Horned Puffin

by Ron on August 4, 2008

Horned Puffin

Horned Puffin, Lake Clark National Park, Alaska.

We just got home and are still beaming from an awesome trip! 

Although I loved spending time with the bears, puffin were actually at the top of my wish list.  You see I often get requests for this beautiful bird, and live next to a very large population, but have never been able to photograph them up close until this trip.  Now I can put an end to that frustration.

I have joked in the past that puffin really don’t exist – that they are just a cartoon character like Bugs Bunny.  Having seen them up close and personal, I can attest that they are real, and they are spectacular!

Here are more Puffin photos.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Twitter

{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Dave Taylor August 4, 2008 at 10:02 pm

This is spectacular Ron, great shot! Puffins have always been a favorite of mine, and this is one of the best shots I’ve seen. Love the natural surroundings and the complementary flora above the bird. Really nice, I’ll look forward to more posts from your trip.

Richard Wong August 5, 2008 at 6:15 am

The flowers above the bird really add a lot of variation to the scene. great stuff Ron. Sorry if I’m sounding like a broken record now. :-) Are they hard to access is that why they have been out of reach for you?

Beth Lunsford August 5, 2008 at 8:03 am

Hey Ron & Janine. Glad you’re having such a great trip. You’ve done some incredible wildlife photography for weeks now. Great stuff. That Puffin is a very elegant looking bird. Very pretty. Glad both of you like ” Bugs Bunny ” ! I do ,too!!!

Ron August 5, 2008 at 11:35 am

Thanks Dave. I agree, puffin are cool, and this sure beat flying to St. Paul!

Thanks Richard. Good question, out of Seward in Kenai Fjords National Park, there really isn’t a good place to get to shore. I shot this with a 600 and 2x’s converter, a combination that isn’t practical from a boat on the ocean. So getting to shore where I could use a tripod, and wait for a few hours made all the difference.

Thanks Beth – I sure have had a fun and productive couple of weeks it seems.

Ron

Klaus August 5, 2008 at 2:29 pm

What do you mean – Bugs Bunny isn’t real? You Sir, take that back!
However don’t take back the Puffin shot – it’s like he was posing for you under the Wildflowers! Kudos!
Cheers, Klaus

Thangamani August 5, 2008 at 5:02 pm

It is a very nice photo!! Thanks for sharing!

Ron August 5, 2008 at 8:05 pm

That is funny Klaus – thanks!

Thank you Thangamani.

Carl August 6, 2008 at 1:03 am

Hey Ron,

Do those flowers have a name?

Great photo buddy – glad you guys had a good trip. Did I tell you about the weather in the Wrangells?

Cheers

Carl

Ron August 10, 2008 at 9:51 pm

Thanks Carl.

The plant is Rosewort.

We had some really ugly weather as well unfortunately.

Cheers,

Ron

R S July 24, 2009 at 10:30 am

Great shot of the puffin! How did you manage to go on a trip where you could actually be on land with a tripod and long lens to shoot this? I’m trying to accomplish something similar and haven’t figured out a way yet.
RS

Leave a Comment

Previous post: Brown Bear Sow and Cub

Next post: Hungry Puffin