Machias Seal Island is a treeless 20-acre patch of rock about 10 miles off the coast of Maine and in the summer is home to several species of nesting seabirds, including the Atlantic Puffin. About mid-morning we boarded a small tour boat in the quiet fishing town of Cutler and headed out of the cove. Here on the New England coast, where a warm current from the south often meets cold air from the north, the weather can be unpredictable; but today there was no rain or fog, and the ocean was unusually calm. We looked forward to several hours of birding and photography on the island and were not disappointed! The Atlantic Puffin, seen in this photo taken from one of the blinds on the island, was a lifer for me!
