Puffins - 01

Did I tell you how Lauren and Josh spoiled us during our trip to Kodiak? It would be difficult (or very expensive) to duplicate everything we got to see had we visited as common tourist. They had everything lined up and there was always something new. Even on repeated trips to some locations, there was something new. Them having a boat was really special. The next round of photos (probably a lot) will be from the boat trip to Puffin Island and surrounding waters. I believe I have shared some of these before but I decided to edit them again and share the new edits.

I could spend days sitting on the boat and watching this action. The days are limited by weather. There was a breeze that kept the boat rocking enough to make photos with a large zoom lens a challenge. Puffins are such a funny bird. Their short, squatty body doesn't look like it can fly but they have big wings compared to their bodies. They are not graceful flyers. There is little or no soar in them. They are flying fast and a decent distance from our boat. I took a lot of bad photos that will not see light in a message!

As the name states, puffins live on Puffin Island - truth in advertising. The island is typical volcanic rock covered with lush green of the summer. The puffins nest in holes in the mountain as seen in this first photo. The guard is telling me to look away!

These puffins are Tufted Puffins and are distinctive with their yellow feather headdress. We only saw Tufted Puffins on the island itself. There were Horned Puffins in other locations (later). The puffins would fly out to the water, catch some food, and then fly back to their base on the island. The next photo is of one heading out to the grocery store.

They did not always come back with food. The next two photos show one coming in for a landing back on the steep slopes of the cliffs. It was interesting to see them flare and look like a cross between a kite and a flying squirrel or maybe someone in a wingsuit jumping out of a plane!

Stay in touch!

Doug White