Monday, March 23, 2026

March 23, 2026

I am a male Common Gallinule
I'm trying to be discrete
But it's breeding time
We don't need wine
Well, that was fast, breeding's complete.

Location: Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL

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






Sunday, March 22, 2026

March 22, 2026

I am a Red-winged Blackbird
Look at how pretty my shoulder is
Wait! You don't look impressed enough!
NOW TAKE A LOOK AT THIS!!!

(This is a true story. I am positive this is what this Red-winged Blackbird was saying to me. I've never had one show me both shoulders at the same time before!)

Location: Orlando Wetlands, Chrismas FL

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



Friday, March 20, 2026

March 20, 2026

I am known as a Swallow-tailed Kite
I usually look more dignified than this 
But some stupid bug is dive bombing me
And to be honest, I'm getting quite ticked!

(I couldn't get a photo of whatever it was that was bothering the poor bird, but it was driving him nuts. I really hope it doesn't stop him from coming back to our yard!)

Location: My House, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Swallow-tailed_Kite/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.

Thursday, March 19, 2026

March 19, 2026

The red plant here is Carolina Water-Hyssop
It's a wildflower in the Plantian family
If you crush its leaves they smell like lemon
This plant is considered butterfly friendly.

Location: DeLuca Preserve, Okeechobee

Sources: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/bacopa-caroliniana/

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.

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

March 18, 2026

I am an Eastern Meadowlark
But I'm not related to Larks at all
I'm more closely related to Blackbirds
And Cowbirds and Orioles.

Location: DeLuca Preserve, Okeechobee

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

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

March 17, 2026

I am a Southern Live Oak
But I don't know how much longer I'll be
It's not that I try to hide the truth
Yet people say they can see through me!

Location: DeLuca Preserve, Okeechobee

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=QUVI

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.

Monday, March 16, 2026

March 16, 2026

I am a Red-banded Hairstreak
I eat nectar from milkweed and dogbane
As a caterpillar 
I ate leaf litter
I'm an adult now, my taste sure has changed!

Location: DeLuca Preserve, Okeechobee

Sources: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wildflowers/butterfly/red-banded-hairstreak/

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.