I must admit that it’s tough for me to get motivated to get out of bed when it’s in the low 40’s and raining! Yuck. The only thing worse is the mid-30’s and raining. But, it’s Rarity Season, so there’s no time to sleep in! (I catch up briefly at the end of the month, just before Christmas Count season begins!) Sleep deprivation is, afterall, one of the prime symptoms of Rarity Fever!

But, face it, in weather like this, few people want to be out. Therefore, I sought refuge once again under the roof at the Lobster Shack in Cape Elizabeth for some seawatching. No real rarities, but a nice steady flight, and I really enjoyed the steady stream of near-shore Northern Gannets. A subadult Pomarine Jaeger was a treat, but it was a little too distant to be thoroughly enjoyed. No complaints from me about 5 close-up adult Black-legged Kittiwakes – my first of the fall here in Maine. (Complete totals below)

With the rain tapering to a drizzle as I began to head north, I quickly checked a few nooks and crannies in Cape Elizabeth and South Portland, but didn’t turn up much.

But, this is a great time to be out – and a great time to expect the unexpected! Although we’re nearing the peak of Rarity Season, there has been a bit of a paucity of vagrants around the North East. A perusal of some of the region’s listserves yielded the following: Green-tailed Towhee on Plum Island, Mass; Painted Bunting and Eurasian Collared-Dove on Cape Cod; Swainson’s Hawk and a Frigatebird in Cape May; an Eared Grebe in Rhode Island; and a Western Kingbird and Summer Tanager in New Brunswick.

Last year at this time, I had full-blown Rarity Fever with great sightings in Maine and surrounding areas.. Meanwhile, I was hot on the trail of Cave Swallows., and "Operation Cave Swallow" was put into motion.

However, the big rarity news so far has been an as-yet-still-unidentified Martin in Maryland. This may be a first modern U.S. record of Gray-breasted Martin, or it could be an even rarer Cuban or Carribbean Martin. Exciting stuff!

So, keep and eye out! (And "Operation Ash-throated Flycatcher" may have to soon be put in motion!)

Today's Dyer Point Seawatching totals:
7:05am: North winds 15.4, gusts to 19.8mph. Drizzle. Very good visibility. Seas 1-2ft. 43.5F.
9:05am: North winds 20.5, husts to 21.3mph. Lt rain. Mod-good visibility. Seas 1-2ft. 42.4F

American Wigeon: 2
American Black Duck: 8
Mallard: 9
Green-winged Teal: 2
Greater Scaup: 13
Lesser Scaup: 2
Common Eider: 231 (200-300 additional on water)
Surf Scoter: 32
White-winged Scoter: 31
Black Scoter: 312
Unidentified “dark-winged” scoter: 34
Unidentified scoter: 50
Long-tailed Duck: 53
Red-breasted Merganser: 13
Unidentified duck: 4
Red-throated Loon: 5
Common Loon: 20
Red-necked Grebe: 4
Northern Gannet: 307
Double-crested Cormorant: 50
Great Cormorant: 2
POMARINE JAEGER: 1 subadult
Bonaparte’s Gull: 13
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE: 5 adults
Black Guillemot: 3
Dark-eyed Junco: 1