Thanks Morris, Jonathan, Birdie, Eric, Rob and Bruce.
Since getting to a place like a tiny island in the middle of the Bering Sea was pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, I was overjoyed that I wasn't rained on, and that the sun shone some of the 3 1/2 days I was there.
But preserving one's life always takes precedence over getting that perfect picture (well, to me it does ). So I remained at all times no closer than a few feet from the sometimes undercut cliff tops. My pics may not look that way, however, because I tried to find spots where the brush opened enough to give me open views of birds. And a 400mm lens narrowed the view considerably.
I had a great experience, got some decent photographs, and didn't fall to a sudden, crushing and mangling death on the rocks below. I figure it was a win, win, and (especially) win deal
Charlie
Thanks gentlemen.
This guy wasn't landing OR leaving. I noticed that occasionally the birds would just sort of stretch out their wings and flap them a few times. Why? I'm not sure: perhaps to keep them ready for instant action if there were an attack; or perhaps to align the feathers after preening; or...? Because finding a good place from which to photograph took a fair amount of time, I usually stayed at each for 10-20 minutes, hoping to get a wings-out shot.
This adventure took place some 15 years ago or so. At that time, there were daily flights from Anchorage to St Paul's Island (by prop-jet). My flight went on to the Aleutian Islands, and then directly back to Anchorage.
Charlie
Couple years I'll be headed to Dutch Harbor to a fishing boat. Fishing is something I love, always wanted to be out on the boats. Haha, do a few King and Opilio Crab seasons and then head to New Bedford, MA on a Scallop dredge boat. Great shot in St. Paul.