Jun 17 2009
Want to take a Puffin photo like this?
Atlantic Puffins at (Machias) Seal Island
You don’t need a fancy camera to take a puffin photo like this one–you just need to be in the right spot. I took the above shot with a compact, point & shoot stye camera. And you can, too, if you want. Or you can just enjoy one of North America’s great natural spectacles, right in front of you.
I’m looking for a couple more people to join me in August for a wonderful week-long getaway to the Bay of Fundy region, just Down East of Maine. Of course, the trip is built around a visit to Seal Island, also known as Machias Seal Island, which features the most enjoyable seabird colony experience I have ever had, with the sole exception of Antartica, a much more difficult and expensive trip, to say the least.
It’s loaded with gawky but gorgeous Atlantic Puffins and dapper Razorbills, with the occasional Common Murre thrown in for good measure. There are also Common and Arctic terns, plus plenty of Leach’s Storm-Petrels, though these last generally remain unseen in their burrows.
While a number of sites could boast a similar species list and some are larger, what makes Seal Island the very best is the chance to land–weather permitting, of course, but it usually does in early August–and view these birds from blinds set only feet away from the birds. It’s not uncommon to hear the pitter-pat of puffin feet as they go marching across ther blind’s roof!
Seal Island is certainly the high point, but it’s got stiff competition from the rest of the birding in the Grand Manan/Bay of Fundy region, not to mention whale watching (possibly including spectacular North Atlantic Right Whales), scenery, and local seafood. And don’t worry–if you’re one of those unfortunates who doesn’t like lobster, there’s plenty of other great food to keep you happy and healthy and enjoying the trip.
Time is of the essence here: the trip begins August 8th in Bangor, Maine and ends there on Agust 14th. If you’d like to join a small, aimiable group please contact me ASAP–we need signups by July 1.
For more information, you can e-mail me at jeffgyr@mac.com, or call or e-mail Karen Turner at the Field Guides, Inc., office (kturner@fieldguides.com / 800-728-4953). I may be a bit out-of-internet the next day or two, so Karen may be the better bet for now.
Thanks for considering the trip, or for passing the info along to anyone you know who might be.
Dawn posted this on ChirpTracker…so glad she did! What a great pic of one of my favorite birds..even though I have never seen a true wild one
When he said he was taking me to see puffins…I never in my wildest dreams think I would be so close to see into their little yellow mouths.
Great trip….but I’m biased.
I just returned from Maine (Acadia National Park)
While we didnt get to leave the boat, we did see
many birds including the puffins @ Petit Manan Island While there we viewed 2 Bald Eagles being bombarded by Peregrines just over the island along with Northern Fulmar, Shearwater, Razorbills, Parasitic Jaeger, Black Guillemot, Common Murre and to top it all off 2 Fin Whales and 2 Minke Whales.
A Must See!!
Holy moly, I’d love to come with you! But I’ll be headed west on the very day you’re heading north. Dangit!
Beautiful photo! So how do we get photos like this?? Travel to amazing exotic places??
I just love your pictures of the Puffins. I’ve been to the Bay of Fundy before and after seeing your pictures I want to go back. Thanks!
Love the picture. I’ve read the best time to go is mid June-mid July. Is August better? I’m trying to plan my honeymoon. Thank you!