Razorbill Auks nest and breed on the rocky shores and islands of the northern Atlantic.  Like the Puffins, Machias Seal Island is about as far south as you are likely to see them.  They nest in colonies and, like the Puffins, lay their eggs among the rocks, where they perch and pose and mingle with their neighbors.

Few people make the trek to Machias Seal Island to view the Razorbills that nest there.  Most are drawn by the cute and colorful Puffins, but the Razorbills are as abundant and, arguably, as interesting.  Recently, I returned to the island (my third visit), and although I shot numerous images of the Puffins, I decided to spend some of my time focusing on these less photogenic inhabitants.

Once in the blind, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of being surrounded by thousands of Puffins.  But I chose to photograph the Razorbills in part because most people tend to overlook them, but also because they presented a challenge.  Their black head and face makes them more difficult to photograph, but despite their severe appearance, their interaction with one another was often endearing.  Capturing still images that conveyed this interesting contradiction seemed an interesting challenge.