Horned Puffin at Talan Island, Sea of Okhostk

Internationally known, but very difficult to get to, Talan Island lies offshore about 50 miles west of Magadan in the Sea of Okhostk. It's mainly known because of the hundreds of thousands of crested Auklets that nest here. These crested Auklets nest in the rocks of the grassy hilly area at the north end of the island, together with tufted and horned puffins.

At present there is an extraordinary number of kittwakes nesting along the cliffs and not suprisingly a large population of Steller's Sea Eagles and foxes. The distressed shrieking set up by the kittwakes as the sea eagles cruised along the cliffs looking for breakfast had to be heard to be believed.

We saw hundreds of wheeling and circling flocks of crested auklets heading out to feed as we paddled towards the island at 5.30am this morning, amazing us with their numbers, the speed of their flight and sounds of their wings. It was an unforgettable sight. I'm very fond of puffins and was delighted to see large numbers of them on the water. And then there were the staggering number of kittiwakes nesting along the cliffs. What to blip? Any one of them would be fine!

But this adorable little horned puffin ended his days somehow, early this morning, maybe by mis-judging his landing spot high on the hill above where we hauled ashore on the rocks. Judd held him while I photographed him for posterity. Isn't he beautiful!