July 24, 2026

I am a Purple-throated Woodstar

Though my throat can look black in flight

You will just have to trust me it’s glittery purple

When you catch me in just the right light!

(The female is shown in the second photo)

Location: Sachatamia Lodge, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/putwoo1/cur/introduction

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.

July 23, 2026

We are in the summer doldrums in Florida right now. Let's resume our (paused but not forgotten) Ecuador trip!

I am a male White-Whiskered Hermit

I am known to feed by trap-lining

This means that have a series of flowers I visit

At regular intervals for my nectar fine dining.

Location: Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/whwher1/cur/introduction#repro

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30585437/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4242162/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.

July 22, 2026

I am a Lesser Meadow Katydid

As the name suggests, I live in meadows and fields

I like to eat insects, flowers, and seeds

Whatever the meadow shall yield.

Location: Fellsmere Rd, Sebastian

Sources: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/118890-Conocephalus

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.

July 21, 2026

I am a juvenile Gopher Tortoise

I'm about the size of the toes on Dee's boot

Despite the odds, I've lived past the hatchling stage

Now I'll spend 60 years keeping house and in mating pursuit.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://savethetortoises.org/blogs/tortoise-tracks-conservation-journeys/from-hatchling-to-adult-the-life-stages-of-gopher-tortoises

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.

July 20, 2026

I am a Florida Garden Spider

I'm like the Yellow Garden Spider except - 

My butt looks like a crown

It has gold and it's round

But at building webs, we are both quite adept.

Location: Seabranch Preserve State Park, Stuart

Sources: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/127353-Argiope-florida

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.

July 19, 2026

Today's post is in memory of long time friend Mary, who loved Capybaras and will be missed. 

We are known as Capybara

We are the largest rodents in the world

We have webbed feet

And eat grasses and leaves

And are so adorable, it's just absurd!

Location: Brevard Zoo, captive

Sources: https://www.ran.org/wildlife-factsheet/wildlife-fact-sheet-capybara/

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.

July 18, 2026

This is our last day in Japan (at least until Joy stumbles across other cool stuff around her new home. Special thanks again to guest photographer Joy Handley for sharing the wonders of the nature in her new home with us.

We are known as Eurasian Coots

We have have solid white shields and beaks

American Coot beaks have a grey ring on the end

And their shields are dark read at the peak.

Location: Tokyo, Japan 

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/eurcoo/cur/identification

Photo © 2026 Joy Handley 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.