"While hiking up a mountain to examine hot springs at a geothermal plant in Iceland, my research team and I encountered a European Golden Plover about 30 feet away. We were astonished to see such a large bird so close, as him was our first encounter with one in Iceland. I took a picture of him standing on top of a mossy rock overlooking a nearby mountain. The bird was initially facing away from us but turned his head to look at us halfway through my photo shoot. As a result, I was able to capture photos of him looking away, turning his head, and then looking directly at us. I chose this particular photo because I like the way the bird's head is in full profile. To me, it looks like he is beckoning me closer and inviting me to something. I also enjoy the backdrop of the giant mountain in the background. This area of Iceland felt like another planet and truly captivated me. Prior to this trip, I had been doing a lot of research on the European Golden Plover, as they was one of the species on my bucket list to see. It was wonderful to be able to experience them as one of the first species I saw."