I started to pack up everything and loaded up my SUV to drive back home. I had left my camera in the passenger seat next to me. As I turned around I looked down the road to the right side. I had driven down it before and knew it was a dead end only about a half mile down. For some reason though, I decided to drive down it.

I slowly came over a small hill and immediately from my right side saw this giant bird leap into the air as I crested the peak of the hill. It flew only 30 yards away and landed on an old railroad pole. I grabbed my camera, jumped out of the car and was able to get two photos before it launched into the air and soared to the other side of the railroad tracks. It just goes to show you never know where the road can lead you to.

I took this shot when she was only 30 yards away from me with the sun slowly setting off to our right. It was around 6:42 pm.

Camera: Canon T6i
Lens: Sigma 150-500mm
App: f5.6
ISO: 100
Location: Vandenberg AFB, CA (South Base) near Space X Launch Facility
Taken By: TJ Lombardi