Headed back to one of my favorite places, Machias Seal Island, the breeding home for Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, and other seabirds. My friend, Harry Collins, and I left Bar Harbor at sunrise for the two hour car ride to Cutler in northern Maine. Then we took a lobster boat for the one hour boat trip to the island. Machias Seal Island is protected, only fifteen people are allowed on the island at once. We spent the next hour in a blind. The puffins are not afraid of humans and will come right up to the blind and sometimes seem to look in the window. There is no need for a telephoto lens. It turned out to be a gorgeous day and smooth boat ride. We where happy to see the adults bringing back lots of fish for the chicks. That was not the case last year when only 15% of the chicks survived. The puffins put on quite the show.
Razorbill
Gannets
RTY Photography Blog 
Great collection of potos Ray!
Thanks, Joe.
Ray, I love this series! Puffins are among my favorite birds, but I’ve rarely seen them in flight. You’ve captured them perfectly…Thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks, Vicky.
Magnificent photos!
I agree with Vicky, Puffins are my favorites as well. Will never forget seeing them in Iceland. You did an amazing job photographing them! Thank you for sharing your experience.
Thank you so much, Ray. It would be worth it to me for the gannets alone! Didn’t we see them plunging and plunging on our wintertime trek in Island Beach with Jeanette? Thank you for acrobatic puffins — as I’ve said elsewhere, I’m thrilled to see so many fish in the beak of the parent. I remember too well that the waters were the wrong temperature for those fish to be caught and carried last year. Why is this year ok? gratefully, c
Thanks, Carolyn. new you would like the gannets lol.