I heard him coming…Sandhill Cranes are really loud.

From Cornell’s All About Birds:

“a loud rolling, trumpeting sound whose unique tone is a product of anatomy: Sandhill Cranes have long tracheas (windpipes) that coil into the sternum and help the sound develop a lower pitch and harmonics that add richness.”

And he flew right on by.

I could hardly make a post of this last, far off photo, but I was pretty amazed to see a Crested Caracara fly by just a few minutes before the Crane.

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023