It did not take long for the 65th annual Martha’s Vineyard Christmas Bird Count to become history. Planning started long ago.

It’s cold outside. Bring on the vagrants!

Ken Magnuson spotted a tern-like bird in Edgartown Harbor near the lighthouse on Dec. 11.

Sandra Talanian reports: “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a hummingbird in downtown Vineyard Haven on Dec. 2!

On Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, I awoke to find ice covering the bird bath. Ice forms much earlier than this further north, and it triggers late southbound migrants out of their northern habitats.

It is late November. The southward migration that started in late June is still continuing but at a much lower rate.