Puffin adventure
Jul 12, 2015 09:32:23 #
McQ6
Loc: Florida
Last week I had the opportunity to go on a boat to see Puffins, Guillemots, Terns and Laughing Gulls from Boothbay Harbor, ME.
The Puffins, Guillemots and Arctic Terns were life birds for me. The Puffins were hard to photo in flight as they are small (11in.) and very fast. I was never able to get any shots at less than 200 ft. Here is one from my Canon 7DMarkII, 100-400 lens at 380 mm. 1/1600. f10. 380 ISO very seriously cropped and enlarged to 8x10 in. It was a thrill to see them in action.
The Puffins, Guillemots and Arctic Terns were life birds for me. The Puffins were hard to photo in flight as they are small (11in.) and very fast. I was never able to get any shots at less than 200 ft. Here is one from my Canon 7DMarkII, 100-400 lens at 380 mm. 1/1600. f10. 380 ISO very seriously cropped and enlarged to 8x10 in. It was a thrill to see them in action.
Puffin take-off
Jul 12, 2015 09:46:00 #
Jul 12, 2015 09:55:07 #
McQ6
Loc: Florida
Thanks, Pat. For those who can visit Maine, the one hour trip to the "rock" where they nest is well worth it. Since this species was almost exterminated in the USA, it is a treat to see them recovering. They are far gone at sea by August and don't return until the next Spring.
Jul 12, 2015 10:32:07 #
It looks like the same species my college roomie and I saw as we lay on the very edge of the ledge at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland 15 years ago. The public is no longer allowed to go out on the ledge because a portion of it unceremoniously fell into the sea a great number of feet below a few years ago. The wind was so strong that we were cautioned to lay down and inch out to the edge to peek over. It was an exciting adventure and there were so many puffins just below us. Funny little birds. When they land it looks like they put their wings in reverse. Loved this running take-off picture!!! A great shot! Mine didn't come out well at all.
Jul 12, 2015 10:41:42 #
Look at the Isle of May off the coast in Edinburgh, Scotland. Was there last month it was amazing. An UNESCORTED spot only 124 people on the island a day.
Jul 12, 2015 15:07:10 #
Jul 13, 2015 06:57:56 #
Good capture - looks like he is walking on water...
FYI: next trip up the coast, if you make it all the way to downeast Maine (the "real" downeast Maine - Acadia and east) you can take a trip from Cutler out to Machias Seal Island, about 10 miles offshore. If the seas permit you can take a dinghy to the island and spend a few hours in some blinds surrounded by puffins, arctic terns, and other birds.
FYI: next trip up the coast, if you make it all the way to downeast Maine (the "real" downeast Maine - Acadia and east) you can take a trip from Cutler out to Machias Seal Island, about 10 miles offshore. If the seas permit you can take a dinghy to the island and spend a few hours in some blinds surrounded by puffins, arctic terns, and other birds.
Jul 13, 2015 11:47:18 #
McQ6 wrote:
Last week I had the opportunity to go on a boat to see Puffins, Guillemots, Terns and Laughing Gulls from Boothbay Harbor, ME.
The Puffins, Guillemots and Arctic Terns were life birds for me. The Puffins were hard to photo in flight as they are small (11in.) and very fast. I was never able to get any shots at less than 200 ft. Here is one from my Canon 7DMarkII, 100-400 lens at 380 mm. 1/1600. f10. 380 ISO very seriously cropped and enlarged to 8x10 in. It was a thrill to see them in action.
The Puffins, Guillemots and Arctic Terns were life birds for me. The Puffins were hard to photo in flight as they are small (11in.) and very fast. I was never able to get any shots at less than 200 ft. Here is one from my Canon 7DMarkII, 100-400 lens at 380 mm. 1/1600. f10. 380 ISO very seriously cropped and enlarged to 8x10 in. It was a thrill to see them in action.
:thumbup:
Jul 13, 2015 22:14:06 #
connievloutely
Loc: Quaker State (PA)
McQ6 wrote:
Last week I had the opportunity to go on a boat to see Puffins, Guillemots, Terns and Laughing Gulls from Boothbay Harbor, ME.
The Puffins, Guillemots and Arctic Terns were life birds for me. The Puffins were hard to photo in flight as they are small (11in.) and very fast. I was never able to get any shots at less than 200 ft. Here is one from my Canon 7DMarkII, 100-400 lens at 380 mm. 1/1600. f10. 380 ISO very seriously cropped and enlarged to 8x10 in. It was a thrill to see them in action.
The Puffins, Guillemots and Arctic Terns were life birds for me. The Puffins were hard to photo in flight as they are small (11in.) and very fast. I was never able to get any shots at less than 200 ft. Here is one from my Canon 7DMarkII, 100-400 lens at 380 mm. 1/1600. f10. 380 ISO very seriously cropped and enlarged to 8x10 in. It was a thrill to see them in action.
Hi,
Nice picture considering situation.
I was at Bar Harbor on June 20th.
Our boat did not get close enough to get a decent Piffin picture and we did not see any whales.
Got a rain check.
Jul 18, 2015 19:50:49 #
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