Great shot Eric. One bird guide refers to the Rhinoceros Auklet as a mis-named puffin.

Barry Ulman


> On Jul 18, 2017, at 9:35 AM, Eric Ellingson <abriteway at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Does anyone know of nesting grounds other than maybe Smith Island (where the Tufted Puffins nest) where these have their burrowing nesting colonies? I'm aware of Protection Island but that's a bit far away.
> It's 40 miles from where this shot was taken to Smith Island. Seems a long way with a beakful of food.
> Very fun to watch. The gulls sure have a good eye spotting where the Rhinos will surface and do manage to get a fish or two now and then from them.
>
> https://flic.kr/p/VC4zxD <https://flic.kr/p/VC4zxD>
> Rhinoceros Auklet <https://flic.kr/p/VC4zxD>
> A single egg is incubated by both parents for 45 days. The chick is then fed each night with a bill full of fish for 50 days. With a bill full of Pacific sand lance? I'm thinking they nest not too far away. Point Whitehorn, Birch Bay WA
> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/35195000743/>
> Interesting info & video from BirdNote: http://birdnote.org/blog/2014/06/inside-burrow-rhinoceros-auklet <http://birdnote.org/blog/2014/06/inside-burrow-rhinoceros-auklet>
> Inside the burrow of a Rhinoceros Auklet | BirdNote <http://birdnote.org/blog/2014/06/inside-burrow-rhinoceros-auklet>
> birdnote.org <http://birdnote.org/>
> Everyone knows puffins. Who could forget their comical behavior ? with an appearance to match? But you may not know about the Rhinoceros Auklet, a close relative to ...
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> <https://flic.kr/p/VC4zxD>
> <https://flic.kr/p/VC4zxD>
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> Eric Ellingson