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 28, 2024

I am a Long-billed Dowitcher

The Cornell website says I look "muddy"

They say I have a long beak

I prefer to call it "unique"

What the heck? They also describe me as "tubby"!

(Note: Seriously - check out the description at the link below - it sounds like who ever wrote it had something against a Dowitcher!)

Location: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

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

Photo and text © 2024 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.