Dee At 8 A.M.: 2025

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

I am a Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer,

Although in Costa Rica, my tail is not bronze

From this view you can't see,

I have naturally pink feet

I don't get my nails done in salons.

Location: Donde de Cope, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/brtplu1/cur/introduction

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, June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

I am a Gray-headed Chachalaca

I like to eat insects and fruit off of plants

"Cha-cha-la-ca" is the song that I sing
Which sounds more like a fancy dance.

Location: Donde de Cope, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/grhcha1/cur/introduction

Monday, June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

I am a female Olive-backed Euphonia

My mate has a yellow forecrown, where mine is red

We are both beautiful green backed birds

Though "euphonia" seems like it should be an instrument instead.

Location: Donde de Cope, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/olbeup1/cur/introduction?login

Sunday, June 15, 2025

June 15, 2025

I am a Crimson-collared Tanager

I'm black with a white bill and a hood colored rud.

My scientific name is based on the Latin word "sanguinārius"

Which means "full of, or abounding in blood".

Location: Donde de Cope, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/crctan1/cur/identification

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sanguinary#English

https://www.google.com/search?q=definition+%22rud%22&oq=definition+%22rud%22&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30l9.9090j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Saturday, June 14, 2025

June 14, 2025

I'm an American Pygmy Kingfisher

I have a gold neck and my breast is rusty

My head and back are green

I have some white streaks

Shady habitat is where you can find me.

Location: Donde de Cope, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/ampkin1/cur/introduction?login

Friday, June 13, 2025

June 13, 2025

I am a male Shining Honeycreeper

I'm mostly blue with bright yellow feet

My mate's mostly green

And doesn't look too much like me

But we both like fruit, insects and nectar to eat.

Location: Donde de Cope, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/shihon1/cur/introduction

Thursday, June 12, 2025

June 12, 2025

These are Water Lilies in the Nymphaea Genus

They are aquatic, hence the name

There many different colored species

But if you looked at them in gray-scale, they'd all look the same.

Location: McKee Botanical Garden, Vero Beach

Sources: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/51122-Nymphaea

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

June 11, 2025

I am known as a Blue Dasher dragonfly

My scientific name, "Pachydiplax longipennis" doesn't mean what you think

It translates to "Swift Long-winged skimmer"

Although my wings aren't particularly long or distinct.

Location: McKee Botanical Garden, Vero Beach

Sources: https://uwm.edu/field-station/bug-of-the-week/blue-dasher-dragonflies-family-libellulidae/

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

June 10, 2025

I am a Speckled Hummingbird

My defining marks are my black cheeks and white eye stripes

My throat, breast and underparts are speckled

And all but my two middle tail feathers are tipped white.

(This is a sneak peak at my Rhyming Guide to Ecuador book which I have finally resumed working on again. You know how it is, sometimes life gets in the way! But I promise it will be coming out some day!)

Location: Cosanga, Ecuador

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/spehum1/cur/introduction

Monday, June 9, 2025

June 9, 2025

We are a bunch of Swallow-tailed Kites

Sitting in a tree in Dee's driveway

We generally spend most our time in the air

But we roost early and late in the day.

Note: David and I came back from doing Scrub Jay monitoring and were suprised and delighted to see about 9 Swallow-tailed Kites one of the trees beside

Location: Dee's house

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

Sunday, June 8, 2025

June 8, 2025

I am a male Western Tanager

My mate is greenish-yellow and gray

We both like to eat insects and fruit

And go to juniper and pine forests on dates.

Thanks to today's special guest photographer, David Simpson!

Location: Private residence, San Simon, AZ

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

Saturday, June 7, 2025

June 7, 2025

I am a Spotted Owl

I like to hunt Woodrats and Flying Squirrels

Though I'm a federally protected species

Barred Owls are another of my survival hurdles.

Thanks to today's special guest photographer, David Simpson!

Location: Pinery Campground,Coronado National Forest, AZ

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

Friday, June 6, 2025

June 6, 2025

We are known as Cinnamon Teals

Males are much easier to spot

When we are breeding we have a rich chestnut color

Our eyes always look like Cinnamon Red Hots

(Whether we are breeding or not.)

Thanks to today's special guest photographer, David Simpson!

Location: Lake Cochise, Wilcox, AZ

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

https://www.ferraracandyshopusa.com/brands/red-hots

Thursday, June 5, 2025

June 5, 2025

I am a female Osprey

I have barbed pads on my feet

To help me grip

Slippery fish

Which I bring home for my chick to eat.

Thanks to today's special guest photographer, David Simpson!

Location: Cedar Key State Park, Cedar Key, FL

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

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

I am known as a Red-eyed Vireo

Here's an interesting fact about evolution:

The genetic distance between Red and White-eyed Vireos

Is greater than that of chimps from humans.

Thanks to today's special guest photographer, David Simpson!

Location: Oak Openings, Whitehouse, Ohio

Sources: Diamond, Jared (1992), The Third Chimpanzee, HarperCollins Publishers.

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

I am known as a Field Sparrow

My numbers are declining due to urban sprawl

I won't nest in suburbs

Prairies are preferred

Over houses and buildings and malls.

Thanks to today's special guest photographer, David Simpson!

Location: Oak Openings, Whitehouse, Ohio

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

Monday, June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

I'm an adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak

My white flanks and rump can incite aggression

In other male Grosbeaks

It's not the red streaks -

Those are just there for decoration.

Thanks to today's special guest photographer, David Simpson!

Location: Indian River Club, Vero Beach

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rose-breasted_Grosbeak/overview

Sunday, June 1, 2025

June 1, 2025

In the back, I am a female Wood Duck

As common with birds, the prettier one is the male

I like nest boxes, but if placed too close together

I'll leave my eggs with another female.

Thanks to today's special guest photographer, David Simpson!

Location: Indian River Club, Vero Beach

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

Saturday, May 31, 2025

May 31, 2025

I am known as an Atlantic Blue Crab

I can live in water up to 120 feet deep

I am a bottom feeder

That's not a personal insult, it's just where I eat.

Location: Jones' Pier Conservation Area, Vero Beach

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

Friday, May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025

I am a Blackchin Tilapia

I was introduced to Florida in 1963

I can live and breed in areas of differing salinity

And am invasive and spread rapidly.

Location: Jones' Pier Conservation Area, Vero Beach

Sources: https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Ecological-Risk-Screening-Summary-Blackchin-Tilapia.pdf

Thursday, May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025

I am an Atlantic Sand Fiddler Crab

You can find me on the US east coast

One of my claws is very very large

That's the claw that I write with the most.*

*Fiddler crabs are either right or left clawed.

Location: Jones' Pier Conservation Area, Vero Beach

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

|+}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, May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

I am a Horace's Duskywing moth

I'm mostly brown with very little white

I perch on a branch about a foot above the ground

When I want some afternoon delight*.

*Check the linked article for back up on this factoid.

Location: Jones' Pier Conservation Area, Vero Beach

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Erynnis-horatius

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

May 27, 2025

I am a White-blotched Prominent moth

You can find me in Florida and South Georgia

I like to hang out where there are Oak trees

I'm not brightly colored but I have a beautiful aura.

Location: Rotary Park Merritt Island, Merritt Island

Sources: https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/moths/view.php?MONA_number=7990.00

Monday, May 26, 2025

May 26, 2025

We are Compact Carpenter Ants

On an egg, possibly that of a duck

A nest was predated

We ate, now are sated

Back to work now, we've business to conduct.

Location: Possum Long Nature Center, Stuart

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN346

Sunday, May 25, 2025

May 25, 2025

This is known as a Prickly Pear

It's in the Eastern Prickly Pear Complex

A Complex is a group of closely related species

Taxonomy has some complicated concepts.

Location: Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Hobe Sound,

Sources: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/opuntia-humifusa/

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

Saturday, May 24, 2025

May 24, 2025

I am a Sleepy Duskywing

I'm in the Skipper family of butterflies

Some people accuse me of trying to look like a moth

But that is a complete and utter lie!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Erynnis-brizo

https://www.brandywine.org/conservancy/blog/butterflies-vs-moths-what-are-differences

Friday, May 23, 2025

May 23, 2025

I'm known as a Dicerca juncea

I'm a species of metallic wood-boring beetle

This photo doesn't do me justice -

I'm beautiful and should be on an artists easel.

Location: Longleaf Pine Preserve, New Smyrna Beach

Sources: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1044633-Dicerca-juncea

Thursday, May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

I am also a Green Anole

But I can change my color in response

To temperature, humidity, health or my mood

Unlike true Chameleons - camouflage is what they want.

Location: Longleaf Pine Preserve, New Smyrna Beach

Sources: https://srelherp.uga.edu/lizards/green-anole/

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardening-with-wildlife/anoles/

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

May 21, 2025

We are a pair of Green Anoles

We are deeply in love as you can see

We are busy trying to make babies

Despite being photographed by Dee.

Location: Longleaf Pine Preserve, New Smyrna Beach

Sources: https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/greenanole.htm

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

May 20, 2025

We are baby Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers -

Look close, there are dozens of us

We can and defoliate many plants and crops

And to some birds and mammals, we are poisonous.

Note: To those who have attended my spider talk, remember the difference between poison and venom. These grasshoppers are harmless to humans and even beneficial - they can defoliate terrible vegetable such as Kale. But to some smaller critters such as birds and small mammals, Lubbers can be poisonous if eaten.

Location: Longleaf Pine Preserve, New Smyrna Beach

Sources: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/pests-and-diseases/pests/eastern-lubber-grasshoppers

Monday, May 19, 2025

May 19, 2025

I am a Little Blue Dragonlet

I'm a Skimmer species that is very small

I'm inconspicuous and like to hide in the grass

And though I'm common, I'm not banal.

Location: Longleaf Pine Preserve, New Smyrna Beach

Sources: https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/odes/a/accounts.php?id=97

Sunday, May 18, 2025

May 18, 2025

This tree is known as a Slash Pine

Birds like eating its seeds and it provides protection

Especially when there's a witch's broom in the tree

Which can be caused by interruption of tree growth regulation.

Location: Longleaf Pine Preserve, New Smyrna Beach

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch%27s_broom

https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_1/pinus/elliottii.htm

Saturday, May 17, 2025

May 17, 2025

I am a baby Gopher Tortoise

Digging my very first home

I am a hatchling, my mom laid my egg

Then her job was done, now I'm on my own.

Note: It's hard to tell from this photo, but this tortoise was only about 2 inches long. There is no parental care once the eggs are laid. Predation is very high for baby Gopher Tortoises for many reasons as described in the links below.

Location: Longleaf Pine Preserve, New Smyrna Beach

Sources: https://youtu.be/jPydxZUcMsA?si=MfgRoGqTPqZWE2J-

https://gophertortoisecouncil.org/gopher-tortoise/54-life-history

Friday, May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025

This is a sign that a Gopher Tortoise

Had a large, healthy meal

They eat grass and fruit

They don't audibly toot

Gopher Tortoises are elegant and genteel.

Location: Longleaf Pine Preserve, New Smyrna Beach

Sources: https://youtu.be/jPydxZUcMsA?si=f3rntNHoGFzwFquf&t=95

Thursday, May 15, 2025

May 15, 2025

I am a Cattail Toothpick Grasshopper

My pronotum is about the same length as my head

The pronotum is the collar-thing about where your neck would be

If you weren't human, but a grasshopper instead.

Location: Longleaf Pine Preserve, New Smyrna Beach

Sources: https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/orth/view.php?checklist_number=20.0

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

May 14, 2025

We are a pair of baby Barred Owls

We can climb trees using our talons and bill

We flap our wings, and walk up tree trunks

Till we master our adult flying skills.

Location: Central Florida

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

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2085073078674754

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

May 13, 2025

This plant is knowns as Fetterbush Lyonia

It's an evergreen with white to pink flowers

It grows in coastal plains of the US southeast

And requires well-drained soil with just occasional showers.

Location: Longleaf Pine Preserve, New Smyrna Beach

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=lylu3

Monday, May 12, 2025

May 12, 2025

I am an Eastern Kingsnake

I have a stout head and little beady eyes

You can find me from Florida to New Jersey

But you'll have to look hard, I live a private life.

Location: https://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/eastern-kingsnake/

Sources: Silver Springs State Park

Sunday, May 11, 2025

May 11, 2025

This plant is known as "Crown-of-thorns"

To see why, take a look at its stem

Although the flowers look pretty and innocent,

You don't want to get your hands on them!

Location: Possum Long Nature Center, Stuart

Sources: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b633

Saturday, May 10, 2025

May 10, 2025

I'm known as a Cassius Blue butterfly

When my wings are open, they look more blue

My genus is sometimes called "zebra blues"

You can see the zebra-like stripes from this view.

Location: Possum Long Nature Center, Stuart

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN829

Friday, May 9, 2025

May 9, 2025

This is Madagascar Periwinkle

It makes a pretty herbaceous ground cover

But it only thrives in drier environments

With too much water, it gets root rot and keels over.

Location: Possum Long Nature Center, Stuart

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP112

Thursday, May 8, 2025

May 8, 2025

We are a pair of Swalllow-tail Kites

Right now we are on our nest with some eggs

Once they hatch, we'll hunt small vertebrates

To feed to our kids when they beg.

Location: Possum Long Nature Center, Stuart

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

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

I am known as a Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

As shown here my wings are closed

When they're open they look bright orange, but

Right now my darker underside's exposed.

Location: Possum Long Nature Center, Stuart

Sources: https://www.flawildflowers.org/know-your-native-pollinators-gulf-fritillary/