Birds galore in Gibraltar and a new job!

Well, what a busy couple of months!

My previous job developing youth engagement at Sussex Wildlife Trust ended at the end of March, after 6 months of creating a youth-led reserve, setting up an events programme, and more. It was a fantastic experience and I learnt so much from my colleagues whilst meeting so many inspirational young people. I got to feature on a news piece by ITV Meridian, about the youth-led reserve (Deneway's Wild Future) I helped to set up.

A couple of weeks after finishing the job, I was lucky enough to spend a week in Gibraltar, at their bird observatory. I was helping to monitor the raptors which migrate over the Strait of Gibraltar, carry out bird ringing every morning, as well as doing some general birding. It was such an amazing week. I saw 25 lifers, which included a trip over to Southern Spain. The early mornings paid off, with 502 birds caught in the week, including an Italian-ringed Willow Warbler. It was a privilege to see migration in full force, with species caught including 2 Golden Oriole, 61 Pied Flycatcher, 250 Willow Warbler, 1 Red-necked Nightjar, 16 Melodious Warbler, and a Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. (Birds ringed and caught under BTO license).

Melodious Warbler

Black-eared Wheatear

Western Subalpine Warbler

Pied Flycatcher

Golden Oriole

The next day after arriving back from Gibraltar, I moved down to Poole, to start my new Summer job. It's now been a month since I started as events assistant at Birds of Poole Harbour, and it's been brilliant. I've been primarily leading the Carey Osprey Tours, showing people the only breeding pair of Ospreys on the South Coast. I've also been helping out on their bird boats, and ID courses. I'm going to be spoilt with fabulous birds this Summer that's for sure! Highly recommend checking out their events, it would be great to see you there! https://www.birdsofpooleharbourbookings.co.uk

I've been continuing to release episodes of Birds of the Urban Jungle, a short series in collaboration with young wildlife filmmaker, Amy King. The most recent episode features the Fulmar: https://youtu.be/EZGMHyXIMv0?si=-sBNiHQBmxd022x7

Recently my first Radio 4's 'Tweet of the Day' went live! I chatted about the Pied Wagtail, a bird of urban areas. Catch up here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001yqj0

That's it for now! Keep posted by following me on Twitter (not calling it X) @Myabambrick1 and Instagram @myabambrick