Machias Seal Island

As reported in the previous post, the trip to Machias Seal Island was unable to land, so we floated among the target birds. Cloudy and foggy, though by the time we began the return trip to Jonesport, Maine, somewhat brighter.

The island through (at 20x with teleconverter) was crowded with birds - Razorbills in forground, Puffins up higher, Arctic Terns overhead, all coming and going from the island.

Misty, but the profile of the Razorbill and Common Murre is distinctive, and with pelagic birds, that is often all you get. Pelagics are difficult for me since I only get on the sea once a year, if that. Not much time to hone ID skills (such as they are) ...

Three photos of Razorbill ...



Common Murre with Atlantic Puffins ...

Two photos of Common Murre ...


Why do we readily call some birds, "cute," such as the puffins, and not other birds? They are all doing the same thing - feeding, breeding, raising young, preening. Are the birds different, or do we just perceive them differently? Come back tomorrow for my offensive opinions on "cute."

Yesterday I headed south into central Mass (what those eastern in Boston call western Mass) for the Henslow's Sparrow. -a life bird. He was cooperative in singing on the grass tops, but distant, so no pics.

Here in the Northeast, maybe the weather will clear someday and we can again get a day of good birding.