With Hawfinches showing up all over the country recently, it seemed like only a matter of time before our first of the year, and one that graced the Plantation today was probably the day's highlight. Alongside it came a small but interesting selection of migrants. A Ring Ouzel at Cristin was probably the scarcest, while six Redwings were the first of the autumn. 128 Starlings was the first large movement since several flocks in late summer, while a small array of other finches/buntings totalled 11 Chaffinches, seven Siskins and singles of Lesser Redpoll and Reed Bunting.

Just 42 Goldcrests and 33 Robins were in evidence today, with other warblers being seven Chiffchaffs and four Blackcaps. Five Stonechats were around on land, five Skylarks passed through overhead and two Merlins were present. Other highlights were lingering singles of Great Spotted Woodpecker and Water Rail in the Withies, and Blue Tit and Great Tit at Cristin.

Amongst waders, four Golden Plovers south were the highlight, while Redshanks had increased to 12, Whimbrels to three and Snipes to five. 34 Turnstones was also an increase on the previous day, with the flock of Curlews numbering 54 today. Out to sea was very quiet, five Great Skuas, 17 Common Scoters and a single Wigeon were about as interesting as it got, with a few loafing gulls including two Mediterranean Gulls.

One interesting sighting was a Portuguese Man-of-war washed up in Cafn.