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'Puffin' Puffin


'Puffin' Puffin
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1296 W: 0 N: 5059] (15080)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-28
Categories: Birds
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Puffins [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-04-27 9:59
Viewed: 899
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this picture hanging over the side of a zodiac on my trip to Spitzbergen last July. Puffin numbers are increasing in Spitzbergen – possibly as a result of global warming.

The Atlantic Puffin is 28–34 cm in length, with a 50–60 cm wingspan, with the male slightly larger than the female. This species is mainly black above and white below, with a pale grey face and red-orange legs. During flight it appears to have grey round underwings and a white body; it has a direct flight low over the water. The characteristic bright orange bill plates grow before the breeding season and are shed after breeding. The bills are used in courtship rituals, such as the pair tapping their bills together.

Atlantic Puffins are colonial nesters, using burrows on grassy cliffs. They will also nest amongst rocks and scree. Male puffins perform most of the work of clearing out the nest area, which is sometimes lined with grass, feathers or seaweed. The only time spent on land is to nest, and mates are found prior to arriving at the colonies.

The Atlantic Puffin is sexually mature at age 5-6. The species is monogamous and has biparental care. A single-egg clutch is produced each year, and incubation responsibilities are shared between both parents. Total incubation time is around 39-45 days, and the chick takes about 49 days to fledge. At fledging, the chick leaves the burrow alone, and flies/swims out to sea, usually during the evening. Contrary to popular belief, young puffins are not abandoned by their parents (although this does occur in some other seabirds, such as shearwaters). Synchronous laying of eggs is found in Atlantic Puffins in adjacent burrows
JoseMiguel, Argus, jaycee, stevkds, ramthakur, Debz, thor68, nglen, MMM, Adanac, claudine, Finland_in_Eton, SelenE has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Bufo: ColonyJamesp 1 04-27 13:25
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi James,
A very good capture of this puffin!
I think these are one of the most photogenic birds, I wish to catch them one day.
I like the clear details seen on the head and their uncommon and colourful structure.
Congratulations and thanks for share it.
My best reagrds,
JM

  • Great 
  • trinko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 610 W: 83 N: 324] (4310)
  • [2007-04-27 10:50]

colorful bird head and beak is in focus but the rest of the image seems a little out of focus

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2707 W: 139 N: 7809] (24333)
  • [2007-04-27 11:34]

Hello James,
Nice shot of a Puffin (doing the breaststroke!).
Though this led to overexposure of the water, the Colour balance of the Puffin itself is just right. Good sharpness and Compo.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

Hello James this is another lovely puffin shot from you nice POV with sharp focus and well exposed and well composed. Very cute tfs rgds Necip.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1865 W: 8 N: 4848] (15703)
  • [2007-04-27 11:49]

Hi James,

I would love to see a Puffin one day. This one is adorable and nice and sharp with beautiful colors. Would you send me a real one please?

Jane

Hi James.
Nice shot, rare picture. Nice DOF and very hard angle to get this all in. Well done. tfs. Stev

Puffins are such cute, birds, James.
It is a lovely capture of this one puffin' forward with some effort, apparently :-)!
Very good informative note on the species.
Ram

Hi James,
I really happen to like puffins, so there's not much needed to apreciate this picture. But, it is sharp as well, and well composed and has action in it, so there's plenty of reasons. Did you take him (or her) by the puffin colony just north of 14th july glacier?
regards, Jacob

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 866] (3283)
  • [2007-04-27 14:12]

Hi James, you certainly get around. A lovely capture of the Puffin in the water. Most shot I have seen are on land with a bill full of fish. This is a very nice POV showing a lovely profile with good colour and sharpness. I like the water light and effect.
tfs
debz

Hello James , strange and rare photo of swimming Puffin , good colors and comp. TFS.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2089 W: 9 N: 5861] (22206)
  • [2007-04-27 16:16]

Hi James. A very nice shot of the puffin ,I have never seen one in real life yet. good colour, and sharp with good compostion. well done.TFS.
Nick

Witaj James!
Beautiful frame. Very dobe details, colours and sharpness.
It congratulates and I greet - Roma

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 784 W: 0 N: 1558] (7176)
  • [2007-04-27 18:36]

Hi James
Beautiful picture ,very sharp whit beautiful colors,like your POV and BG colors.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1096 W: 1 N: 4461] (14972)
  • [2007-04-27 22:20]

Hello James,
Boy he looks like he is swimming hard, by the bow wake.
Nice colors and details on mister Puffin. Thanks James.
Rick

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-04-27 22:35]

Hello James

I love puffins so this shot appeals to me.Excellent reflection and colours.Good focus and sharp details.Nicely done.TFS

Rob

Hello James,
It is unusual to see this bird while swimming. I think that all the other pictures I have seen of this specie were taken on the ground. This is a very interesting POV with nice details and colors. I think that the WS gave good results too. Thanks for those interesting notes.
Claudine

Hi James,

I can see you were lucky to have a good close-up on this. It was really difficult for me to get close enough, to get a fair shot.
Great catch.

Best Regards,
Christian

Very nice image... don't usually see Puffins swimming like this, everyone photographs them on land it seems. Lovely colors and nice composition, I like the reflection. TFS, Mish

beautiful.
Few pics of them in the wild.
Brilliant colors.

TFS
JM

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2396 W: 61 N: 3937] (12658)
  • [2007-05-15 10:06]

Hello James,
This is one of the birds that I want to see a lot. Very well captured. TFS
Selen

Hi James,

What a beauty this Puffin. Oh men, he looks like he is swimming real hard, by the bow wake. Clear details and a nice colour on the head. How can make mother nature this ?? Have a nice day and TFS. Bob

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