Saturday (06-July-2019) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds, Bees, Butterflies, and Kermit the Frog. Today’s images were taken during my walkabouts with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens. Flower and wildflower images will be in a different post. The first Tiger Swallowtail butterfly had lost its tails. The Swallowtails are pretty skittish — not staying in one place for very long, making capturing photos a challenge. Latter on I came upon what I think is a Variegated Fritillary Butterfly (Euptoieta claudia). It was more cooperative staying still for a bit. I am seeing several different types of bees — honey bees, bumble bees, sweat bees, tiny green bees on the different flowers currently in bloom. The interesting one today was a large black bee, about the size of a Bumble Bee but without any hair like a Bumble Bee. This bee had been working Coreopsis (Tickseed) flowers with yellow pollen since its bottom was bright yellow. Back at the pond, it appears that Kermit caught a dragonfly.

Male Cardinal at the Birdfeeder. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Cardinal at the Birdfeeder. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (DAVID J MATHRE)


Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.



Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.


Daily Power Use (58.9 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (50.17 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. It was cloudy out much of the day, so I generated less power than the geothermal HVAC system needed to keep the house cool.

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Author: David Mathre

I am a scientist by training (Eckerd College, BSc; Caltech, Ph.D.). I worked for 27 years as a Chemist in the Pharmaceutical Industry developing processes to manufacture medicines for human and animal health. I now spend my time as a photographer and world traveler. My interests include the natural world, wildlife, landscapes, sky, and seascapes, travel, and astrophotography. I look for unique ways of viewing the world and presenting my images. I have traveled to over 55 countries in six continents, often on Semester at Sea voyages. While at home in New Jersey, I spend time on home renovation and expansion of a wildflower garden/meadow.

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