My Journey Photographing Atlantic Puffins in Maine
A Little Chaos, A Lot of Puffins, and One Unforgettable Adventure
In 2019, I embarked on one of the most exciting photography trips of my life — a journey to photograph the Atlantic Puffins on Machias Seal Island off the coast of Cutler, Maine. The plan sounded simple enough: meet my photography friend in New Jersey, fly to Bangor, drive to our hotel, and enjoy three days of puffin-filled bliss. Easy… right?
Well… nature photography is always an adventure, but this trip proved that even getting there can be quite the story!
The Trip Begins… With a Detour (and a Hangover?)
I left my home early, which turned out to be a very smart move, because although my GPS proudly declared that I had reached my destination — I had definitely not. Instead, I ended up waking a poor man who was clearly recovering from a long night of… let’s just call it “festivities.”
Despite being half asleep (and probably half alive), he was surprisingly sweet and helped point me to the correct neighborhood. With directions in hand, I hauled butt across town and finally made it to my friend's house, where I was immediately greeted by her white geese, her adorable fur babies, and her equally kind mother.
Adventure: 1
Debbie: 0
Time to head to the airport.
Planes, Delays, and Missing Luggage — Oh My
Our first flight went smoothly, but the connection… not so much. Delay after delay eventually got us into Bangor very late — and without my luggage.
I looked at the empty carousel.
The empty carousel looked back.
The airline promised to deliver my bag the next day, but that didn’t help much for the night ahead. It was too late to buy essentials, and I had nothing except what was in my carry-on.
Thankfully, my friend had just bought new underclothes, T-shirts, and sweatshirts, and she generously loaned me a few items until my luggage arrived. Because I always carry my camera gear, laptop, chargers, and electronics with me, at least I was fully prepared to photograph — even if I wasn’t fully prepared to dress.
Lesson learned: Always pack toiletries, pajamas, and one outfit in your carry-on. Lost luggage waits for no one.
The Hotel Mix-Up
When we finally arrived at the hotel around midnight, the office was closed. We grabbed our pre-arranged keys, opened the door to our room, and…
One double bed.
Two adult women.
Zero remaining energy.
My friend volunteered to sleep in the chair (bless her) and we had the room corrected the next day. At this point, the trip had reached full sitcom status.
But from here forward, the real magic began.
Heading Out to Machias Seal Island — Puffin Time!
We booked our tours with Bold Coast Charters, the only U.S. operator permitted to land visitors on the island. With strict protections for the nesting birds, only a small number of people are allowed per day — so we wisely booked three days in case weather prevented landing.
Tours launch from Cutler Harbor, a beautiful little fishing village. Our boat, the Barbara Frost, was captained by Captain Andy, who was one of the funniest, friendliest, and most knowledgeable guides I’ve ever had. By day three, I could recite his entire speech.
🌊 Landing on the Island — Not as Easy as You Think
First, we anchor offshore.
Then we pile into a smaller boat.
Then we bounce our way toward the landing spot, hoping that:
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The tide is correct
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The rocks aren’t too slippery
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The waves won’t knock us over
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Our footwear actually has traction
This is NOT a flip-flop kind of trip.
Once ashore, we stayed strictly on marked paths — because terns nest right on the ground, and they are not shy. They will absolutely dive-bomb anyone who wanders too close to their eggs.
A staff member gave each visitor a “don’t poke the birds, but look taller” stick to hold above our heads on the walk to the waiting area and to the outhouse. Watching grown adults sprint with sticks overhead while screaming, laughing, or ducking was… entertainment in itself.
Atlantic Terns
Inside the Blinds — Where the Magic Happens
The highlight of the entire experience was our time inside the small wooden photo blinds overlooking the puffin colony.
Inside the blinds:
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It was HOT
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It was DARK
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It was SMELLY
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It was CROWDED
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And it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life
On Day 1, our group had 4 people in the blind… plus a woman who brought an entire tripod setup. That meant:
Zero rotating.
Zero moving.
Zero personal space.
But on Days 2 and 3, the groups were smaller and we were able to rotate a few times and enjoy every side of the blind.
And the birds?
Thousands of puffins, razorbills, common murres, arctic terns… everywhere.
Some puffins landed so close, you could reach out and touch them. But DON'T do that!
Atlantic Puffins
Razorbills
Common Murre
One of the best photography tips we got:
Don’t open all the windows — leave some closed so the birds feel comfortable landing on the blind.
It worked. The puffins, razorbills & common murre danced above our heads!
Did I get the iconic “puffin with a beak full of fish” shot?
Not really — they move so fast — but I got some that make me smile. And honestly, the experience was more meaningful than any single photograph.
Exploring Beyond the Island
After each session, Captain Andy brought us back aboard the Barbara Frost and took us on a scenic ride around the island.
We saw:
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Puffins flying low across the waves
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Birds bobbing beside the boat
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Hundreds of birds lined along the cliffs
And then—
harbor seals!
Roughly a dozen of them lounging on the rocks, swimming near the boat, and occasionally popping their heads up like curious puppies.
It was an unforgettable surprise.
Gear Talk — What I Used (and What I Didn’t)
Like most photographers, I packed way too much.
But what I actually used was:
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One camera body (Canon EOS 7D Mark II)
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A 100–400mm zoom lens
The blinds are tiny, the portholes are small, and large prime lenses just don’t fit well. My 500mm prime never left the bag!
Note: This was my setup back then, I have since upgraded to Mirrorless!
Exploring Maine: Lighthouses, Shops & a Trip to Canada
With tours ending early afternoon, we had time to explore.
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Day 1: Shopping for replacement clothes + fixing our room situation
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Day 2: Visiting the beautiful West Quoddy Head Lighthouse and the Lubec Gift Shop
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Day 3: Driving to Campobello Island in New Brunswick, Canada to tour the Franklin D. Roosevelt estate
Each stop was beautiful, peaceful, and full of charm.
Despite the Chaos… It Was All Worth It
Lost luggage
A wrong address
One double bed
Dive-bombing terns
Sweaty blinds
No puffin-fish photo
And yet…
It was one of the best trips I have ever taken.
Three perfect-weather days
Three successful landings
Hundreds of incredible birds
Amazing company
Incredible memories
And honestly, I would do it all again.
💬 Let’s Make This Interactive!
I love hearing from my readers — it makes blogging so much more meaningful and fun.
Here are a few questions to spark conversation:
🟣 Have you ever taken a nature-focused trip that surprised you?
What happened — the good, the funny, or the chaotic?
🟣 Is there a wildlife destination on your bucket list?
Alaska? Iceland? Africa? The Adirondacks?
🟣 Would you ever brave dive-bombing terns for a close encounter with puffins?
(Be honest… I won’t judge!)
Feel free to say hello and share your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!
Comments
You summed up this trip beautifully! I had such joy in my heart and a smile ear to ear watching & photographing these magnificent Atlantic Puffins with you! I’m so glad we were able to take this unforgettable and delightful trip together!