Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella)

The *Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella)* is a northern alcid which nests on rocky cliffs in parts of the Aleutians as well as other islands off the coast of Alaska. During winter the species may wander south as far as California. The two shots on this page show a Crested Auklet in flight as it left its nesting area to head out to sea. These two shots were taken near a rocky cliff at Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, in May, 2012, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 500mm F/4 L IS lens.