In 2007, we seem to have had a good run of rarities between Cape May County and central New England beginning the weekend of November 17-18. In the Cape May region alone there's been the Lesser Nighthawk, Bullock's Oriole, up to 98 Cave Swallows, Ash-throated Flycatcher, W. Kingbird, White-winged Dove, plus the Barnacle Goose, a late Least Flycatcher and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Add to that, an Ash-throated Flycatcher and Cave Swallow at Brigantine NWR, more Cave Swallows along the state's northern coast, and Sandy Hook's assemblage of Townsend's Solitaire, Ash-throated Flycatcher, W. Kingbird, and, perhaps rarest of all for late November, a Great Crested Flycatcher. On Long Island there's been 1-2 Ash-throats, perhaps 4 W. Kingbirds, Pink-footed and Barnacle Goose, several Cave Swallows, with additional Ash-throats in Queens and Staten Island. More Cave Swallows in Connecticut (and a continuing Common Ground-Dove), Rhode Island's first Bell's Vireo plus a few Cave Swallows, and Massachusetts has had Townsend's Solitaire, Ash-throated Fly, W. Kingbird, W. Grebe, several Cave Swallows, etc.

So, the peak period of the western passerines this year--particularly involving the largest numbers of Cave Swallows and Ash-throats--has occurred late in the month, about two weeks or so later than the usual peak-period for these species around mid-month. Chance?? A mild month?? Well, there were two good weather events in the latter half of the month that may have facilitated the run of birds: two warm low-pressure systems that tracked east and northeast through the area each followed by sharp cold fronts, one system just before the weekend of Nov 17-18 and the next one which brought us our mild Thanksgiving Day (and day before). And voila, following those two systems, we've had the best rarity influxes of the fall!