December 11, 2018

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

These are the berries of a Wax Myrtle
Well, not so much "berries" as "wax-covered seeds"
But that doesn't matter to Tree Swallows,
This is something on which they love to feed.

Sources: Florida Native Plant Society - Wax Myrtle

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 10, 2018

Location: Fellsmere, My yard

I am a female Florida Box Turtle
You can tell because I have brown eyes.
If I was a boy, my eyes would be orange or red,
But we both like to eat crickets and flies.

Sources: Florida Box Turtles

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 9, 2018

Location: Viera Wetlands

I'm an immature Black-crowned Night Heron
During the day I can be hard to see.
I'm here in the upper right corner,
Camouflaged amongst branches and leaves.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Black-crowned Night Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 8, 2018

Location: Viera Wetlands

I am a Tricolored Heron.
I tend to forage alone when I hunt.
I stalk, chase, or wait for small fish to come by. And if disturbed, I make a short, gutterral grunt.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Tricolor Heron
xeno-canto Sharing bird sounds from around the world - Tricolored Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 7, 2018

Location: Viera Wetlands

I'm a female Common Yellowthroat
I hang out in thick vegetation looking for bugs.
Boys know I'm a girl cause I don't have a black mask,
So they don't attack me, they just come looking for love.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Common Yellowthroat

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 6, 2018

Location: Okeechobee, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

I am a Black-tailed Red Sheet Weaver Spider.
Early in the morning, in the grass covered with dew,
You'll see my intricate web before you see me,
And unfortunate bugs who couldn't break through.

Sources: iNaturalist - Black-tailed Red Sheet Weaver

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 5, 2018

Location: Okeechobee, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

This is a flower weevil
Of the Baridinae subfamily.
There are 4,300 flower weevil species,
But this looks like a Heracross to me.

Sources: iNaturalist - Flower Weevils
Bulbapedia - Heracross

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson