After leaving Roque in the morning of August 26, we knew we needed water and fuel. The best place to get these were in Eastport, another 35 nm to the east from Roque. What better reason to detour to Machias Seal Island, ten miles directly offshore? The Island sovereignty is contested. Today, the Maple Leaf flies at the Coast Guard Station on the Island. We followed the detour and our noses east from Roque to Machias Seal Island to see what we could see.
Welcome to Machias Seal Island! In late August, the Island is closed to visitors. The birds have completed their nesting season, having raised the young. There are 5 types of birds, including two types of terns, razorbills, auks, and, of course, puffins. The birds love all of the rock crevices for nesting. There is an absence of natural predators. When humans do visit, they must stay in blinds to watch the adults and young in June and July.
Puffins originally populated the small islands off the Maine coast. But in the 1800s humans sought the eggs for eating. This led to widespread decimation of the puffin population. Eventually
In late August, the baby puffins are tiny. You have to be quick to catch these birds on the camera.
Please feel free to use your imagination!
Here are adult puffins.
After our circumnavigation of Machias Seal Island, we turned northeast to West Quoddy Head, the easternmost point of land in the US. West Quoddy was about 20 nm. Eastport was another 10 nm.
Cheers!
Brio
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