February 4, 2025

I am a Long-billed Dowitcher

Hanging out with my friend the Killdeer

I have Herbst corpuscles on the tip of my bill

Which help me to find prey hidden here.

Very special thanks to today's guest photographer, Jessica Sodano.

Location: Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-billed_Dowitcher/overview

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/02/990211072751.htm (although this article talks about a Sandpiper, the principles are the same)

Photo and text © 2025 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.

February 3, 2025

This was once a Mournful Sphinx Moth

But alas, it got trapped in my car

Although I am sad it expired

The photography was easier, by far. 

(I was walking out to the mailbox, and when I passed my car, I saw what appeared to be a weird leaf hanging out of my hatch. Just in case, I went inside and grabbed my camera.  It was in fact this crazy-large moth, but alas, he was expired. But I didn't want it to die in vain so I photographed him to include here on the blog.)

Location:  Fellsmere, my car

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Enyo-lugubris

Photo and text © 2025 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.

February 2, 2025

I am a first year Glaucous gull

I normally stay in the Arctic

I'm second in size only to Great Black-backed Gulls

To measure my wingspan takes almost 2 yard sticks!

Special thanks to today's guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Port Canaveral

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

Photo and text © 2025 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.

February 1, 2025

I am an adult non-breeding Black-headed Gull

Although black is not the color of my head

At the moment I've got

Just little a black spot

But a clue to my id: legs and beak are both red.

Special thanks to today's guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Cocoa Landfill

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-headed_Gull/id

Photo and text © 2025 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.