Pic of the Day

Razorbill Auk -- Machais Seal Island, Maine: Perhaps I should say Machais Seal Island, Canada. Machais Seal is claimed by both Canada and the United States. The claim by both countries was established over a hundred years ago. By claimming the island, fishing rights of the respective nations were extended further out to sea.
The Canadians have turned the island into a wildlife refuge and maintains the only manned lighthouse in the Canadian system on the island. Canadian biologist work on the island as well. Fortunaly neither the United States nor Canada have started a war on who really owns Machais Seal Island. When I see the island it is obvious that it is owned by the seabirds. I hope that it will always be so!
There is never a lack of subject or action on the island. Birds are constantly coming and going, squabbling between birds is never ending, and preening and wing flapping is a favorite pastime. This Razorbill Auk, one of many milling around the blind hopped on a rock in front of me and began to stretch and flap its wings.
Razorbills are not easy to photograph. The razorbill is a white brested, brown-black bird with dark eyes. If the light does not fall on the bird just right, the eyes disappears into the dark feathers. On my recent trip I had the opportunity to shoot numerous razorbills and was fortunate to capture the birds as they turned their heads at just the right angle to the light to illuminate and show detail in the eyes.
I love it when all the elements come together to create a harmonious image!
Nikon D300, Nikkor 500mm f4, Digital Capture, ISO 200

Pic of the Day

       Bridled Murre – Machais Seal Island, Maine: Twenty-seven years ago when I first visited Machais Seal Island, Razorbills and Murres were only seen around the periphery of the island. Murres were uncommon around the blinds, and razorbills stayed a safe distance making them small in the camera viewfinder.
     On my recent trip to the Machais Seal Island Common Murres and Razorbills were common around the blind and easy to shoot. What I did not expect close to the blind were Bridled Murres.
In 2003 when I was on the island I counted only three Bridled Murres, and they were seen at the waters edge, far from the photography blinds. When I arrived on the island this summer I told the naturalist which blind I wanted to be stationed. Preverious experiene on the island had shown me that blind four would present the best opportunity to photography puffins, razorbills and murres.
     What I did not expect close to the blind was Bridled Murres. I was surprised when this Bridled Murre suddenly hopped on a rock about thirty-feet in front of the blind. I quickly shot a series of images as the bird skipped and hop across the rocks. While this is not the first Bridled Mrurre I have seen it is the first Bridled Murre that I have gotten a decent photo. I could have shot this Bridled Murre all day, but did not get the chance. Within ten or fifteen seconds the bird disappeared behind some boulders. As it disappeared my attention was drawn to the Razorbills and Puffins that crowed the rocks around the blind and I began to shoot without missing a beat, knowing I had taken some good shots of the Bridled Murre.
Nikon D300, Nikkor 500 f4, Digital Capture, ISO 200