Friday (02-July-2021) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

My field of Bee Balm and Lemon Mint plants is in bloom. The deer do not like these plants, but they do attract bees, butterflies, and two types of clearwing moths. The two types of Clearwing Moths are similar. Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris Thysbe) has lighter colored front legs, and Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris Diffinis) is slightly smaller and has dark colored front legs.

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth. (David J Mathre)
Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris Thysbe) feeding on a Bee Balm flower. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm lens. (David J Mathre)
Snowberry Clearwing Moth. (David J Mathre)
Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris Diffinis) feeding on a Bee Balm flower. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm lens. (David J Mathre)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. (David J Mathre)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly feeding on a Bee Balm flower. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm lens. (David J Mathre)

Daily Electric Energy Used (52.1 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (4.7 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Clouds and light rain. A deficit of 10.9 kWh.

Wednesday (02-June-2021) — New Jersey

Springtime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Lot of images today. Birds, Frogs, Snakes, Insects, and Flowers. The Brood X Cicadas are everywhere and continue singing their love song.

Birds viewed in the backyard and near the patio birdfeeder: American Robin, House Finch. The American Robin was feeding on a Cicada.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Kermit the Bullfrog and all of his relatives in the pond are getting fat fast this spring. Presumably out feeding on the Cicadas.


Bullfrogs in the pond. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

While working on the back wildflower meadow, I turned over some cardboard and found this Garter Snake.


Garter Snake. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Insects/bugs observed during the day include Cicada (Brood X), Dragonfly, Damselfly, Grasshopper, Cabbage White Butterfly, Water-walker, and tick(?).


Insects and other bugs. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Spring flowers blooming: Love-in-a-Mist, Red Poppy, California Poppy, Sweet Alyssum, Rhododendron, Baby Blue Eyes, Sweet William, Daisy, Blue-eyed Grass, Beardtongue Foxglove, Siberian Wallflower, Evening Primrose, Clematis, Honeysuckle, and Poison Ivy. The Poison Ivy flowers were on a giant 3 inch diameter vine climbing on a dead tree.


Love-in-a-Mist. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Red Poppy. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


California Poppy. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Spring Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Poison Ivy Vine and Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (51.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (56.2 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and clouds. A surplus of 4.5 kWh.

Tuesday (01-June-2021) — New Jersey

Springtime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

The Brood X Cicadas are everywhere and continue singing their love song. When when working outside I need to wear my noise canceling headphones.

Cicada. (David J Mathre)
Cicada. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 24-90 mm lens. (David J Mathre)

Birds viewed in the backyard and near the patio birdfeeder: Gray Catbird, House Finch. Not many birds visiting during the emergence of the Cicadas. Normally, the Catbirds would be going after my strawberries about this time of the year. Apparently, the Cicadas taste better.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Spring flowers blooming: Love-in-a-Mist, Red Poppy, Rhododendron, Clematis, Baby Blue Eyes, Baby Snapdragon, Sweet Alyssum, Lacy Phacelia.


Love-in-a-Mist. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Poppies. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Spring Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (43.8 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (65.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and a few clouds. A surplus of 22.1 kWh.

Monday (31-May-2021) — New Jersey

Springtime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Spring flowers blooming: Love-in-a-Mist, California Poppy, Red Poppy. Red Poppies for Memorial Day.


Spring Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (49.1 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (73.4 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. The sun returned. A surplus of 24.3 kWh.

Sunday (30-May-2021) — New Jersey

Springtime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Visitors backyard and the patio birdfeeder: Black Vulture, House Finch. Not many birds visiting during the emergence of the Cicadas.


Daily backyard visitors. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Spring flowers blooming: Red Poppy, Love-in-a-Mist, Crimson Clover, Daisy, Lacy Phacelia, Beardtongue Foxglove, Siberian Wallflower, Sweet William.


Love in a Mist. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Poppies. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Spring Flowers: Crimson Clover, Daisy, Lacy Phacelia, Beardtongue Foxglove, Siberian Wallflower, Sweet William. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (45.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (16.3 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cloudy and rain. A deficit of 28.3 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (354 kWh) from Sense. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (326 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. A deficit of 28 kWh.