Bird Calls Radio's Bird of the Day for July 18

It’s Monday, so here’s a little pick-me-up for ya.

The Atlantic puffin is one of the more interesting birds found in New England. They can only (well, there’s always an exception, I know) be found on open ocean waters and on islands off the coast of the Atlantic up north.

I took a trip to Machias Seal Island off the coast of Maine last summer and it was well worth the effort. (Thanks for Norton of Jonesport for the trip.) My trip was in June, so it was before the eggs were laid and babies hatched, so I didn’t get the classic shots of puffins with bills full of fish, but that OK. After my brother Ed and I got in our blind, the puffins (and razorbills) literally surrounded us. It was amazing to see the beautiful birds so close.

Atlantic puffins are the only puffin species found in New England — or along the Atlantic for that matter.

Be sure to check out Bird Calls every Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. on WSTC/WNLK AM1400/1350 (in S. CT and nearby NY) or www.wstcwnlk.com from anywhere in the world (where there’s Internet access, that is.) Thanks for checking in.