charity close to the residents' hearts (Keith Simpson).

Twitchers arrive

Over the course of the bird's stay, Mr Crawford has allowed a steady procession of birders to visit and view the bird in his garden. At the same time, his mother-in-law has been recovering from cancer.

Visiting birder Wayne Glossop decided to "give him something back" and set up a JustGiving donation page to raise a target of £200 for North Ayrshire Cancer Care.

By 27 March, the page had raised an impressive £2,400, more than eight times its target, thanks to the generosity of birders who had been able to watch the Myrtle Warbler in Mr Crawford's garden.