Four-Years Ago (02-October-2013) — Colorado

Gone to See America 2013. Autumn Rocky Mountain Photography Safari in Colorado with Jason Odell. Day 2: Independence Pass.

Morning Reflections in a Pond at Independence Pass, Colorado. Composite of 3 images taken with a Nikon D3x and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/16, 1/160 sec) combined using AutoPano Giga Pro 3. Day 3 on a Colorado Rockies Photo Safari with Jason Odell. (David J Mathre)
Morning Reflections in a Pond at Independence Pass. Composite of 3 images taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E lens (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/16, 1/160 sec) combined using AutoPano Giga Pro 3. (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (08-September-2014) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Mushroom at my Doorstep. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, NIK Define, and Photoshop CC 2014.

Mushroom at my Doorstep. Backyard Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, NIK Define, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)
Mushroom at my Doorstep. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, NIK Define, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (29-August-2014) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature in New Jersey: Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Late Summer Yellow Wildflowers at the Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VR II lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic and Photoshop CC 2104.

Late Summer Yellow Wildflowers at the Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VR II lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic and Photoshop CC 2104. (David J Mathre)
Late Summer Yellow Wildflowers at the Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VR II lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic and Photoshop CC 2104. (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (26-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

The Elusive American Bittern Hunting Frogs a the Sourland Mountain Preserve Pond. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/600 sec).

Elusive American Bittern at the Pond. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/600 sec). (David J Mathre)
Elusive American Bittern at the Pond. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/600 sec). (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (24-August-2015) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth on a Thistle Bloom. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC.

This one does appear to be a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe) based on 1) the lack of any banding on the lateral side of the thorax; 2) thysbe always has yellowish or pale colored legs.

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth feeding on on Thistle flowers. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Hummingbird Clearwing Moth feeding on on Thistle flowers. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)