July 12, 2026

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

We are known as Black-headed Gulls

Though at the moment we are non-breeding

Right now our heads are just smudged here and there

There's just a few months when our name's not misleading.

Location: Tokyo, Japan 

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/bkhgul/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.

March 4, 2026

I am an American Herring Gull

Top row, fourth from the left

I have light grey wings and pinkish legs

And I'm a big boy with a bit of heft!

Location: Pelican Island

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

December 30, 2025

I normally don't title the poem of the day, but I thought today I would make an exception:

Why Bird Counts are Difficult

__________________________

I am known as a Laughing Gull

Hey! What a coincidence, so am I

Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! Me too! 

Enough already! Dee's calling it 1005.

Location: Cocoa Landfill

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count

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.

July 2, 2025

I am a Spotted Sandpiper,

I'm a generalist so I can live any place

I forage for food near water

Insects, plants or fish - I can always feed my face!

Location: Sarapiqui River, Heredia Province, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

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

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.

April 4, 2024

 

I am a Greater Yellowlegs

My voice is just one of my charms

Tatler's what some call me,

But unlike Cindy Brady

I only tattle when raising alarms. 

Location: Text

Sources: https://bradybunch.fandom.com/wiki/The_Tattle-Tale

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

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.

January 4, 2024

I am a bird known as a Killdeer

Naturalists used to call me "Noisy Plover"

My call sounds like "kill-deer" but I'm in no way responsible

For yesterday's post, a car ran the deer over.

Location: Goodwin WMA, Fellsmere

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

If you would like to get this blog in your email every morning, go to https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/2022/11/get-dee-at-8-am-by-e-mail.html for instructions. Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 30, 2023

I am a first winter Franklin's Gull

I look remarkably similar to a Laughing

But I am smaller and have more black round my eyes

And overall, I am far more dashing.

Special thanks to today's guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Frank Rendon Park, Daytona Beach Shores

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Franklins_Gull/species-compare/71312131

Photo © 2023 David Simpson and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 3, 2023

I am known as a Red Knot

My species is on the decline

Due to humans who are out for blood -

Horseshoe Crab blood, not mine.

But I depend on those tasty critters

During migration when I need to dine. 

Thanks to my very special guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: South Jetty Park, Fort Pierce

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

Photo © 2023 David Simpson and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

August 7, 2023

I am known as a Large-billed Tern

South America's where I'm usually found

This was my first time in Florida

I was recognized by my huge bill and black crown.

Location: T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area, Broadmoor unit

Sources: https://ebird.org/species/labter1

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 6, 2023

I am known as a Laughing Gull

But I'm missing a foot and not laughing about it

It's difficult to balance on a windy beach

But I'll have to learn to get along without it.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.thespruce.com/one-legged-birds-386471

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 5, 2023

We are a Willet and 2 Laughing Gulls - 

One adult and one immature

We might look like three seagulls

To an untrained observateur.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/news/this-new-guide-finally-simplifies-gull-ids

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 4, 2023

I am known as a Sandwich Tern

I appear more delicate than Royal Terns are

You'd never know that by the way 

The Royal Terns complain

When I let out the tiniest fart.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandwich_Tern/species-compare/71427371

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 3, 2023

I am a Ruddy Turnstone

I limp because I'm missing one foot

Likely from fishing line entanglement

At least I'm not totally kaput.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.savecoastalwildlife.org/managing-fishing-line-waste

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 2, 2023

I am Tringa semipalmata

But my friends all call me Willet

I use the sensitive tips of my bill 

To find food in a manner idyllic.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ring-billed_Gull/id

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 1, 2023

I am known as a Ring-billed Gull

From behind, I can be hard to discern

But you can see the ring for which I am named

When my head is a little turned.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ring-billed_Gull/id

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

February 28, 2023

I am known as a Black Skimmer

I have a black tail that has a few white speckles

My beaks mandibles don't match and are bi-colored

And I use them to organize my feathers when disheveled.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 3, 2023

I am known as a Black Skimmer

In Florida, I'm on the State Threatened list

Habitat loss, increased predators, and humans

Are all things that might me to cease to exhist. 

Location: Jetty Park, Fort Pierce

Sources: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/shorebirdsseabirds/black-skimmer/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 30, 2022

We are different ages of Laughing Gulls

Second winter, non-breeding adult, and Juvenile

Depending on age, our whole family can look like strangers -

We understand if your state is confusional.

Location: Jetty Park, Fort Pierce

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 28, 2022

We are known as Ruddy Turnstones

We migrate to the arctic to breed which is very hard work.

While we're in Florida we lose appendages to fishing line

Left on the ground by inconsiderate jerks.

Location: Jetty Park, Fort Pierce

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson