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.

February 20, 2026

We are male Northern Pintail ducks

Our tails are pointy and our heads are brown.

When migrating to breed, 

We can fly up to speeds 

Of 48 mph - we REALLY want to get down. 

Location: Black Point Wildlife Drive, MINWR

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Pintail/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 19, 2026

This is a torrid tale of some Blue-winged Teals

Sometimes a pond can be a watery Payton Place

Shown here is a male kissing a female while

Their mates glower at the awkwardness this creates.

(This was a strange little vignette - there was what appeared to be two perfectly content pairs of teal, but the male just sauntered away from his mate (on the far right) and started kissing the female from the other pair.)

Location: Black Point Wildlife Drive, MINWR

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-winged_Teal/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 18, 2026

I am a Stilt Sandpiper,

I can normally be IDd by a prominent eyeline

Mine eyeline is a bit shorter than most

But my thick down-curved beak as ID's also fine.

Location: Black Point Wildlife Drive, MINWR

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Stilt_Sandpiper/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 17, 2026

I am a Greater Yellowlegs

I nest in mosquito-filled bogs

We are not very well studied because of that - 

I think Ornithologists might be anti-mosquito snobs.

Location: Black Point Wildlife Drive, MINWR

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Greater_Yellowlegs/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 16, 2026

We are known as American Avocets

We occasionally can be brood parasites

Sometimes we leave eggs in other birds nests

And just hope that they bring them up right.

Location: Black Point Wildlife Drive, MINWR

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Avocet/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 15, 2026

This might be Cartilage Lichen

Comparing photos and location it's likely

But you would have to understand the document linked below

That explains lichen identifying keys.

Location: Black Point Wildlife Drive, MINWR

Sources: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/67/2022/04/2022-FL_lichen_Keys_Whole-Document.pdf

https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/74074-lichen-identification-resources

https://www.waysofenlichenment.net/

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.