Day: September 28, 2019

Saturday (28-September-2019) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

My initial walkabout was with a Nikon D850 camera and 200-500 mm VR lens. I almost walked into a large spider web with a big spider. Probably some type of Orb-web Builder spider. As with yesterday, there were lots and lots of Monarch butterflies in my wildflower meadows. They were feeding on Cosmos, Zinnia, and Marigold flowers. I also captured images of two Common Buckeye butterflies. When going back in I found the Praying Mantis that I spotted in an image yesterday. Its belly was pretty full, so it has been successful capturing some meals recently. I can only wish it has been feeding on the Stink Bugs that have been trying to get into my house recently as the temperatures cool outside. I took some images with the Nikon D850 camera, then swapped to a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens + 1.4x teleconverter.

Hairy Spider hanging out. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 200-500 mm VR lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hairy Spider hainging out. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 200-500 mm VR lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)


Click on the image above to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images from the following slideshow.



Click on the image above to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images from the following slideshow.



Click on the image above to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images from the following slideshow.


Daily Electric Energy Used (56.5 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (37.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Cloudy most of the day (with the Sycamore tree blocking the solar panels in the afternoon). The Geothermal HVAC system used (10 kWh) and the new indoor hydroponic systems running (8.7 kWh). An overall net deficit of 19.2 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions

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Six-Years Ago (28-September-2013) — South Dakota

Gone to See America 2013 Road Trip. Badlands National Park.

A Butt only a Mother could love. Badlands National Park, South Dakota. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec).

A Butt Only a Mother Could Love. Badlands National Park, South Dakota. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
A Butt Only a Mother Could Love. Badlands National Park, South Dakota. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Eleven-Years Ago (28-September-2008) — Utah

Gone to See American 2008 Road Trip. Driving from Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument to Bryce National Park.

Double Rainbow in Utah. While driving between Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument and Bryce National Park on Utah Highway 12 I saw a rainbow in my rear view mirror. I quickly pulled over just outside of Cannonville Utah and started taking some images. I was lucky that there was a dark background in the sky so I could begin to see the double rainbow. Before the rainbow was gone, many other cars pulled over to admire the view.

Double Rainbow in Utah. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 17 mm, f/16, 1/80 sec). Raw image reprocessed in 2019 with Capture One Pro. (David J Mathre)
Double Rainbow in Utah. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 17 mm, f/16, 1/80 sec). Raw image reprocessed in 2019 with Capture One Pro. (David J Mathre)