North Atlantic Ocean Birds

Chatting

A pair of Atlantic Puffins appear to be chatting. Machias Seal Island US/Canada

Infatuation

A pair of Atlantic Puffins stare at each other on Machias Seal Island, US/Canada.

Nest

An Atlantic Puffin gathers nesting material. Machias Seal Island, along the Maine\New Brunswick border.

A Puffin with a Beak Full of Sand Lance

A Puffin takes off with her catch of sand lance. Machias Seal Island, Maine\New Brunswick

Contemplating

An Atlantic Puffin looks down seeming to be in contemplation. Machias Seal Island, along the Maine\New Brunswick border.

Food

Razorbill with herrings on Machias Seal Island along the Maine\New Brunswick border.

Landing

Razorbill lands on Machias Seal Island, Disputed Territory U.S. and Canada

Takeoff

Atlantic Puffin takesoff from the waters of the Bay of Fundy. Machias Seal Island, Disputed Territory U.S. and Canada

Rock Climber

A puffins climbs a rock on Machias Seal Island, Disputed Territory U.S. and Canada

Calling

A razorbill calls during mating season. Their call is loud and can sound like a small chainsaw.

Watching

A puffin watches me intently on Machias Seal Island.

Rooftop

Puffins, Puffins everywhere are perched on the roof of the Machias lighthouse building. There are over 3k puffins on this small island.

Family

Puffins and razorbills gather on rocks along Machias Seal Island. Both are part of the Auk family of ocean birds that nest on land and spend the winter at sea.

Nesting

An Arctic tern nests in the grass along Machias Seal Island. These terns breeed in moderate to sub-arctic regions and migrate south in the winter.

Ducklings

A female Common Eider with ducklings in the Gulf of Maine. Its's habitat ranges from the northern coasts of Europe, North America, and eastern Siberia.

Breakers

A female and male common eider ducks swim along the rugged shore of Machias Seal Island.

Murres

These Common Murres have gathered to breed on the rocky shore of Seal Island. Once breeding and raising the chicks are finished they head out to sea.

Murres

Some common murres in the North Atlantic, known as "bridled guillemots", have a white ring around the eye extending back as a white line. This is not a distinct subspecies, but a differseness that becomes more common the farther north the birds breed.

Take Off

Razorbills and a Puffin take off from Seal Island.

Landing

A puffin lands on a rock along the shores of Seal Island.

Open Wide

Puffins are a noisy bunch and this one is screaming at the top of its lungs.

A pair of breeding puffins.

Pursuit

An arctic tern and a seagull chase the lead tern who has a herring in its mouth. The birds fly over a bed of rockweed a common site along the New England and eastern Canadian coasts at low tide.

Flying

Atlantic Puffin heads to sea from Machias Seal Island, Disputed Territory, U.S.\Canada.