In honor of sister Katie

September 23, 2026September 23, 2026 / Tracy Abell / 1 Comment

One year ago today, my oldest sibling died at home after a battle with cancer. Katie is gone but far from forgotten. As I told one of her sons this morning, thoughts of my sister/his mother pop into my head multiple times a day, at random times such as when I put on mascara or add broccoli to my smoothie or make my weak coffee that she always scoffed at as she drank what can only be described as rocket fuel disguised as coffee. I think of her every single time I spot the always delightful California Quails in my neighborhood. Honestly, Katie comes to mind during most every wildlife encounter I experience. We shared a love for nature.

I photographed this harbor seal last week and told myself it was maybe the same one that swam past me last September 23rd where I sat on a rock, watching the waves and crying after learning Katie had finally let go.

September 16, 2026

That day, the seal turned while swimming past and looked directly at me which felt like a message from my sister and brought me comfort. As did last week’s identification of this new-to-me Savannah Sparrow via the yellow streak on the head.

September 17, 2026. Ediz Hook

Why? Because Katie loved and was knowledgeable about birds, and would’ve been happy I’d expanded my knowledge base. Lucky for me, there are many, many birds I’ve never experienced which means she’ll be cheering me on for years to come.

Twofer Tuesday: Bald Eagles edition

July 14, 2026 / 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!