Month: December 2008

Tuesday (30-December-2008) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Night Sky Over New Jersey: Time-lapse Video

The ClearSky folks didn’t have a good forecast for the whole night, but I still recorded the night sky looking south. You can see the clouds kept passing over, so no star trails.

Monday (29-December-2008) — New Jersey

Winter Indoor Nature in New Jersey: Stink Bug Eating Pink Grapefruit.

The invasive stink bugs that invaded Pennsylvania have expanded into New Jersey. They come into houses during the winter to stay warm.  As seen here, one is feasting on a pink grapefruit that I just brought back from Florida.

Stink Bug Eating Pink Grapefruit. Image taken with an Nikon D3 and 200 mm f/4 macro lens (ISO 200, f/16, 1/60 sec, ring flash). (David J Mathre)
Stink Bug Eating Pink Grapefruit. Image taken with an Nikon D3 and 200 mm f/4 macro lens (ISO 200, f/16, 1/60 sec, ring flash).

Saturday (27-December-2008) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2008 Road Trip Day 6: Birds and Reptiles at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

This was the first time that I visited Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. It is right next to (and is part of the John F. Kennedy Space Center). The wildlife viewing road can be closed during launches. Black Point Wildlife Drive is a target rich environment for viewing Florida wildlife. I have included a few images of birds (White Ibis, White Egret, Anhanga) and alligators. There was also a viewing station with telescopes set up to see a pair of American Bald Eagles building a nest.

White Ibis Fishing at Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
White Ibis Fishing at Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec).  White Egret Fishing at Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec).


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Friday (26-December-2008) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2008 Road Trip Day 5: Pair of Great Blue Heron Dancing.

Back again at Fort De Soto Park. This is a great birding location. I saw these two Great Blue Herons dancing just off a small mangrove island. Another example where the high-resolution of the D3x camera proved useful for wildlife images. The camera is not just for studio applications.

Great Blue Heron Dancing in the Morning Sun. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 lens with 1.4 II TC (ISO 200, 420 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron Dancing in the Morning Sun. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 300 mm f/2.8 lens with 1.4 II TC (ISO 200, 420 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

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Thursday (25-December-2008) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2008 Road Trip Day 4: St. Petersburg Pier Holiday Lighting from the Vinoy Hotel.

I was staying a the Vinoy Hotel and had a window/balcony that looked out over Tampa bay. Over the holidays, the St. Petersburg Pier, which looks like an inverted pyramid is lit up with colored lights that change every few minutes. I am really liking the resolution with the new Nikon D3x camera.

St. Petersburg Pier at Night from the Vinoy Hotel. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 200 f/2 lens (ISO 100, f/11, 10 sec). (David J Mathre)
St. Petersburg Pier at Night from the Vinoy Hotel. Image taken with an Nikon D3x and 200 f/2 lens (ISO 100, f/11, 10 sec). (David J Mathre)

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