May 7, 2026

This is a Florida Pricklypear

It's a favorite food for many creatures

It's a beneficial plant in the environment

But hurts if it gets in your sneakers. 

(Not that I know from experience or anything...)

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pascoco/2025/06/05/exploring-floridas-natives-the-prickly-pear/

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

May 6, 2026

I am known as a Red-shouldered Hawk

I am Dee's 4000th iNaturalist observation,

We encourage you to learn iNaturalist yourself

Observation greatly helps conservation!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: Dee's video series about how to use iNaturalist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLw7UG4BcJDK3fhZ7G7rLaO6-jgju5P8Rc

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

May 5, 2026

I am a female Halloween Pennant

You can tell cause my wings are yellow

My mate is a brighter orange and stays

Attached when I lay eggs, clingy fellow!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_pennant
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_pennant#/media/File:Celithemis_eponina-mating.jpg

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

May 4, 2026

I'm an adult Western Palm Warbler

If I was born east of Hudson Bay you could tell -

I would be much brighter yellow on my underparts

And I'd have yellow eyebrows as well.

Location: Wolf Branch Nature Preserve, Apollo Beach, FL

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Palm_Warbler/id

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

May 3, 2026

I'm an adult male Prairie Warbler

Cornell Lab refers to me as "dapper"

I take that as a compliment but feel a bit bad - 

My wife and kids are much drabber.

Location: Wolf Branch Creek Nature Preserve, Apollo Beach, FL

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Prairie_Warbler/id

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

May 2, 2026

I am known as Trogoderma anthrenoides
Adult females do not require food
My reproduction depends on the weather - 
If its 27.5 C, I'll lay the largest brood.

Location: Dickman Rd, Apollo Beach, FL

Sources: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bulletin-of-entomological-research/article/abs/effect-of-temperature-and-humidity-on-trogoderma-anthrenoides-sharpcoleoptera-dermestidae-and-comparisons-with-related-species/8266492B89AF2240E95768AB10BBB2DF

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

May 1, 2026

This plant is Prickly Sowthistle

Its pointy leaves are blueish green

The flowers are yellow

And they resemble

Dandelions that you have seen.

Location: Wolf Branch Creek Nature Preserve, Apollo Beach, FL

Sources: https://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Asteraceae/Sonchus%20asper,%20Spiny%20Sowthistle.html

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.