July 5, 2015 - Atlantic Puffins - Part 1

Diana and I just returned from a trip to coastal Maine and Prince Edward Island. The highlight of the trip for me was photographing a colony of Atlantic Puffins on Machias Seal Island. This is the largest nesting colony of Puffins (thousands of them) on the coast of Maine.
Puffin Atlantic Machias Seal Island 20150616
I went to Machias Seal Island with Captain Andy Patterson of Bold Coast Charter Company http://www.boldcoast.com). He uses his 40-foot boat to take 15 passengers per day to the island. I boarded the boat in Cutler, Maine, and the 9-mile trip to the island took about half an hour. When we reached the island, we transferred to a smaller boat which was able to maneuver next to this concrete ramp. Landing is not guaranteed; if the ocean is too rough, you are limited to observing the Puffins from the big boat.
Boat Landing Machias Seal Island 20150616
I was in the first group to land so I was able to get some flight shots while waiting for the others to come ashore. With their short wings and stubby bodies, Puffins need to work hard to stay in the air.
Puffin Atlantic flight Machias Seal Island 20150616
The lighthouse on the island is maintained by the Canadian government. The birds on the rocks at the bottom of the photo are mostly Puffins. There are also Razorbills, Common Murres, and Arctic Terns nesting on this 15-acre island.
Lighthouse Machias Seal Island 20150616
This is a panoramic view taken from near the lighthouse. As you can see, birds are everywhere. The two gray structures in the middle of the photo are the observation blinds. We had a little over an hour in a blind so we got great close-up photos of the birds.
Panorama Machias Seal Island 20150616 composite
Here’s a video of the action we saw from the blind. Make sure your sound is turned up, then click the camera icon in the lower left of the photo. It was very windy so there is some wind noise, but you can still hear the birds calling.
Video Machias Seal Island pamorama 20150616
The Puffins and the other birds paid no attention to us after we were in the blind. They went about their business, often within arm’s reach of us.
Puffin Atlantic group Machias Seal Island 20150616
Puffins are really spectacular looking birds. I was just delighted to have the opportunity to see them so close up, observe their behavior, and get some really nice photos of them.
Puffin Atlantic flapping Machias Seal Island 20150616

Will Layman
on July 5, 2015
Hi Earl - We just got back from a Lindblad/National Geo Trip to the outer isles of England, Ireland and Scotland (Isles of Scilly, Outer Hebrides, Orkneys, Shetlands among others). We saw lots of puffins. But nothing up close and personal as your photos. Congrats. Will and Gale.
David Wilcock
on July 5, 2015
Hi Earl, Since we live about 50 miles from Cutler, we too have done this trip to Machias Seal Island (still disputed territory between the US and Canada). The picture of the bird in flight is great. We have also recently seen a Large Puffin flock in Northern Norway (about two weeks ago) where an estimated 1 million Puffins are thought to nest on a very steep rocky island. However, since you can' land on the island, the viewing and picture taking is much better in Maine. We also just saw handfuls of Puffins on the south cost of Iceland, but the biggest flocks are said to be on the north Coast. Cheers, David

July 5, 2015 - Atlantic Puffins - Part 1

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Will Layman

David Wilcock