Northern Gannet

Though Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve might be the best place on Earth to observe this magnificent species, it took countless passes before a subject gave me direct eye contact because the birds gazed downwards as they returned to the immense nesting colony (~20,00 birds). Fortunately, this adult kited up the cliff face short of that destination and gave me a nice stare before it glided over my head. The background is water hundreds of feet below my shooting vantage.

Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland, Canada, 7/6/22
Canon 600mm f/4 IS II on EOS R5
1/4000 at f/4, ISO 400