February 27, 2026

I am a Monarch Butterfly

If I migrate, it's a very long journey
I will never return

But don't be concerned

My grandkids will complete my trip for me.

Location: Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West, Belle Glade

Sources: https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/monarch.htm

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.

February 26, 2026

I am known as a Common Myna

I'm not feeling photogenic today

But you can still ID me by my white tail patches

And orange-yellow legs as I walk away

Location: Belle Glade, Fl

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Myna/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.

February 25, 2026

I am a male Red-winged Blackbird (top)

And below is my beautiful mate

She might not be as bright colored as me

But she doesn't mind being one of fifteen.

(As described in the linked article, "The Red-winged Blackbird is a highly polygynous species, meaning males have many female mates – up to 15 in some cases.")

Location: Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West, Belle Glade

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/overview

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.

February 24, 2026

I am a female Yellow-headed Blackbird

If I was male, I would have yellow on my head and chest

I can be found in grasslands and crop fields

Munching on spiders, flies, and other insects.

(This was a life bird for me!)

Location: Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West, Belle Glade

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-headed_Blackbird/lifehistory

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.

February 23, 2026

I am a female Common Yellowthroat

Yellow-throated Warbler has a similar name

But their distribution is smaller

And they're a bit taller

In fact, throat color is the only thing that's the same.

Location: Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West, Belle Glade

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

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-throated_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.

February 22, 2026

I am an adult male Peter's Rock Agama
I usually move pretty fast

But today it is cold, 

I'm feeling old

Sittin' the sun trying warm up my back.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/lizards/peters-rock-agama/

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.

February 21, 2026

We are Florida Manatees

Either a mom and dad or baby and marm

We posed nice for pictures because it was cold

But the water near the dam was warm.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/mammals/aquatic/florida-manatee/

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.