A Moment in the Meadow

Merrill Coffin’s wildlife painting, A Moment in the Meadow, captures a golden moment at the edge of a late-summer field. In the foreground, a pair of Eastern Bluebirds—one male, one female—rest on an old fence rail beside their weathered birdhouse. The birdhouse itself is fixed to the fence, nestled among goldenrod and cheerful yellow wildflowers, a perfect picture of natural harmony.

There’s a tenderness in the way the two birds are rendered—alert, calm, and content. You can almost hear the soft breeze rustling the wild grass and the quiet chirp of contentment between them. The warm palette of golds, browns, and soft reds evokes that bittersweet beauty of early fall—the sun still strong, but the season slowly changing.

In the background, a field left unhayed stretches out toward the horizon, where a classic red barn sits in the distance. It’s the kind of scene that reminds us of the quieter rhythms of rural life, where time seems to move a little slower and beauty hides in the everyday.

September Watch isn’t just a painting of birds—it’s a portrait of a moment: the last bloom of summer, the bond between mates, and the quiet strength of place. Merrill’s attention to detail, love of wildlife, and sense of seasonal storytelling come together beautifully in this peaceful, timeless piece.

Whether you’re a lover of birds, barns, or late-summer landscapes, this painting invites you to pause and savor the simple wonders just outside our doors.