The Big Sit, Part 2

The meadow that developed so lushly over the summer at Halibut Point has a forlorn appearance now that the greens have browned and flower petals have dropped away to reveal their drab functional end game, the seed heads.

Savannah Sparrow

The after-the-party look is just what suits many kinds of seed-eating birds on their way south for the winter.

Swamp Sparrow

Some like the Swamp Sparrow come out of their customary environment to browse on the bounty as they pass through.

White-throated Sparrow

Individuals of a few species will find a way to make a go of it here through the cold months, sorting through the residual vegetation.

Song Sparrow

Then the modest russets, buffs, blacks and whites of the sparrow clan spark the landscape with a welcome charm.

Clay-colored Sparrow

Right now sparrows in the meadow spend much of their time foraging out of sight, down low in the tall weeds. Some species are a nice find that you probably won't see every year.

White-crowned Sparrow (juvenile)

The Big Sit strategy sometimes pays off in an unobstructed glimpse of a bird relaxed enough to come into the open.

Field Sparrow

Better yet, the obscure bird might come up briefly with a clear sight line above the canopy. A jiggling clump of stems alerts you to possible quarry the way a bobber foretells otherwise invisible activity around a fish hook.

Lincoln's Sparrow

I returned to the meadow vigil day after day through October with admittedly complex goals of pleasure and desire. It's true that fine days and nature's subtle beauties are their own reward. So is the satisfaction of a trophy photo like this Lincoln's Sparrow. As in all things it says as much to me about my own significance as it does about the world around me.

Dickcissel

That world is full of curiosities and distinctions,  relationships and uniqueness. Encountering them we're inclined to give them names. On one of my Big Sits I came across a Dickcissel, a transiting bird a little different from but reminiscent of the sparrows. The interests of science, recreation, and self-gratification converged in this first-time sighting. Such strands of delight propel me anew back to the field.