Crested Caracara in Lakewood

This morning as I arrived at my office, I saw a large bird flying in the distance. I grabbed my 8x21 binoculars out of my glove box and found it. It was a Crested Caracara flying somewhere over the bay. He flew around for several minutes before disappearing behind the trees as he was moving south. I believe he's the first Crested Caracara I've seen in Harris County. It's amazing to think that ten to fifteen years ago, this sighting would have made the rare bird alert. Now, while not common, it's not all that surprising to see it. They, along with several other tropical species, have been moving northward and expanding their range from Mexico and the Rio Grande Valley.