Marco Island/Out and about in SW Florida - Part 1

We were at Marco Island for 9 weeks a year and a half ago.  We liked it so much, we came back, but just for 2 weeks.
After getting settled in, we started wandering around SW Florida.  We confined ourselves mainly to what was along US 41, which runs past Marco Island and continues on to Miami. We went about 35 miles (about another 50 miles to Miami).  Our first stop was a wayside park that straddles a canal that usually has alligators.  It did.
Next was Kirby Storter Roadside Park.  It's small, only about 12 acres, but has a nice 2,000' foot boardwalk walk into a cypress swamp/forest.  We found out after the fact that a momma gator had about 12 babies within the park, but it had dried up about 2 weeks ago and she moved on. Only saw gator tracks. Oh well !!
Next stop was the Big Cypress National Preserve.  We heard there were a lot of gators there - and there was: we counted 60.
Our last stop was the Fakahatchee Stand Preserve State Park.  They have a one mile round trip walk, also in a cypress swamp.  Last time, we got up close and personal with a red shouldered hawk, but not this time (see my 10-22-2009 blog - 'We had a Visitor').  We did see 2 alligators wallowing in mud and a venue of black vultures while driving around the park.
And, of course, some Marco Island sunsets and sunrise and some flowers.

We are on the 6th floor in one of the middle units.  Kind of boring looking, but it suits our purpose.

The beach looking north.  The building with the red roof just to the middle left is where we were 1 1/2 years ago (has it been that long already ??!!)

Caught some kite surfers at the end of the day.

Tractor man. At least once a week he smooths out the entire beach, which is just over 2 miles long.  It does look nice after he's done.

Happy hour !!  Facing west does have itsadvantages, such as nice sunsets,  but it can also be quite hot,hence,  the umbrella.

A Marco Island sunset.

Alligators at the wayside park. They were maybe 6' - 7' long.

Gator tracks at Kirby Storter.  The line between the footprints is from its tail.(it is within the Big Cypress National Preserve).(next 4 also taken there).

An air plant.   This particular one is a wild pineand a member of the pineapple family. The long red stem is actually the flower; it is about 10' long.

Cypress trees.  By this time of the year there should be at least a foot of water, but south Florida is currently in a drought.

Another hiding place for gnomes !!

A cypress forest.

There are 15 here.

At least a 10 footer. The other 2 are even bigger.

Straight in parking only !

The one at the top had to go somewhere else for his parking space.

Green heron: about 17" long.

A venue of black vultures (yes, I had to look up what a 'flock' of vultures are called).This was at the State Park.

Wild daisy.

The flower of a button bush.   The bush can get up to 12' tall.  The long rods (stamins) coming out are individual flowers.  The 'ball' is about 1.5" across.

A Marco Island sunrise from the 17th floor.

Another Marco Island sunset.  Since it was lightning, thundering and raining, I knew there would be no good sunset that night (Wed. 11th).  I just happened to look out and saw the sun peeking through.  Yes, the sun wasactually the magenta color you see.