A Full-time Life

PUFFINS

 

We really wanted to see puffins — and we did see some on our dinner cruise out of Resurrection Bay,  but not close enough to get decent pictures.   A couple of days after the cruise, we went to the Alaska Sea Life Center   (on the same Bay — in Seward) and I took all of these pictures there.  

 

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Horned Puffin

 

The horned puffin above is the kind we saw from the boat … and the kind we were hoping to see.  Didn't even know there was such a thing as a Tufted Puffin  (like the one below) until we visited the Center.

 

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Tufted Puffin

 

(Looks like a real bad hair day.) 

 

 

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I still hope to be able someday to spot and photograph puffins in the wild, but the Sealife Center is the next best place.  And  we have at least seen the horned puffin in its natural state so I can add it to my list.

 (When I first became interested in birds, it was pre-digital camera, so back then whenever I saw a new bird it was a great day.  Nowadays, I don't quite feel like it counts unless I get a picture.)  

 

LINKING TO:  WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY brought to us by Stewart, who hosted his 100th edition of WBW while we were traveling.  Belated congratulations and, as always, thanks for hosting Stewart.   

 

 

We appreciate all visitors and commenters! Thank you.

31 responses to “PUFFINS”

  1. Carver

    Great shots of the puffins. Such distinctive birds.

  2. Wally

    Loved your photos! Puffins would be high on my bucket list but don’t really think it’ll happen. 🙁
    What a wonderful opportunity you’ve had with that cruise! It really sounds like a trip of lifetime!

  3. Ramblingwoods

    They are so cute….

  4. Pat

    In the wild or not, they are amazing looking birds and you got some great photos of them.

  5. Gaelyn

    WOW! I’d like to add Puffins to my life list, and I’m not even really a birder.

  6. Penny

    I got caught in a downpour today, Sallie, and look a bit like that tufted puffin right now.

  7. Lowell

    One of my favorites of this earth’s creatures just because they look like something you’d find in a Disney movie.

  8. Stewart M

    Puffins are such great birds – unfortunately we don’t have them in Australia.
    As far as I am aware my Shrike Tit does not do anything shrikeish – just another case of a bird with a misplaced name!
    Cheers – Stewart M – Melbourne

  9. Adam Jones

    I really like the Horned Puffin. They always look so sad.

  10. Annie

    Wonderful birds ! The tufted puffin just looked a mittle crazy….

  11. Mary Howell Cromer

    Oh My Goodness I so want to see a Puffin in my life time, and these are so adorable!!! I came looking for your blog the other day and I could not find you, goodness and here you still are!!! I have been missing but plan to return later this week. Hugs for your always kind words~

  12. bettyl - NZ

    Puffins are such an interesting-looking bird and I’d love to see some for myself some day. Until then, you photos will be the next best thing and they are just awesome1

  13. orchid

    Wow,wow your Puffins are SO LOVELY, Sallie♡♡♡ I smiled the way you said “bad hair day” for Tufted Puffin. Either Horned or Tuffted, they are SO cute; I would guess with your own eyes they seem sweet smiling angels for you(^_^)
    Sending you lots of love and hugs to my dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*.)

  14. Arija

    I’ve always wanted to see some but when we were in Iceland, they seemed to have gone on holiday to some other place.

  15. Carole M/Australia

    I’d love to get near a Puffin like you did

  16. Dianne

    I did most of my birding in the per digital age too. Did not take photos at all. Some of you bloggers are pros and make amateurs like me look …like amateurs. If getting a photo is the requirement for being a birder, count me out. I think you are doing fine, photo in the wild or not.

  17. Andrew

    Wonderful birds to see… they really are so cute.

  18. Aimee

    Fascinating! I would love to see a puffin now too:)
    Blessings,
    Aimee

  19. Janice

    Love those puffins especially the front view of the tufted dude or dudette as the case may be! Thanks for sharing your experience so beautifully captured.

  20. Margaret

    Sometimes it is better to see birds in a wild life park than not at all. These are great shots of them.

  21. Frank (UK)

    Captive Centres are a great place to see the species we don’t see day by day. They are definitely a charasmatic bird to see in the wild.

  22. Linda

    Since we don’t have zoos here and we never travel…getting to see these puffins are a real treat to me!
    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

  23. Gail

    AWESOME! The puffin is high on my wish list. I also didn’t know there were different varieties of them. What an amazing experience to see and photograph these striking birds. Wow.

  24. Jenn Jilks

    I adore them! What great birds!

  25. Karen, Pixel Posts

    Oh Sallie, how fabulous!! Puffins are on my life list! They are so cute! In the wild or at a enclosure, I would love to see them!

  26. TexWisGirl

    so awesome to see one in the wild! yay!

  27. Sally in WA

    They are cute birds, even when having a bad hair day. 🙂

  28. Gunilla Bäck

    They’re both cute. I’d love to see them in the wild one day. It’s always great to see a bird (new or old), but it’s even better if I get a photo. 🙂

  29. Eileen

    The Puffins are so cute! I would love to see them in the wild too. Thanks for sharing, have a great day!

  30. Hazel

    I missed the puffins in Shetland due to fog-these photos will be a treasure.
    I hope you did not feel the earthquake?

  31. Mick

    Great photos of the puffins and so good to see them close – even if in a wild-life park.
    I like your comment about a picture of every new bird – I feel the same!

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