We took a great bike excursion through Shark Valley into the heart of the Everglades. Fortunately, the road was paved, smooth and there were no hills to climb; although the wind on the return portion of the trip was in our face.
The first half of the tour ran along a canal which was teeming with wildlife. Although we’d seen all of the species over the past several weeks in southwest Florida, we never tire of encounters where we can observe and photograph such animals in their natural environment, often up-close-and-personal.
Fortunately for the fish, turtles, birds and other creatures, 
the Alligator populations are generally lethargic during the winter months and tend to warm their bodies in the sun and rest during the days,
Note Small Fish in Gator's Mouth
eating only at night. And we did see scores of large gators … 
and even some babies. 
Oh, the Florida Red-bellied Turtles
Brown Anole
Wood Stork
Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Snowy Egret
Tri-colored Heron
Pied-billed Grebe
Night Heron
Butterflies,
Monarch Butterfly
Zebra Butterfly
and native flowers.
Swamp Lily
At the deepest point into the Everglades, there is an Observation Tower
from which provides a magnificent 360o view of the grandeur of the Everglades.
