But in between these dramatic moments, guests at Hyatt Vacation Club Bonita Springs, Coconut Cove, can discover some incredible birding and Florida wildlife on the estuary and beaches near the resort, as well as local sanctuaries and state parks.

At these three spots, you can immerse yourself in the wonders of the Gulf Coast's birding and wildlife scene:

The more than 2-mile-long boardwalk winding through Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary offers an adventure into an Everglades environment beyond the national park's official borders. During periods of low rainfall, it's easy to spot scores of alligators here (nesting season is in June and July).

White-tailed deer and red-bellied turtles can be seen year-round in this sanctuary to the east of Bonita Springs. In the winter months, birders arrive to scout for migrating wonders like the painted buntings that pass through the refuge. Before you head out to the boardwalk, check the daily observations listing in the visitor center for a preview of what to scout.

Timber companies responsible for uprooting ancient cypress trees for lumber in the early 20th century created most trails that hikers and birders now walk along through the CREW Bird Rookery Swamp Trail, southeast of Bonita Springs.

Development has given way to conservation along 12 miles of no-fee hiking and biking trails, a 1,500-foot-long boardwalk, and crushed shell pathways. From these vantage points, you might spot otters, bobcats, barred owls, and — during the summer months — swallow-tailed kites

You're also in the realm of the Florida panther, but you would have to get extremely lucky to spot that camera-shy native.

Touching the mudflats of Estero Bay to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Lovers Key State Park is a paradise for birders located right along the Atlantic Flyway and the Great Florida Birding Trail.

Located just west of Bonita Springs, the park offers incredible opportunities to spot bucket list birds up close from hiking and biking trails and a boardwalk. Keep your eyes trained during low tide, when you can see roseate spoonbills and reddish egrets feeding in the shallows. Grasshopper sparrows and painted buntings are among the rare birds that aficionados bring out their binoculars to glimpse.

And the park's canals and lagoons are lucky waters for spotting manatees throughout the year, too.