Just my luck that my only close encounters with large birds (other than geese and turkeys) was a Turkey Buzzard that decided to perch on the handrail of the observation platform not six feet away from me. He/she was a juvenile too, since the skin of the head was still grey.

I wish for something more majestic, but still, when a sharp-taloned honking huge bird lands close enough to you, for you to see every wrinkle in the skin of it's face, it sure leaves an impression on you...