November 3, 2026

I am a male Talamanca Hummingbird

You know by my glittering purple forecrown

My mate’s a bit dull

She’s dark green on her skull

But that doesn’t stop us from getting down!

Location: Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/maghum2/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.

November 2, 2026

I am a Mangrove Hummingbird

I am a threatened species with a limited range

I only live in mangroves on the pacific coast
And my genus has recently changed.

Location: Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/manhum1/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.

November 1, 2026

I am a Strawberry Poison Dart Frog

I use my tongue to catch lots of small prey

I'm beneficial to humans as insect control

And my color warns most predators away

Location: Hotel Ari Ambigua, Costa Rica

Sources: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Oophaga_pumilio/

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.

October 31, 2026

This is a perfect skeletonized leaf

It's not as scary as human bones you might see

But we're not much into horror

And Heather thought this'd be cool for Halloween!

Special thanks to today’s guest photographer, Heather Stapleton.

Location: Private residence, Vero Beach

Sources: https://www.naomiloves.com/blog/2017/11/19/how-to-make-leaf-skeletons-non-toxic

Photo © 2026 Heather Stapleton 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.

October 30, 2026

The Sweetgum tree attracts birds

It also provides shade on sunny days

The leaves and fruit eventually fall to the ground

And you have some compost once they decay.

Special thanks to today’s guest photographer, Heather Stapleton.

Location: Private residence, Vero Beach

Sources: https://www.naomiloves.com/blog/2017/11/19/how-to-make-leaf-skeletons-non-toxic

Photo © 2026 Heather Stapleton 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.

October 29, 2026

The holes in the leaf are perfect and round

The hole-maker's not here but they aren't at rest

They are using leaf bits

Combined with bee spit 

And pollen to wallpaper their nest.

Special thanks to today’s guest photographer, Heather Stapleton.

Location: Private residence, Vero Beach

Sources: https://www.flawildflowers.org/know-your-native-pollinators-leafcutter-bees/

Photo © 2026 Heather Stapleton 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.

October 28, 2026

I am a female American Redstart

I'm not bright and flashy like a male

But from this view

You don't have to guess "Who?"

You know I'm me by my yellow-patched tail.

Special thanks to today’s guest photographer, Heather Stapleton.

Location: Private residence, Vero Beach

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Redstart/photo-gallery/297029071

Photo © 2026 Heather Stapleton 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.