November (for MD Birders) is Rarity Month

Thus far this fall along the Eastern seaboard up to New England, the Western vagrants have started to trickle in and be observed. Here are just a few of the notable rarities being reported:

-A state-record Yellow-billed Loon in Maine.
-A Tropical Kingbird in New York.
-A Tropical Kingbird in Falmouth, Mass.
-A selasphorous hummingbird in Northern Virginia.
-An Ash-throated Flycatcher in New Jersey.
-A Western Kingbird and a White-winged Dove in Delaware.
-A Mountain Bluebird in Pa.
-Orange-crowned Warblers at several locations from WVa to New England.
-A Rufous Hummingbird in New Hampshire.
-Cave Swallows in several states (mostly to the North of MD).
-Long-eared, Short-eared and Saw-whet Owls are on the way.
-Common Ground Dove in Cape May, NJ and Captree, New York.
-A Gray Kingbird in Ogunquit, Maine.
-Snow Bunting at Cape May, NJ.
-Lark Sparrow, Black Brant, Evening Grosbeaks in Massachusetts.
Here in Maryland, we've had two Cave Swallows at South Point in Worcester County (found by Jim Stasz) and a Say's Phoebe (3rd ever in the state) found in Queen Anne's County (found by Jeff Culler and Joe Hanfmann). Both of these rare sightings were observed this past Friday, October 29th, 2010.Bring on those Western vagrants!

Good Birding,

Dan