Cameo Appearances

Gifted with flight, birds move adaptively around the world. The Great Urgency brings many species to pass through Halibut Point during their seasonal migrations. This week I've begun to notice brief visitors that I haven't seen here since spring or early summer. Some of these are juveniles heading south with an inborn compass and not yet at the full magnificence of plumage that we will enjoy when they return with mating ambitions.

Out of this group of 'cameo appearances' the phoebe, kingfisher and oriole may actually have nested locally. If so they melted inconspicuously into the woodlands after the boisterous days of courtship and parenting. Whether a return or an emergence their presence re-animates the landscape after a quiescent few months.

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Belted Kingfisher

Eastern Phoebe

Swamp Sparrow

Baltimore Oriole

Yellow-rumped Warbler



Northern Flicker