January 14, 2026

This flower is known as Moonflower

Because it only blooms at night

In the afternoon

You won't see it's bloom

After dark it's visited by moths in flight.

Location: TM Goodwin WMA, Broadmore Unit

Sources: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c801

Photo and text © 2026 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.

January 13, 2026

I am known as a Purple Gallinule

Shown in pictures 1 and 2. 

My beak is orange with a blue shield

Common's beak is orange without any blue.

(Note: Zoom in on the Common Gallinule photo. It's pretty funny. There is a lily pad right behind his head, but the way the wind was blowing, it makes it look like he's wearing a green and yellow beanie!)

Location: St. Sebastian River Buffer Preserve State Park

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

January 12, 2026

I am a Carolina Burying Beetle

Giving this Least Shrew last rites

I dig underneath him to make him a grave

You'll only see disturbed dirt here by night.

Bonus: Check out this short video I made of the Burying Beetles in action. 

Location: St. Sebastian River Buffer Preserve State Park

Sources: https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/carrion-beetles-burying-beetles

Photo and text © 2026 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.

January 11, 2026

This was once a North American Least Shrew

You can tell by it's short, hairless tail

It was most likely predated by an owl or hawk

Come back tomorrow for an interesting detail...

Location: St. Sebastian River Buffer Preserve State Park

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

January 10, 2026

I am a male Common Yellowthroat

But there's nothing common about me

I wear a black mask

When out looking for snacks

I skulk about and look somewhat shifty.

Location: West Cocoa

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

January 9, 2026

We are a group of Woodstorks

A mixture ot adults and teens

The more fuzzy my head, the younger I am

Adults could use a hat and sunscreen.

Location:  Cocoa Landfill

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

January 8, 2026

I am an immature White Ibis

Mom's teaching me a few steps of ballet

I don't have it down yet

But she's as good as they get

And I'll dance in Swan Lake some day.

Location: West Cocoa

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

January 7, 2026

I am known as a Loggerhead Shrike

You can see my hooked beak and tomial teeth

These are not a defect

In fact,  they're perfect

For tearing apart what eat, which is meat.

Location: West Cocoa

Sources: https://kaylafisk.com/2022/02/25/bird-anatomy-tomial-tooth/

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Loggerhead_Shrike/overview

Photo and text © 2026 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.

January 6, 2026

I am known as a Palm Warbler

I breed in the Boreal Forest in bogs

My population is stable but it's expected to decrease

Due to climate change and harvesting logs.

Location: West Cocoa

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

January 5, 2026

I am known as an American Crow
The Fish Crow is smaller than me

Our voices are completely different

And they have a much thinner beak.

Location: West Cocoa

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Crow/species-compare/70580031

Photo and text © 2026 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.

January 4, 2026

The red stuff in this tree is Virginia Creeper
It is a vine in the same family as grapes

Birds love it's fruit, but it's toxic to humans - 

Don't try it, not even one taste!

Location: West Cocoa

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=paqu2

Photo and text © 2026 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.

January 3, 2026

We are known as Swamp Sparrows

Notice our rusty red heads
You can find us in swamps and in marshes

That we traverse using our long* legs.

*Well, for sparrows, Swamp Sparrows have longs legs. But no one will be asking us to play on their basketball team anytime soon.

Location: Providence Road, Cocoa

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

January 2, 2026

I am a Solitary Sandpiper

You can see my black underwings when I fly

I also tend to bob when I walk

And you can't miss my Betty Davis eyes.

Location: West Cocoa

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

January 1, 2026

Welcome to the start of year 10 of Dee at 8 a.m.  I started this blog exactly 10 years ago today. I have had a note taped to my computer for years that says, Nov 5, 2025 - Dee at 8 a.m. 3000th anniversary. 3 things of note: 

1. Despite seeing the note every day for years, I completely didn't notice it back in November, thus didn't celebrate.
2. I miscounted when I wrote the note to myself, the 3000th Dee at 8 a.m. post was created on March 20, 2025, so I missed the date not by days, but by months. 
3. If had started charging people a dollar per post when I started, I'd have no readers left at all. LOL. 

As an anniversary gift to you, I have posted on my main blog an updated species index, if you are bored and want to see on one page the species that I have encountered in the past 10 years. Thanks so much for sticking with me, leaving comments, and being a friend of Dee at 8 a.m. Your support means the world to me!

And without further ado, I now present to you for the first time ever an Ash-throated Flycatcher. This is a life bird that I got last week but wanted to save it to kick off the new year.

I am known as an Ash-throated Flycatcher

My tail's the color of a rusty chain link.

I'm adapted to living in desert habitats

I get water from food, I don't have to drink.

Location: Providence Road, West Cocoa

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ash-throated_Flycatcher/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.