Top Ten Lifers of 2009: Number 1

Last year I posted my Top Five Desirable Lifers thanks to Corey's post on 10,000 Birds. So you can imagine my happiness when one of these birds came into my life in 2009. Without a doubt my favorite bird of the year was my lifer Atlantic Puffin. This is bird that children dream of, a bird that I didn't really think I would see at the beginning of the year but with a little luck and coincidence I found myself in Maine on May 16, 2009 waiting for a boat that would take my to Eastern Egg Rock.

From Pemaquid Point near New Harbor, Maine I took a boat (from Hardy Boat Cruises) out to Eastern Egg Rock. Along the way I would see my number three Top Ten finalists the Black Guillemot and Razorbill. But it was the Atlantic Puffin that I came to see and when we finally found one you better bet I was running to the upper deck to see the bird in the flesh. The day was cold and brisk and the boat was wet. This was the first boat trip out of the season to see the colony of puffins so we only had half a dozen or so people. I knew I would miss out seeing Artic Terns this early in the year but I came for the puffins and I would see plenty of them on this boat trip. When our captain spotted some birds ahead I was the first to scramble up the metal ladder and onto the top of the boat. I didn't take any photos but I have some nice shaky footage on my video camera of the puffins flying, floating, and swimming. It was a great moment and I am grateful to my friend Rupp for allowing me to visit and for joining me on this cold adventure out to sea. The Atlantic Puffin did not disappoint and I wish I could see it every year. Nevertheless it's permantly found on my best birding experiences and is hands down my number one lifer of 2009.