Laura Dennis

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One of my abiding wildlife memories from childhood is being taught by my dad about the song of the Yellowhammer, “a little bit of bread and no cheese”, possibly during one of our visits to the local RSPB reserve, Fairburn Ings. The Yellowhammer remains one of my favourite birds, and my love of wildlife and the natural world only increased as I grew up. I studied Zoology at Edinburgh University and later completed an MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation at Leeds, followed by roles in the conservation sector for Scottish Wildlife Trust and RSPB. I'm now a full-time ecologist and Co-Director of Anser Ecology, based on the east coast of Yorkshire, and spend my day-to-day working life surveying protected species and habitats around the UK. I joined Ocean Wildlife Encounters in 2022, and have travelled widely across the world's oceans, ranging from the Arctic to the sub-Antarctic. My wildlife experience prior to OWE was mostly terrestrial-based, but in a relatively short period of time I've gained first-hand experience of a significant proportion of the world's seabirds and cetaceans, although one of my favourite ever cetacean encounters happened much closer to home – at Ardnamurchan Lighthouse on the west coast of Scotland, watching two very special orcas 'John Coe' and 'Aquarius’ cruise through the Sea of Hebrides. My experience helps me to spot and identify the fabulous ocean wildlife we encounter from the decks of the ship and it’s hugely satisfying to enable so many people to see some of the planet's most iconic species. My professional experience using Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping software also means I'm able to help the team to visually display our many marine wildlife encounters.