March 31, 2019

Location: Flagler Beach Pier

I'm a Eurasian Collared Dove
I look like an angel in flight.
I'm light gray and white with a little black stripe
Hey! Someone pushed me off the street light!

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Eurasian Collard Dove

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 30, 2019

Location: Flagler Beach Pier

I'm known as a Great Black-backed Gull
Here with my kid and two Ring-billed gulls.
The Ring-bills are smaller, and a bit more refined,
We have much bigger bodies and skulls.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Great Black-backed Gulls

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 29, 2019

Location: Flagler Beach Pier

I'm known as a Sanderling
I spend my time running forth and beck.
I am always looking for things
Just like the Pacleds on Star Trec.

Sources: Star Trek: The Next Generation Rewatch: “Samaritan Snare”

Cornell Lab All About Birds - Sanderling

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 28, 2019

Location: Flagler Beach Pier

I'm a Ring-Billed Gull with some Laughing Gulls
Take a look and compare and contrast.
Laughing Gulls have a black beak and legs
I'm the one with the big ass.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Compare Ring-billed Bull and Laughing Gull

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 27, 2019

Location: Flagler County Big Day

I am a non-breeding Chipping Sparrow
When breeding, my cap's brighter red
I like to make visits to bird feeders
Blackoil sunflower seeds keep me well fed.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Chipping Sparrow

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 26, 2019

Location: Flagler County Big Day

I am known as an Oprey
I gave this poor fish a ride
I didn't know he can't breathe out of water,
Now I'm giving him the "kiss of life"

Sources: What Is Expired Air Resuscitation And How Does It Work?

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 25, 2019

Location: Flagler County Big Day

I am a male Eastern Bluebird
I've got a small head and crazy big eyes.
I take well to human built nest boxes
Here's a link if you'd like to provide.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Eastern Bluebird

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 24, 2019

Location: Big Day

I am a female Eastern Bluebird
I have multiple broods throughout the year.
I'd lay more eggs if I lived in the northwest
But I lay fewer eggs because I live here.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Eastern Bluebirds

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 23, 2019

Location: Ocala National Forest

This is known as Spanish Moss,
Although it not moss, nor is it from Spain.
It's tiny, grey scales can hold water
To keep it alive during times of no rain.

Sources: 10 Things You Should Know About Spanish Moss

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 22, 2019

Location: Ocala National Forest

This is known as Mistletoe
It's a parasite that grows on trees
It steals water and minerals from its host
Which is how in the winter it can stay green.

Sources: How Mistletoe Became Everyone's Favorite Parasite

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 21, 2019

Location: Ocala National Forest

I am an American Goldfinch
I'm either immature or a non-breeding female.
If I was male I'd have more yellow on me
And black on my head, wings and tail.

Sources: Cornell Labs All About Birds - American Goldfinch

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 20, 2019

Location: Ocala National Forest

I am a Tufted Titmouse
Shown here in a better light
I have a dark patch just above my beak
My wings are gray and my tummy is white.

Sources: Cornell Labs All About Birds - Tufted Titmouse

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 19, 2019

Location: Ocala National Forest

I am a Tufted Titmouse
You can ID me by my silhouette.
My head looks like a tiny version of
A Blue Jay's head with a pointy crest.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Tufted Titmouse

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 18, 2019

Location: Palm Coast, Waterfront Park

I am a female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Males have a red throat, but mine is white.
I use my tail for balance
When perching on trees upright.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 17, 2019

Location: Ocala National Forest

I am a Red-headed Woodpecker
I catch insects by pecking on trees.
I also catch insects in flight,
And occasionally eat fruit and seeds.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Red-headed Woodpecker

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 16, 2019

Location: Big Day

I am a Red-bellied Woodpecker
As woodpeckers go, I'm medium size.
My tongue is barbed and I have sticky spit,
Which helps me catch bugs and their allies.

Sources: Cornell Lab - All About Birds - Red-bellied Woodpecker

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 15, 2019

Location: Ocala National Forest

I am a Downy Woodpecker
The Red-Cockaded looks similar to me.
But I don't have a large white cheek patch,
And I'm less of a rarity.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Compare Red-cockaded and Downy Woodpecker
Audubon Guide to North American Birds - Red-cockaded Woodpecker

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 14, 2019

Location: Ocala National Forest

I'm a Red-cockaded Woodpecker
I have an itty-bitty red cockade.
It identifies me, but it's seldom seen,
But alas, it is why I was named.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Red-cockaded Woodpecker

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 13, 2019

Location: Polk County, Circle B Bar Reserve

On the left is a Common Gallinule
On the right, an American Coot.
An easy way to tell them apart
Is by the color of their snoot.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Compare American Coot with Common Gallinule

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 12, 2019

Location: Polk County, Circle B Bar Reserve

I'm known as an Anhinga
You can see I've a bulge in my neck.
It's in the shape of an armored catfish.
I'll just sit here and let him digest.

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 11, 2019

Location: Polk County, Circle B Bar Reserve

I'm known as an Anhinga.
I'm taking a little lunch break.
I'm going after this Armored Catfish
The way Dee attacks chocolate cake.

Sources: Eat the Invaders - Armored Catfish

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 10, 2019

Location: Polk County, Circle B Bar Reserve

I'm known as an Armored Catfish
Shown here with my friend the Anhinga
He's such a great guy, he invited me
Back to his place for dinner.

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 9, 2019

Location: Polk County, Circle B Bar Reserve

I am a Great Blue Heron
Having a little lunch snack
Hey wait a minute, what the heck?
My lunch is fighting back!

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 8, 2019

Location: Polk County, Circle B Bar Reserve

I am known as a Cray-fish snake
I'm mid-sized and live in the water.
I like to eat crayfish - hence my name -
I think Herons are bully marauders.

Sources: Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - Glossy Crayfish Snake (Regina rigida)

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 7, 2019

Location: Polk County, Circle B Bar Reserve

We are a pair of Blue-wing Teal
We do not mate for life.
We'll get together, have a few kids.
Then next year I'll find a new wife.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Blue-winged Teal

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 6, 2019

Location: Polk County, Circle B Bar Reserve

I am an exotic Island Apple Snail
In Florida, I'm the largest snail species known.
This Limpkin is giving new meaning
To eating me out of house and home.

Sources: Florida's Apple Snails

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 5, 2019

Location: Polk County, Circle B Bar Reserve

I am a Banded Watersnake
People confuse me with a Cottonmouth.
I am harmless, but Cottonmouths are not
But we are both found throughout the south.

(Please read the excellent article linked below for detailed information on how to tell the harmless Banded Watersnake from the venomous Cottonmouth snake. Another great resource is the Florida Snake ID group on Facebook.)

Sources: UF Wildlife - Johnson Lab: Harmless Watersnake or Venomous Water Moccasin?

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 4, 2019

Location: Polk County, Circle B Bar Reserve

I'm a Black Bellied Whistling Duck
I like to nest in tree cavities.
My duckings will jump right out of my nest
Within one or two days of hatching.

Sources: Audubon Guide to North American Birds - Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 3, 2019

Location: Polk County, Circle B Bar Reserve

I am known as Barred Owl
There is a threat that cannot be ignored.
There is a predator who will eat me and my young -
You know him as the Great Horned.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds- Barred Owl

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 2, 2019

Location: Sebastian, Riverwalk

In the center, I am a Ring-billed Gull
Surrounded by my Grackle friends

One of them has a much shorter tail
I think someone was mean to his end.

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 1, 2019

Location: Sebastian Inlet

I am known as a Willet
I'm a large shorebird with a thick, straight bill.
John James Audubon really liked me
Especially on the grill.

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Willet

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson