Black Necked Grebe
Unfortunately I have to report that my sabbatical is now over and my birding activities will have to slow down quite a bit. Although I have to say it is also nice to be back at work seeing people I have missed for the last three months and catching up with their news. Sadly 6 people connected with the churches I serve have either died or been bereaved while I was away 
I saw a total of 161 birds in Britain and an additional 18 while on holiday in Menorca. There were many highlights. Early on I was delighted to see my first ever breeding plumage Black Necked Grebe a Moore Nature Reserve. Another great moment was watching a Tawny Owl bring food to her chicks one lunch time as I walked through some woods on the Wirral.
The good news is that the sabbatical has been really worthwhile I have got a lot out of the reading and study which I have done and perhaps most imprtantly I feel more relaxed and rested than I have felt probably since I entered the ministry 11 years ago.
I do hope to keep this blog going so please pop back on a regularly basis to find out how my birding is going and also hopefully I will continue to reflect biblical on the birds.
