In 1981 I spent much of the summer photographing the birds on Protection
Island (which ended up in a story and photo essay for AUDUBON magazine). I
had special permission from the game dept. and one of the island land owners
for this project. I was shooting slides at the time and my slides have the
month and year printed on them (but not the day). My puffin slides are dated
June through August and in all of the images they are in full breeding
plumage. They were still nesting in August and bringing fish to their
burrows. I kept a notebook back then which, if I can locate it, may have
more specific dates. I do not recall seeing any puffins that were molting
into winter plumage during the time I spent there. Therefore I suspect that
the molt does not occur until after August - probably September. I hope this
is helpful.

Bob