Tuesday (01-October-2019) — New Jersey

Autumn Indoor Nature in New Jersey.

I saw a relatively small black Spider caught a larger Crane Fly for breakfast.

Spider feeding on a Crane Fly. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens + 1.4x teleconverter (DAVID J MATHRE)
Spider feeding on a Crane Fly. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens + 1.4x teleconverter (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (54.3 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (41.6 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. More sun in the afternoon and warmer out. The Geothermal HVAC used 6.1 kWh for cooling. The new hydroponic gardens used 8.7 kWh. Overall a net deficit of 12.7 kWh.

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Saturday (28-September-2019) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

My initial walkabout was with a Nikon D850 camera and 200-500 mm VR lens. I almost walked into a large spider web with a big spider. Probably some type of Orb-web Builder spider. As with yesterday, there were lots and lots of Monarch butterflies in my wildflower meadows. They were feeding on Cosmos, Zinnia, and Marigold flowers. I also captured images of two Common Buckeye butterflies. When going back in I found the Praying Mantis that I spotted in an image yesterday. Its belly was pretty full, so it has been successful capturing some meals recently. I can only wish it has been feeding on the Stink Bugs that have been trying to get into my house recently as the temperatures cool outside. I took some images with the Nikon D850 camera, then swapped to a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens + 1.4x teleconverter.

Hairy Spider hanging out. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 200-500 mm VR lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hairy Spider hainging out. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 200-500 mm VR lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)


Click on the image above to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images from the following slideshow.



Click on the image above to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images from the following slideshow.



Click on the image above to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images from the following slideshow.


Daily Electric Energy Used (56.5 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (37.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Cloudy most of the day (with the Sycamore tree blocking the solar panels in the afternoon). The Geothermal HVAC system used (10 kWh) and the new indoor hydroponic systems running (8.7 kWh). An overall net deficit of 19.2 kWh.

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Eleven-Years Ago (23-August-2008) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

I didn’t see the crab-like spider hiding until processing the images. And then it wasn’t that sharp of an image. Reprocessed with Topaz Sharpen AI (stabilize). Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec).

Camouflaged Crab like Spider hiding on a Queen Anne's Lace. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Camouflaged Crab like Spider hiding on a Queen Anne’s Lace. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sunday (16-June-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

I noticed a large spider guarding my 600 mm lens. Went a grabbed a camera with a macro lens. After the photo session was complete, I let him go outside hoping he would munch on some caterpillars eating my vegetables in the grow towers.

Spider Guarding my 600 mm Lens. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 1600, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Spider Guarding my 600 mm Lens. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 1600, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Spider Guarding my 600 mm Lens. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 1600, 80 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Spider Guarding my 600 mm Lens. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 1600, 80 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Power Use (74.2 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (42.05 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is up since I reduced the indoor temperature provided by the WaterFurnace Geothermal HVAC system. Will raise the indoor temperature to 72°F for tomorrow. The power was also out for a little over one hour in the morning. For safety/code reasons, if the PSE&G power is down, my solar panels are disconnected from the grid. I’m thinking of getting a couple of Tesla PowerWall batteries so this doesn’t happen in the future.

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Sunday (06-January-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

I noticed a hairy spider while checking the hydroponic herb garden. I hope it goes after the tiny bugs nibbling on my basil leaves. I am not sure if the tiny bugs are nymph forms of the stink bug or something else. I also got a shot of the small pink flower on the cactus.



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Pink Cactus Flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/11, 1/15 sec). (David J Mathre)