The grasses are nice with that blue bg and the bird is positioned well, I like the composition. I don't mind the HA so much as it appears the bird is looking out to the ocean. I wish the bird was a bit brighter on my screen, the shadows could be lightened I think.
I'm really wishing for both better head and light angles. Having said this, I really dig the beach habitat. The rocks, grasses, water, and sky make for a very organic image. The harsh light has made for a difficult exposure situation (that you've dealt with admirably), but you may wish to darken the rocks somewhat. I'd also crop a bit at bottom to eliminate the small OOF white areas in LRC. Thanks sharing this beauty!