Surf Scoter

I have several portraits of this striking species, but none combine eye contact, exposure, and detail as well as this example. This guy was pretty unconcerned with my kayak and let me approach to within 20 feet. These birds prefer large bodies of water - like the ocean! - so they're often very far from shoe. It was really nice to have such a nice close look at this bird. I'm just glad I dialed down from f/5.6 to f/8 in time. Not sure I would have kept such even focus across the face and neck had I not stopped down to increase the depth of field.

Pillar Point Harbor, San Mateo County, California, 2/4/21
Canon 400mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x III on EOS 1DX Mark II
1/2500 at f/8, ISO 800.