Day: August 23, 2016

Tuesday (23-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Monarch Butterfly on a Thistle Bloom. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). I am amazed by the high resolution detail captured by this camera, down to the individual specks of dust or pollen on the wings of the butterfly.

Over the last two weeks I only saw three Monarch butterflies, and only got an image of one. Today, I saw at least ten and was very happy. In addition to the Monarch butterflies, I also saw many Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies, Black Swallowtail butterflies (two or three varieties), Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies, Clearwing Moths (two varieties), Dragonflies, and Robber Flies. All in all the best day this season. I am going to be up late tonight processing more images…

Monarch Butterfly on a Thistle Bloom. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Monarch Butterfly on a Thistle Bloom. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (23-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth Resting on a Leaf. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (IS00, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). It is the Hummingbird Clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe) since its legs are white. This is the first time I have ever seen one of these moths “at rest” and not flapping its wings.

Clearwing Hummingbird Moth Resting on a Leaf. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (IS00, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Clearwing Hummingbird Moth Resting on a Leaf. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (IS00, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (23-August-2012) — Canada

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 01: Embark and Depart from Halifax, Canada.

Sailboat and Lighthouse on Georges Island in the Halifax Harbor. From the deck of the MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 93.5 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Watercolor effect applied using a Topaz Simplify/Painterly filter.

Sailboat and Lighthouse in the Halifax Harbor. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 93.5 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Watercolor effect applied using a Topaz Simplify/Painterly filter. (David J Mathre)
Sailboat and Lighthouse in the Halifax Harbor. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 93.5 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). Watercolor effect applied using a Topaz Simplify/Painterly filter. (David J Mathre)