Change of scenery with a visit to Doxey Marshes was well timed as a Whinchat came on just before I arrived. A dapper male & one of my favourite migrants. Also noted 2 Little Egret, 2 LRP, 6 Swift, 3 reeling Gropper, num Sedge Wblr. #staffsbirds

Check of Otherton revealed my first rattling Lesser Whitethroat of the year. The bird gave some lovely views as it came to the top of the hawthorns #staffsbirds

Spent most of today in the garden with the family. The first 2 House Martins are back on the estate & the usual Buzzards & Ravens + a Redpoll. Also my first Orange Tip & Holly Blue of the year. After, took an hours stroll on the Chase. A pair of Redstart gave nice views + Cuckoo & Tree Pipit

On the way home from the Moors, I had a quick stop at Rudyard Lake. A pair of Pied Flys have great views & a few singing Redstarts were the first of the year for me.

A few more of the cracking Ring Ouzels from the N Staffs Moors today

Early morning I headed to the N Staffs Moors. The area around Blackclough Farm was excellent and produced at least 5 Ring Ouzels. A pleasure to spend time with this upland species. Also 12+Wheatear, bubbling Curlew and Red Grouse.

A couple more shots of the Gailey Res Cattle Egrets. Clearly the birds which were at Belvide yday. Probably the best examples I have seen in the UK.

At Gailey Res 4 superb sum plum Cattle Egret on heron island 16:00 #staffsbirds

At Otherton late afternoon male Wheatear in sheep field E of disused railway. Also along the nearby B5012 2 Wheatear(m&f) in large paddock adjacent to Rockstar Equestrian #staffsbirds

Always a joy hearing the first Cuckoo of the Spring.

After checking local paddocks to no avail after work, I had an hour in Sherbrook Valley this evening. My first Cuckoo and 2 Tree Pipits of the year. The latter giving superb views as they tried to sing and shelter out of the wind #staffsbirds

Beautifully calm evening at Blithfield. 1st w Kittiwake present between causeway & Beach tree point the best. Also drk Mandarin, Ringie, 4 LRP, 4 Common Sand, 3 Yellow Wag #staffsbirds

At WMI late afternoon LRP now up to 10. Also Shelduck & 2 Oyc present #staffsbirds

Couple of hours at Gailey Res this morning in the cold wind produced my first singing Reed Wblr & Yellow Wags(3) of the year. Also present 3 Gadwall, 3 Common Sand, 5 House Martin, Willow Wblr #staffsbirds

At Otherton this morning male Wheatear in field East of disused railway + 2 Shelduck on pool along Micklewood Lane. Also at WMI 8 LRP on pool viewable from Stable Lan2 #staffsbirds

After Chasewater, I drove to Alvecote where the fem Hooded Merganser showed immediately. Hopefully it would move on shortly to have a chance of being accepted. The smart drk Garganey also showed nicely. Several House Martins & Whitethroat new for the year.

At Chasewater drk RN Duck still showing nicely off causeway. Also 2 Common Tern, 3 Common Sand, LRP, 3 singing Willow Wblr along W edge, 10+Swallow with Sand Martins, Kingfisher #staffsbirds

Got back from Florida earlier today. Just a quick check of the paddocks at Otherton and along Mansty Lane failed to produce any Wheatear but my first Swallows of the year with 6 present #staffsbirds

Unbelievable views of Limpkin at Lake Tohopekaliga today. Taken with just my iPhone

Impromptu stop on way to airport at the Lakefront Park at Lake Tohopekaliga. Fantastic for birds and an unexpected lifer with Least Bittern. Also 33 Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks, 2 Limpkins, 2 Bald Eagle, great views of hunting Snail Kite, Cooper’s Hawk, American Purple Gallinule.

Plenty of birds were seen around Merritt Island including a lifer with 3 American White Pelicans. Also 20 BW Teal, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, usual herons and Spoonbills, 35 American Avocets, 5 Stilt Sands, 60 Least Sands, Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs, Belted Kingfishers etc

We again headed North to Merritt Island where we had a slow drive around Biolab Road, Black Point drive, and the haulover area. 23 Alligators easily seen and an even better showing of 20-30 Manatees.

With strong offshore winds, I spent half an hour scanning the sea before breakfast. It almost felt like being in the UK with over 90 Gannets heading north and 30 RB mergs. Things made me feel far from home with a handful of Lesser Scaups heading north, Black Skimmer, and the usual gulls & terns

With rainy weather,we took chance & drove 30 miles to Merritt Island & the Haulover Canal.The Viewpoint Deck produced 4 Manatees as well as 18 American Flamingos,lots of herons,Bald Eagle,15 Least Sand,Pileated Woodpecker.A nearby small boat harbour gave unbelievable views of at least 20 Manatees.

A quiet early anoon by the beach & pool quickly changed as a large storm hit. We retreated back to the room so I just scanned the sea. Plenty of Brown Pelicans, Ospreys, Ring-Billed & Laughing Gulls, American Royal Terns & 3 Grey Plover. Persistence paid off when 2 cracking Black Skimmers appeared

Another pre breakfast walk around the Maritime Hammock Preserve produced similar species to the previous visit. Being further great views of Blue-Headed Vireo, 2 fem Painted Buntings, & a Bald Eagle low over the hotel carpark as I returned.

Late morning we had a quick drive to Pine Island Conservation area. Dave saw his first wild Alligator. Also nice to see Limpkin, and a few others bits like Red-Shouldered Hawk, Lesser Yellowlegs, & Red-Winged Blackbird.

After breakfast we took a short drive to the Manatee Sanctuary Park at Port Canaveral. We fortunately got brief views of a Manatee quite closely. A few birds seen including Roseate Spoonbill, 2 Least Terns, & the ubiquitous Ospreys & Pelicans.

A few more shots from the fantastic Hal Scott Preserve this morning

At least 6 singing Bachman’s Sparrow at Hal Scott Preserve this morning. A localised and secretive species