Puffins, pot buoys, porpoise and seals = Perfect afternoon

But wait, there's more! If you read the whole post, you'll get mussels and lobsters and boats! And if you buy right now...oh never mind.

Yesterday we went on a Puffin Watch, on the good ship from  Hardy Boats. which she was, by the way, with Captain Al and crew taking fine care of us. From New Harbor it is five beautiful water miles to Eastern Egg Rock (and yes, there is a Western Egg and a Little Egg as well, with pretty dreadful histories as to bird's eggs and the Eggers...another reminder than man has been indiscriminately raping Nature for a long time - in this case back to the 1700's - until someone higher minded, and just damn plain practical comes along and set in motion a law that has to be enforced to have men and women act in a manner that is only for their own survival...sheesh!).

At Eastern Egg island the boat goes into crawl mode while an Audobon specialist, crew and captain help the passengers spot puffins and other birds, along with seals and harbor porpoise. And whatever else comes along. It is a great trip and I highly recommend it. We went with some new friends I'd only known online because of photography. It is always good to meet new people who love the water and what lives in it.

Especially if it gets to be put on your table! Mussels and clams and haddock and salmon were on ours. Across the way, this lobster was staring at me so hard I had to notice and then I had to take his photograph. Some things are mandatory.

Steamed mussels in their cool little net bag

Mussels and potato released!

But that was all after the puffin trip. Puffins are weird and wonderful. They are NOT endangered (just in case you got lazy and didn't follow the link), just unusual after being reintroduced into this section of the world. See rant on eggs above if you aren't following too well this morning, and you know who I'm talking to!

Puffins mate for life

My favorite puffin shot - Woo Hoo!

Yes, it's a seal!

One of the researchers...more are in blinds...the building is their bunk house while on island

I couldn't get the porpoise or minke whale shots...too fast for me. But there were other neat things going on.

 Bell buoy - very nice brass one...couldn't reach

Great signage...thanks, Phil!

Laurie wanted me to stick my head in one of those wood cut outs, in this case a clam (uh huh), with your head-sticking-out photos, but I thought that was way too much ammunition to give to anyone with a camera in hand. Even a friend.

Magic light time in full swing

Prettiest boat in the harbor (by a vote of 2)

This is a Laurie shot, from Old Orchard Beach...I figure I look at least as dorky as in a sign, but what I really want to show is JEANS IN JULY! And I wasn't sweating. At all. So weird.

Happy Monday! Hope Culebra doesn't get the drenching it looks like might be coming.