Last month, I mentioned by quest for Rufous Hummingbirds in Maine. This month’s target is Cave Swallow. Over the last few years, Cave Swallows have become regular in the northeast in late October and early November. It is now annual in small numbers in Cape May, NJ for example.

These birds that are expanding their range north through Texas, usually winter in Mexico and Central America. However, increasing numbers are heading “the wrong way” and wandering north (instead of south) into the Upper Midwest. Once there, strong cold fronts help push them to the East Coast. Some of these birds apparently then travel south, possibly heading back to where they came from in a giant clockwise circle. Although they have occurred to our west, north, and south, Maine has yet to have a record for this species. And, this year seems as good as any, if not better – unprecedented numbers are being seen to our southwest - just a strong cold front away from getting here. Hundreds have been seen recently in upstate New York and Ontario, including an amazing 579 at Hamlin Beach, Ontario. 54 were in Cape May two days ago, and nearby Plum Island, Massachusetts hosted four just yesterday! There’s got to be at least one for us in Maine!

Therefore, Jeannette and I, like a number of other birders were out yesterday looking for Cave Swallows along the coast. We began at Fort Foster in Kittery, and worked our way north through York Beach and into Cape Neddick. A late Blackpoll Warbler at Fort Foster was a good find, but no Cave Swallows. As we were about to leave Seapoint Beach (after finding another Blackpoll) we had one heck of an adrenaline rush! SWALLOWS! In my excitement I hastily pulled the trigger and yelled “CAVE SWALLOWS!!!” But, alas, they had dark rufous throats and long forked tails. Barn Swallows. 7 of them, actually. While ANY swallow is a rare bird in Maine in November, I was crushed. So close, yet so far!

No Cave Swallows at York Harbor, or York Beach, or Cape Neddick (two Rusty Blackbirds were nice to see), so we headed home to vote (Happily, Question 5 securing 12 million dollars to preserve open space passed easily) and actually get something done around the yard. When I got to work this morning, there were messages on voicemail and email – 2 Cave Swallows were spotted over Pine Point in Scarborough! AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH! (Congrats to Randy, however!) Guess I’ll have to go find the state’s second record!