birding

Twofer Tuesday: Bald Eagles edition

/ Tracy Abell / 12 Comments

Today I received the gift of two Bald Eagles sitting on a moored timber off Ediz Hook. Upon sighting them, I hurried to the car for my camera and started taking photos from there, propping the lens on the roof. When I realized they were maybe going to stick around a bit longer, I moved closer and took more photos. And when it became clear they were just hanging out, I got closer yet and propped my big boom-a-roo lens on a log and sat as I snapped pic after pic. That’s where I was for this shot (click on images to enlarge). You can see their yellow eyes and the hooked tips of their impressive beaks.

I wanted to be ready to capture them in flight so switched the camera settings for action shots. Of course, they remained in place although the one eagle teased me by spreading their wings.

The eagle on the left did eventually fly off. Alas, those flight photos don’t do that glorious bird justice so I won’t sully this post with those.

Here’s the final eagle photo of the day, a majestic pose by the bird that stayed behind.

I’m so grateful not only for the gift of the eagles’ presence but also the last-second decision to grab my big lens before heading out. Oh, happy day!

An uncommon merganser

/ Tracy Abell / 14 Comments

Female common merganser. Photographed Dec 28, 2025, from Olympic Discovery Trail

From Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Common Mergansers usually nest in natural tree cavities or holes carved out by large woodpeckers. Sometimes mergansers take up residence in nest boxes, provided the entrance hole is large enough. On occasion they use rock crevices, holes in the ground, hollow logs, old buildings, and chimneys.

Wow. Am I alone in being amazed to learn these large ducks can nest in holes carved out by woodpeckers and also sometimes wedge themselves into chimneys?

Sorry, but there’s nothing common about these birds.

Ode to turkey vultures

/ Tracy Abell / 13 Comments

As  I walked with Emma a few minutes ago, I saw a turkey vulture circling way up high. Then there were two. As Emma happily sniffed at the grass, I tilted my head and watched the vultures gracefully circle each other against the blue sky. Then a third joined.  A fourth and fifth. Everything inside me felt lighter as I witnessed those birds soaring above. They circled higher and higher, their red heads no longer identifiable, as white underwings flashed in the late sun.

Image not great but this is exactly how the light flashed on the underwings. April 3, 2024

Eventually, they started flying back toward us and just before they were overhead, a seventh vulture joined. I kept my eyes on them, turning to follow their flight until the sun blinded me. Such a gift. And when I saw that Emma was sitting quietly, waiting for me to finish, I felt even more at peace. What a good doggie.

We’ve been seeing turkey vultures on our walks for the last few weeks which makes me happy. It helps knowing they continue to fly free above all the cruelty and violence happening down below. It also just helps knowing such amazing birds exist, we owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

That same trip to Lake Hasty. April 2, 2024

Because, did you know this fun fact from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology?

  • The Turkey Vulture’s stomach acid is extremely acidic, so Turkey Vultures can digest just about anything. This also allows them to eat carcasses tainted with anthrax, tuberculosis, and rabies without getting sick. By taking care of the carrion, vultures provide an essential service for the health of our ecosystems. Without them, carcasses would accumulate, and diseases would spread from rotting flesh.

All hail the Turkey Vulture!

Harlequin romance

/ Tracy Abell / 7 Comments

As much as I adore birds and watch them every chance I get, my identification skills are lacking. That’s why I especially appreciate whenever I spot the fanciest duck seen on the water around here. With markings like these, it’s easy to proclaim, “That’s a Harlequin Duck!”

Olympic Discovery Trail. November 18, 2025

While you can’t tell from this angle, Mr. Handsome was tucked up next to the bank and hard to see. I only noticed him while moving around in order to photograph a perching gull through a tangle of branches. I immediately shifted my focus.

Hello, beautiful! I’m in love.

Balm for the soul

/ Tracy Abell / 13 Comments

This morning during a short walk on the Discovery Trail where I haven’t been for weeks due to a foot issue that may or may not be a mind-body issue, we  were gifted with all sorts of beauty. In the order in which those gifts presented themselves:

Black-tailed deer

Immature Snow Goose

Belted Kingfisher

Mount Baker

Black-tailed Deer

Horned Grebe

Glaucous-winged Gull and crab

Same gull pauses to make clear guests are not welcome at crab feast

After taking many photos of this delightful gull, we turned around and headed back to the trailhead. I was pleased to see the Belted Kingfisher was still in the tree and a bit further on, spotted this wild bouquet:

Thank you for taking the walk with me. May these glimpses of beauty be balm for your soul during these very hard days.

The joy is mine

/ Tracy Abell / 6 Comments

All gratitude to Zippy who, after I had to cancel my run yesterday due to bad air, figured out this morning that while the air near our home was unhealthy, it was clean down near the water! As I ran along the trail, breathing in cool smoke-free air, I saw multiple Great Blue Herons, gulls, mergansers, geese, hawks, some little brown jobbies, and lots of slugs. My mood improved dramatically!

Because I don’t run with a camera, I don’t have photos to post. However, I’ve still got tons of Sandhill Crane photos I’ve never shared and this one sums up the joy I felt this morning while running free.

Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. March 11, 2024

The fascists aren’t gonna take my joy. Please don’t let them take yours, either. In fact, I’d love to hear what’s made your heart soar recently. Let’s spread some joy!

Wordful Wednesday: travel edition

/ Tracy Abell / 4 Comments

Common Merganser in Umatilla River. Echo, Oregon. March 7, 2025

On our drive from Colorado to Washington, our second night’s stay was at a campground in Echo, Oregon. We arrived in the dark so it wasn’t until morning that I realized we were next to the Umatilla River. There was lots of bird song and movement, and I first grabbed the binoculars then the camera. The above photo was the first I took. I also saw a Belted Kingfisher, Greater Yellowlegs, California Scrub Jay, Mallards, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Eurasian-collared Doves. Zippy had to gently remind me that we had a full day’s drive ahead of us and so should leave.

I reluctantly said goodbye to everyone and everything there, thanking them for the gift of their presence. Echo was a lovely place to begin the day.

Friday Haiku

/ Tracy Abell / 1 Comment

look closely
who-who do you see
one great horned owl

Bear Creek Greenbelt Park. February 28, 2025

Thank you, Amy Law, for showing me the owl nest. While we didn’t see American Dippers, it was still a lovely walk and talk.

Sunday Confessional: dance drought

/ Tracy Abell / 13 Comments

The past year was incredibly difficult on a personal and global level and, unfortunately, it continues into this new year. I’ve unintentionally dropped many good habits–running, hoop dancing, posting here–as a result of the grief and sheer exhaustion of bearing witness to the suffering of so many. Today, however, I finally summoned the energy to do something I’ve dearly missed: hoop-dancing. For twenty minutes, I danced and spun in my hoop, singing along with the music. Emma was happy to see my dancing again and we howled together for several minutes, me grinning as her tail wagged and wagged.

A dancing Sandhill Crane at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. March 12, 2024

Today I reclaimed my joy. My intention is to dance again tomorrow . . . and to continue dancing in the days and months to come.  Dance as a revolutionary act!

Coming in for a landing

/ Tracy Abell / 8 Comments

I’ve been losing myself in revisions of my middle grade novel–grateful for the distraction from this brutal reality–and am close to being finished.

Sandhill Crane at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. March 12, 2024

While I’m still a day or two away from being done, I believe in celebrating every step along the way. So, today I celebrate myself and this project as I prepare for the final landing. Yay!

A story in three acts

/ Tracy Abell / 18 Comments

The other day, I went outside to sit with my camera. Just in case something interesting presented itself. I focused on the zinnias that are finally blooming from the seeds I planted months ago.

Right after taking that photo, the camera still held to my eye, something interesting happened.

A Broad-tailed Hummingbird flew into the frame! Fortunately, the camera speed was fairly high and, four images later, I captured this which was the best of the bunch:

In that brief span of time, all felt right with me and the world. Thank you, little Miss Hummingbird, for the gift of your presence.