This discussion covers the entire Northeast/mid-Atlantic, but is germane specifically to the Cape May region as well.

Through early November, here's a brief summary of the progress of various irruptive species in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic states:
Although Northern Saw-whet Owls are in fairly good numbers, no signs yet of the northern owls, and Northern Goshawks and Rough-legged Hawks are being seen in UNremarkable numbers. It is a good year so far for Northern Shrikes throughout much of New England, with a few birds now south to northern New Jersey. Everyone knows about all the Red-breasted Nuthatches, and it has been excellent for widespread Purple Finch numbers, and good for Pine Siskins. The heavyweights include large numbers of Bohemian Waxwings already locally in upstate New York and northern New England, with a few south to n. Massachusetts; Pine Grosbeaks are well represented also in northern New York and northern New England, with a few south to n. Massachusetts; Evening Grosbeaks are scattered everywhere south through New England, with some morning fly-overs as far south as southern New Jersey; and Common Redpolls are scattered in small groups south to Long Island, with several singles south also to southern New Jersey. Crossbills, however, seem to have gone largely elsewhere, although a few Reds have been seen, including several in southern New Jersey (but where they may have originated from a possible stealth population in the state's Pine Barrens). There had been earlier talk of a possible flight of chickadees, and a large flight of Blue Jays, this fall, but so far there doesn't appear to be obvious signs of those, at least not here in the coastal mid-Atlantic. (Yes, there are small flocks of migrant Blue Jays flying by, but the numbers are not exceptional.)

--Paul Lehman