August 31, 2025

This plant is known as Chain-fruit Cholla

It is another species of Cylindropuntia Cacti

Despite it's large spines

Rodents will dine

On its fruit and seeds at snack time.

Location: Saguaro National Park, AZ

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

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.

August 30, 2025

This plant is Cylindropuntia thurberi

Its common name is Thurber's Cholla

It barbed spines stick to skin, fur and clothes

Don't touch it, or else it will sure show ya.

Location: Saguaro National Park, AZ

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

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.

August 29, 2025

I am known as a Desert Spiny Lizard

I like to hang out in desert scrub

My color changes with the temperature

And when I get hungry, I like to eat bugs!

Location: Saguaro National Park, AZ

Sources: https://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_spiny_lizards.php

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.

August 28, 2025

These plants are known as Saguaro  cacti

They can each weight as much as 9 tons

Woodpeckers and flickers drill holes in them

And their seeds are eaten by White-wing doves.

(As shown below, with me for scale, they are WAY bigger than I was expecting. I couldn't get the whole thing in the iPhone camera.)

Location: Saguaro National Park, AZ

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=cagi10

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.

August 27, 2025

This tree is a Little-leaved Palo Verde

Which translates to "green pole" or "green tree"

It has thin bark that makes it prone to fire damage

And is propagated from seeds.

Location: Saguaro National Park, AZ

Sources: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/parmic/all.pdf

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.

August 26, 2025

These are Whitestem Paperflowers

They have showy yellow flowers, as seen here

They bloom in spring

But will flower again

If the summer rains have been good that year.

Location: Saguaro National Park, AZ

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PSCO2

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.

August 25, 2025

I am an immature Verdin

Right now I'm just boring and grey

But when I get older

I'll have chestnut shoulders

And a bright yellow face and beret. 

Location: Saguaro National Park, AZ

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

August 24, 2025

I am a Black-throated Sparrow

My face is boldly marked with white and  black

Still, you might miss me completely as I blend in well

On the ground hunting for insect and seed snacks.

Location: Saguaro National Park, AZ

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Sparrow/lifehistory#behavior

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.

August 23, 2025

This plant is known as Trailing Windmills

Its leaves and stems have small white hairs

To the untrained eye, it looks like one flower

But to trained botanists, there are 2 flowers there.

Location: Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, AZ

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=124802

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.

August 22, 2025

I am known as a Abert's Towhee

You can find me in brush beside rivers and streams

I'm mostly brown with red under my tail

And a black patch around my beak.

Location: Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, AZ

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

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.

August 21, 2025

I am know as a Coues's White-tailed Deer

I'm small and have disproportionately large ears

I'm sometimes known as "grey ghost" because

In winter I turn grey, blend in, and disappear. 

Location: Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, AZ

Sources: https://azstateparks.com/coues-deer

https://magazine.wildlife.state.nm.us/the-grey-ghost/

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.

August 20, 2025

This is known as a Fishhook Barrel Cactus

It expands and fills with water during monsoon season

The spines can be heated, bent, then used as fish hooks

In case you were wondering if it's named for a reason.

Location: Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, AZ

Sources: https://apps.cals.arizona.edu/arboretum/taxon.aspx?id=887

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.

August 19, 2025

I am a Northern Cardinal from Arizona

My plumage seems to be brighter than in the east
It could be my diet

Or maybe I dye it

Either berries or Garnier Nutrisse.

Location: Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, AZ

Sources: https://abcbirds.org/bird/northern-cardinal/

https://www.garnierusa.com/shop-products/nutrisse-color-creme/red

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.

August 18, 2025

I am an Empress Leilia butterfly

My top is mostly orange, with brown underneath

As an adult I mostly feed on sap and dung

And you can find me near canyons and streams.

Location: Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, AZ

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Asterocampa-leilia

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.

August 17, 2025

I am a female Broad-billed Hummingbird

I'm small with a long, straight bill

My mate is much brighter colored than I

So I'm a bit less predator imperiled. 

Location: Doubletree hotel, Tuscon AZ

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Broad-billed_Hummingbird/id

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-are-male-birds-more-c/

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.

August 16, 2025

I am a juvenile European Starling

The tips of my feathers appear to be white spots

The white tips eventually wear off every year

Then I molt, get new tips, and hence, dots.

Location: Reid Park, Tuscon, AZ

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

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.

August 15, 2025

I am a Desert Leaf-cutter Ant

I collect vegetation to take back to my nest

The fungus on the plants is my major food source

And I'm native to the US southwest.

Location: Reid Park, Tuscon AZ

Sources: https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Acromyrmex_versicolor

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.

August 14, 2025

I am a Black-masked White-winged Dove

(Actually, I'm not, but don't tell Dee -

I'm just a run of the mill White-wing Dove

With a black shadow across my face from a tree.)

(I took WAY too many shots of this bird, then when I got back to the hotel, I realized that it was just a shadow from the tree!! I am SUCH a goofball!)

(Below) I too am a White-winged Dove

Sitting on my favorite source of food

I like Saguaro Cactus seeds so much that

I time my migration and nesting to when it fruits.

Location: Reid Park, Tuscon, AZ, Saguaro National Park, Tuscon, AZ

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-winged_Dove/overview

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.

August 13, 2025

I am an immature Mexican Spotted Owl

My facial disks are light and make an X

If I was a Northern Spotted Owl my face would be  darker

But I'd still have many white specs.

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

Location: Pinery Canyon, AZ

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

Photo © 2025 David Simpson 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.

August 12, 2025

Today we wrap up our underwater tour. Incredibly big thanks to our super special guest photographer, the amazing Megan Berg! 

I am a Chocolate Chip Sea Cucumber

I'm a bottom feeder and prefer shallow water

I eat more than a ton of sediment every year

Retaining only the nutrition that's proper.

Location: Blue Heron Bridge, Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL

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

Photo © 2025 Megan Berg, 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.

August 11, 2025

Today we continue our underwater tour with our super special guest photographer, Megan Berg! 

I am a Brown-striped Octopus

I will die shortly after I spawn

My mate will stick around for brooding

But then she too will be gone.

Location: Blue Heron Bridge, Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL

Sources: https://www.sealifebase.se/Country/CountrySpeciesSummary.php?c_code=324&Genus=Amphioctopus&Species=burryi

Photo © 2025 Megan Berg, 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.

August 10, 2025

Today we continue our underwater tour with our super special guest photographer, Megan Berg! 

I am known as a Sharptail Eel

I have multiple rows of teeth

I have a snout that is conical and short

With grooves running underneath.

Location: Blue Heron Bridge, Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL

Sources: https://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/caribbean/en/thefishes/species/2838

Photo © 2025 Megan Berg, 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.

August 9, 2025

Today we continue our underwater tour with our super special guest photographer, Megan Berg! 

I am known as a Planehead Filefish

I can be found in seagrass beds and sand

I can also be found in floating sargassum

Making jokes I'm totally sure you understand.

Location: Blue Heron Bridge, Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL

Sources: https://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/caribbean/en/thefishes/species/4378

Photo © 2025 Megan Berg, 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.

August 8, 2025

Today we continue our underwater tour with our super special guest photographer, Megan Berg! 

I am known as a Queen Triggerfish

I eat only during the day

At night I use a spine to lock myself in a crevice

In the morning I use another spine to get away.

Make sure you read the reference article, it's super interesting.

Location: Blue Heron Bridge, Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL

Sources: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/queen-triggerfish/

Photo © 2025 Megan Berg, 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.

August 7, 2025

Today we continue our underwater tour with our super special guest photographer, Megan Berg! 

I am known as a Lionfish

I'm invasive and bad for the local piscine life

Although we're competing

I'm also good eating

I'm only venomous in my spines.

Check out the handy flier linked below that has info on how to avoid the venom to get to the tasty meat. Or, you can just attend one of the many annual Lionfish festivals around the state to have someone else do the dirty work for you. 

Location: Blue Heron Bridge, Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL

Sources: https://myfwc.com/news/all-news/lrad-525/

https://myfwc.com/media/1332/lionfishbrochure.pdf

Photo © 2025 Megan Berg, 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.

August 6, 2025

Today we continue our underwater tour with our super special guest photographer, Megan Berg! 

I'm an Indo-pacific Swimming Crab

I'm not native to Florida, as my name would suggest

I appear to be quite aggressive

Which could adversely affect native Blue Crab harvest.

Location: Blue Heron Bridge, Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL

Sources: https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=191

Photo © 2025 Megan Berg, 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.

August 5, 2025

Today we continue our underwater tour with our super special guest photographer, Megan Berg! 

I am a Spotted Freshwater Moray Eel

I'm carnivorous and like to dine on live fish

I don't see well

But I've a great sense of smell

I prefer  water that's shallow not an abyss.

(Note that there is also a Spiny Lobster on the left in this photo.  The critter on the right hits your eye like a big pizza pie - that a Moray.)

Location: Blue Heron Bridge, Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL

Sources: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/187468-Gymnothorax-polyuranodon

Photo © 2025 Megan Berg, 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.

August 4, 2025

Today we continue our underwater tour with our super special guest photographer, Megan Berg! 

I am a Dushia Flabellina,

I'm a species of sea slug

I used to be a sea snail

Darwin never fails

Now I'm shell-less and look like a bug.

Location: Blue Heron Bridge, Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL

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

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/549652-Flabellina-dushia

Photo © 2025 Megan Berg, 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.

August 3, 2025

Today we continue our underwater tour with our super special guest photographer, Megan Berg! 

I am known as an Arrow Crab

I have colored spots where my legs bend

I'm known to have symbiotic relationships with T. cricoides

With sea anemones like them, who needs friends?

Location: Blue Heron Bridge, Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL

Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352485524005759

Photo © 2025 Megan Berg, 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.

August 2, 2025

Today we continue our underwater tour with our super special guest photographer, Megan Berg! 

I am a male Sailfin Blenny

I'm shy and hide among rocks or reefs

My maximum size is two inches long

And I have three different types of teeth.

Location: Blue Heron Bridge, Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL

Sources: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/sailfin-blenny/

Photo © 2025 Megan Berg, 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.

August 1, 2025

Today, we are back in Florida, and but in a place we have never gone before. For the next 2 weeks, please enjoy this very special underwater tour with our amazing guest photographer, Megan Berg! 

I am a juvenile High-hat

So named for my first dorsal fin

As I get older,

My shape will be oval

Right now my fins are long and thin.

Location: Blue Heron Bridge, Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach, FL

Sources: https://mote.org/animal-encyclopedia/high-hat-drum/

Photo © 2025 Megan Berg, 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.