January 14, 2019

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

I known as a Palm Warbler
I have a yellow chin and eyebrow
There's also a little yellow on my backside,
But don't go calling me Yellow-rump now!

Sources: Cornell Lab All About Birds - Palm Warbler

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 13, 2019

Location: Fellsmere, Myhouse

I am a Morning-glory Plume Moth
Known as Emmelina monodactyla commonly.
My wings are split, but this can be hard to see
Cause when I sit, they are rolled up tightly.

(Thanks to Bugguide.net for the ID confirmation.)

Sources: UK Moths: Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 12, 2019

Location: Viera Wetlands

I am a Soft-shelled Turtle
I'm in the Trionychidae family
We all have 3 claws on our large front webbed feet.
My handshake is pointy yet clammy, uncannily.

(Click to enlarge this one too - check out the claws on those otherwise innocent looking hands!)

Sources: Encyclopedia.com - Softshell Turtles: Trionychidae

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 11, 2019

Location: Viera Wetlands

I am a Soft-shelled Turtle
I'm carnivorous but I don't have teeth.
I can, quite handily, hunt waterfowl and fish,
Using my sharp, pointy beak.

(Make sure you click to enlarge this one - I've take a few pictures of  Soft-shelled turtles over the years and this is the first time I noticed that they don't have teeth!)

Sources: UCSB Science Line: Do turtles have teeth?

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 10, 2019

Location: Viera Wetlands

I am a Great Blue Heron
I live quietly in marshes and ponds.
Put a camera inside my house though,
And you will find I'm an attention hog!

Sources: Audubon News: Camera Trap Captures Strange, Long-legged, Pointy-beaked Panther

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 9, 2019

Location: Viera Wetlands

I am a Snowy Egret
You can tell by my foot and leg.
My other leg and foot are gone right now,
If I don't find them I'll get me a peg!

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 8, 2019

Location: Viera Wetlands

I am a female Boat-tailed Grackle
My mate thinks he is quite the ringer.
But DNA shows he's not always the dad,
We belong on Jerry Springer!

Sources: Cornell Lab - All About Birds - Boat Tailed Grackle

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson