This Rhinoceros Auklet Cerorhinca monocerata seen late in the afternoon, is gathering a large meal of small fish to take back to it's burrow to feed a baby bird in the nest. These birds nest in burrows dug usually on grassy slopes on islands. They come back to the nest just after dusk, and feed the baby the mouthfull of fish. Both parents provide care for the egg and the chick. During incubation they take turns sitting on the single egg, with 1-4 days between switching from sitting to off to sea to feed. The chick is born downy and able to walk, and both parents leave by day 2 on daily feeding forays, bringing back a day's supply of fish each night.
It is felt that this technique minimizes the chance of the burrow being discovered by predators.
The Rhinoceros Auklet is closely related to the Puffins. Here is a Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata
You can see the huge bill on the puffin also allows the bird to hold a lot of fish to bring to the nest.
This Rhinoceros Auklet is coming in for a landing. Note the "horn" on the bill that is why the species is named Rhinoceros.
One more shot of the load of fish.
Good birding!
