January 31, 2022

I am known as a female Eastern Towhee

If I was male, my head and wings would be black

I stay close to the ground, and fling sand all around

Doing a two-footed dance that's a little bit whack.

(Click the photo to enlarge - you can see the sand flying but her feet were going too fast to be caught by the camera. The top half was still though, she totally had a Riverdance thing  going on.)

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Towhee/id

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 30, 2022

This plant is known as Lime Pricklyash

It makes a great fence if you don't like your neighbors

It has lots of sharp, nasty, pointy black thorns

That might dissuade any unwanted invaders.

Location: Fort Pierce Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.fnps.org/plant/zanthoxylum-fagara

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 29, 2022

This is Myrsine cubana

It's common name is Colicwood

It's a long lived native perennial

Birds and small mammals use it for shelter and food.

Location: Fort Pierce Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.fnps.org/plant/myrsine-cubana

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 28, 2022

This is Lantana involucrata

It is a native species also known as Button Sage

It has showy flowers and fruits

And with birds and pollinators, it's all the rage!

Location: Fort Pierce Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.fnps.org/plant/lantana-involucrata

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 27, 2022

These are both Lantana Camara,

The bottom one has bloomed, the top one has not

This is the invasive non-native species of Lantana

But even unbloomed, it makes a pretty snap shot.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/lantana.html

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 26, 2022

I am a Rabidosa hentzi

I'm a tiny species of Wolf Spider

The Genus Rabidosa consists of five species

The other four are bigger and wider. 

(Click the photo to see her eye arrangement, which is one way to identify her.)

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.americanarachnology.org/journal-joa/joa-all-volumes/detail/article/download/JoA_v22_p138.pdf/?no_cache=1

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks

January 25, 2022

I am a nymph Southern Two-striped Walkingstick

One of my colloquial names is "Musk Mare"

I emit a nasty smelling spray from the holes by my eyes - 

Enlarge the pic and see one

<------ right there

(Thanks to Brandon Woo on Bugguide.net for the postitive ID.)

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/walkingstick.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 24, 2022

I am an American Bird Grasshopper

When I want to have babies, I dig -

I lay about 70 eggs in the soil, they hatch

Then go through five or six instars before they get big.

Location: Fort Pierce Inlet State Park

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/field/american_grasshopper.htm

https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/glossary/terms/instar/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 23, 2022

This is Houstonia procumbens

Also known as "Roundleaf Bluet" or "Innocence"

Here it is blooming right up through sand

In an act of defiance and insolence.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 22, 2022

Although I did not see it, 

A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was here

I know because he left his mark on this tree - 

Rows of holes don't just magically appear!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-bellied_Sapsucker/overview

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 21, 2022

This is a Southern Needleleaf Airplant

It can grow on tree trunks in swamps

It is a Bromeliad related to pineapple

And you can grow one from seeds, if that's what you want.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Tillseta

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 20, 2022

I am a Red-bellied Woodpecker

But from this view you might guess I'm Red-headed

But when I turn my head, my chin and face aren't red,

And my wings appear woven, or threaded. 

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-headed_Woodpecker/species-compare/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 19, 2022

I am the headless birdman....

Haha! I'm only kidding

I'm actually an American Kestrel

Headless is just the way I'm sitting.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/overview

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 18, 2022

I am an adult male non-breeding Prairie Warbler

You can tell by my black eyeline and half eye ring.

If I was female my colors would be duller

Unlike me, my mate just ain't got that thing.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Prairie_Warbler/id

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 17, 2022

I am a Crested Caracara, 

Standing here looking majestic

I'm in the Falcon family, but I build my own nest

And I though I eat carrion, my diet's more eclectic.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Crested_Caracara/lifehistory

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 16, 2022

I am known as a House Wren

So called because I live near humans in suburbia

I'm pretty small and weigh 10 to 12 grams

Picking me up won't give you a hernia.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 15, 2022

I am an Eastern Phoebe

I am a small passerine

When it rains I tend to stay hunkered down

So I don't need gaberdine. 

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Phoebe/id
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passerine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaberdine

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 14, 2022

We are both Barred Yellow butterflies

Our underwing color can vary quite widely -

It changes by season and whether we're male or female

And our upper wings are colored brightly.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Eurema-daira

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67324-Eurema-daira/browse_photos

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 13, 2022

I am known as a Brown Thrasher

I'm in the same family as Mockingbirds

Many ornithologists think I can sing better -

Mockingbirds get more credit they they deserve.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Thrasher/overview

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 12, 2022

I am known as a Bald Eagle

I've been in Florida since the late Pleistocene

Very few Bald Eagle fossils date from that time

Currently, they've only found around 17.

(Be sure to click the link below, very interesting article. I will have to hit the Florida Museum one of these days, haven't been there in years - maybe a post pandemic field trip!)

 

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-vertebrate-fossils/species/haliaeetus-leucocephalus/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 11, 2022

This is Narrowleaf Sunflower

It's not tolerant of brackish or salt water

Although similar to the Rayless Sunflower,

The Narrowleaf's ray florets are much broader.

Location: Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

Sources: https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-helianthus-angustifolius/
https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-helianthus-radula/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 10, 2022

I am a Gulf Fritillary

In Florida I float along like a soft summer breeze

And though I've expanded my range as far north as the Great Lakes

I am not able to tolerate a freeze.

Location: Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

Sources: https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.113004/Dione_vanillae

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 9, 2022

We are Brown-headed Cowbirds

My scientific name is Molothrus ater

We are partly responsible for the decline of some endangered birds

Because we are terrible maters and paters. 

Location: Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown-headed_Cowbird/overview#

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 8, 2022

I am a nymph of a Red-shouldered Bug

When I'm an adult I will have more black

You can find me feeding under a tree

I'm harmless, just looking for seed snacks.

Location: Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/trees/jadera_bugs.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 7, 2022

I am known as a Painted Bunting

My mate and I are sexually dimorphic

We make an odd couple like Oscar and Felix

But would make us anthropomorphic.

Location: Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_dimorphism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphism

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Passerina_ciris/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 6, 2022

Speaking of invasive exotics*, 

This is known as Brazilian Pepper

Do not be fooled by it's pretty look, 

It is a Florida native plant wrecker.

* See yesterday's blog about Air Potato

Location: Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

Sources: https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/schinus-terebinthifolia/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 5, 2022

This is known as an Air Potato

It is one of Florida's most invasive exotic species

They can grow at up to 8 inches a day

And are prohibited - you must NEVER breed these.

Location: Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

Sources: https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/dioscorea-bulbifera/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 4, 2022

I am known as a Loggerhead Shrike

I spend most of my time hunting

I need prey for food and to feed my young

And to convince girl Shrikes they should hump me.

Location: Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 3, 2022

This is Largeflower Mexican Clover

It is a perennial herb

In Florida, it's a class II exotic

And it grows well in areas that are disturbed.

Location: Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP610

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 2, 2022

This is Savannah False Pimpernel

It's low-growing and forms a mat

It has two lips, one purple, three white

And five linear sepals (like bracts.)

(Make sure you check out the wikipedial Glossary of Botanical Terms linked below, I find it a great resource.)

Location: Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

Sources: https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-lindernia-grandiflora/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_botanical_terms

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 1, 2022

I am a feral Muscovy Duck

I have a lek mating system

I wag my tail and show off my crest

The girl ducks say, "Oooh I just can't resist him!"

Location: Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/news/what-heck-lek-quirkiest-mating-party-earth

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson