Month: April 2020

Thursday (30-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Not many birds at the feeder today: Brown-headed Cowbird, Tufted Titmouse, and Chipping Sparrow.

Brown-headed Cowbird at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Brown-headed Cowbird at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tufted Titmouse at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tufted Titmouse at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Chipping Sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Chipping Sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (48.1 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (8.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Cloudy and rainy all day. A deficit of 39.6 kWh.

Monthly Electric Energy Used (1683 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. Monthly Solar Electric Energy Produced (1474 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A deficit of 209 kWh. Last year, April was net positive with a surplus of 67 kWh [Used (1542 kWh) vs. Produced (1609 kWh)]. Last year I wasn’t running the indoor AeroGarden Hydroponic farms that use ~ 20 kWh/day.


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Wednesday (29-April-2020) — Florida

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Not many birds at the feeder today: Blue Jay, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Northern Cardinal. Both the Cardinal and Cowbird are female, Jay sex undetermined.

Blue Jay below a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Blue Jay below a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Brown-headed Cowbird at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Brown-headed Cowbird at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Northern Cardinal at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Northern Cardinal at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (52.5 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (34.9 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Clouds and sun. A deficit of 17.6 kWh.


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Tuesday (28-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Not many birds at the feeder today: House Finch and Tufted Titmouse.

House Finch at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
House Finch at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (54.9 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (87.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun. A surplus of 32.9 kWh.


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Tuesday (28-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Nighttime Spring Nature in New Jersey.

Now I have rats or mice running around on the patio. I don’t want to put poison out, but the neighborhood cats are going to have to do a better job.

Daily Electric Energy Used (54.9 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (86.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A mostly sunny day. A surplus of 31.9 kWh.


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Monday (27-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Nighttime Spring Nature in New Jersey.

The raccoon just can’t stay away. I guess the trap needs to be set again..

Daily Electric Energy Used (53.1 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (30.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Clouds and more rain. A deficet of 22.7 kWh.


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