July 13, 2026

Welcome to Japan Week on Dee at 8 a.m. Today we continue to feature the photography of my favorite expat, Joy Handley. 

I am known as a Little Egret

I look similar to a Snowy

As in the US my population was decimated

By people with dull hats that they wanted  to be showy.

Location: Tokyo, Japan 

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

Photo © 2026 Joy Handley 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.

April 16, 2026

I am an adult Tricolored Heron

When I was younger I was more rusty

Occasionally my beak becomes a bright aqua color

It's a sign that I am feeling lusty.

Location: Orlando Wetlands, Christmas FL

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

February 14, 2026

I am known as a Reddish Egret

And I'm happy it's Valentine's Day

I'm all dressed up in my breeding colors

I don't normally put on this display.

Location: Black Point Wildlife Drive, MINWR

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

February 13, 2026

I am known as a Green Heron

I feed both at night and during the day

I'm not too picky about where I eat - 

Swamps, harbors, mudflats even floodplains.

Location: Black Point Wildlife Drive, MINWR

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/grnher/cur/habitat

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.

December 15, 2023

I am known as a Green Heron

My build is short and stocky

But I only weigh about 8 ounces

I'd make a better jockey than player of ice hockey.

Location: Black Point Wildlife Drive, MINWR

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

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 14, 2023

I am known as a Tricolored Heron

Although I have way more colors than three

When I'm breeding I get maroon feathers on my neck

And bright aqua skin on my beak.

Location: Black Point Wildlife Drive, MINWR

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

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

July 17, 2023

I'm an immature Yellow-crowned Night Heron

My head and body are mostly gray

I have some white spots, and occasional thoughts

Of going vegan, to my parents dismay.

Location: Oyster Bar Marsh Conservation Area, Vero Beach

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

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

July 16, 2023

I am an adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

I have a yellow crown and plumes

My head's mostly black, I'm grey on my back
And my farts smell like crustacean fumes.

Location: Oyster Bar Marsh Conservation Area, Vero Beach

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

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

May 5, 2023

I am known as a Green Heron

My nesting site can vary widely

It might be in trees from Mangrove to Willow

30 feet high or close to the ground, just as likely.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 8, 2022

I am a Tricolored Heron

In the US I'm found in the south and the east

From Florida to Maine, and west to Texas

I'm an s-shaped necked, tricolored, sexy beast.

Location: C 23/24 Reservoir, St. Lucie County

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

July 24, 2018

Location: Lakeland, Circle B Bar Reserve

I am a Snowy Egret
I live in the wetlands.
It's nice to cool off in the water,
Cause like all birds, I have no sweat glands.

Sources: Audubon - How Birds Keep Their Cool

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 17, 2018

Location: St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

I'm another immature Little Blue Heron
My under wings are grey, yellow and pink.
I've no money to buy deodorant
So I preen when my underwings stink.

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 16, 2018

Location: St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

I am an immature Little blue heron
My beauty cannot be disputed.
Even though I'm at that awkward stage
Where I look like I've been electrocuted.

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 14, 2018

Location: St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

We are immature Tricolored Herons
Right now our beaks are orange and grey.
When we're adults our beaks will be orange and black,
Or blue and black when we're in the family way.

Sources: Wildscreen Arkive - Tricoloured Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 13, 2018

Location: St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

We are baby Little  Blue Herons,
We will stay white for about a year and a half.
Our hunting method is to stand and wait,
Unlike other herons who are more choreographed.

Sources: Cornell Lab - Little Blue Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 12, 2018

Location: St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

We are immature Tricolored Herons
We mostly look like our daddy and mummy.
When adult, we'll have fewer red feathers,
But we'll still have a white stripe down our neck and tummy.

Sources: Cornell Lab - Tricolor Heron

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 11, 2018

Location: St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

We are immature Snowy Egrets
We have black beaks like our mom and dad.
Although we will grow up to be beautiful,
Right now our plumage just looks patchy and sad.

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 22, 2018

Location: Fellsmere, Goodwin Wildlife Management Area

This is the egg of a heron
Perhaps a Snowy Egret or a Little Blue
Herons nest in large colonies for safety,
But it's not 100 percent fool-proof.

Sources: Colonial Nesting Wading Birds

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson