Friday, March 13, 2026

March 13, 2026

I am a juvenile Bar-winged Skimmer dragonfly
You might confuse me with a Great Blue Skimmer
But have a dark head and dark abdomen stripe
And I live in shallow water - I'm not much of a swimmer.

Location: DeLuca Preserve, Okeechobee,

Sources: http://dragonfliesnva.com/My%20Documents/KevinPDF/pdf/identify/species/BarwingedSkimmer-FINAL.pdf

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 12, 2026

March 12, 2026

I am a Western Cattle Egret
I like to find a nice grassy patch
I follow plows
And hang out with cows
And sometimes work as a cattle hat.

Location: DeLuca Preserve, Okeechobee,

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Cattle-Egret/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.

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

March 11, 2026

I am a Domestic Cattle
Specifically, I'm composite known as A-Beef
I'm specifically bred to deal with Florida weather,
And, unfortunately, to be good to eat.

Location: Adams Ranch, Fort Pierce

Sources: https://www.adamsranch.com/cattle-breeds/composite-cattle/

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 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

This is known as a Strangler Fig
It started out as an epiphyte that put down roots
On the one hand, it strangles the tree underneath
But birds and butterflies sure love its fruits.

Location: Adams Ranch, Fort Pierce

Sources: https://www.fnps.org/plant/ficus-aurea#gsc.tab=0

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 9, 2026

March 9, 2026

This is known as an Artesian Well.
The water you see flowing is an underground treasure
The pipe in the background doesn't require a pump
The water comes up because it's under pressure.

(Watch the video linked below, it explains Artesian Wells quite clearly and cleverly!)

Location:  Adams Ranch, Fort Pierce

Sources: https://youtu.be/agSg7EXRviI?si=DDNPgjnvs2s2n4z2

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 8, 2026

March 8, 2026

I am known as an Osprey
Sitting here looking dramatic
You probably think that I'm posing
But I'm practicing my moves acrobatic.

Location: Pelican Island

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

Saturday, March 7, 2026

March 7, 2026


I am a Black-bellied Plover
I'm the only American plover that has a hind toe
My hind toe quite tiny, you have to look hard
It's vestigial and superfluous as toes go.

Location: Pelican Island

Sources: https://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/black_bellied_plover

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.