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.