Month: April 2020

Wednesday (22-April-2020) — New Jersey

Happy Earth Day.

Over the last year, my Solar Panels have generated over 16 kWh of electricity, and the Geothermal HVAC system eliminated the use of 3000 gallons of heating oil while providing heating, cooling, and hot water. Including the SREC (solar energy credits) I saved over $14K, and significantly reduced my carbon footprint.

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Not as many birds around today. Just a Tufted Titmouse and a pair of Northern Cardinals. There are more flowers on the Plum Tree, I also noticed a perennial Siberian Wallflower blooming. The first returning flowers from one of last years Wildflower Meadows. On the patio several Tulips are still blooming. The Kale plants left on the Grow Towers over the winter survived and are now bolting. I am also starting to see Lilac flowers from the shrubs planted last fall. At least some survived the ravenous deer.

Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 900, 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 900, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 900, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 900, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 900, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 900, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)


Backyard Spring Flowers. Images taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (63.1 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (87.7 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun. A surplus of 24.6 kWh. This is the most solar power generated in one day since last August. There is a chance I will be net positive for the month of April — although several days of rain are forecasted for the next week.


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Tuesday (21-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Not as many birds around today. Just a male Northern Cardinal and a pair of American Goldfinch.

Male Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1100, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1100, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pair of American Goldfinch. 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)
Pair of American Goldfinch. 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)

Daily Electric Energy Used (56.1 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (44.6 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of clouds. A deficit of 11.5 kWh.


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Monday (20-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Tufted Titmouse and American Goldfinch at the bird feeders. I was amazed at how fast the American Goldfinch emptied the sunflower seed bird feeder. An American Robin was looking for worms. Although some robins stay for the winter, I think this one is a spring migrant after spending the winter in Florida. Lots of spring flowers are out. Grape Hyacinth, Tulip, and Daffodils. The Japanese Maple tree now has red leaves. Another of the local Raccoon pack wandered into the Havahart trap on my patio. This one didn’t figure out the Houdini trick to escape and had to spend the night in jail. After being processed, it will need to find a new home away from my patio and Victory vegetable garden.

Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/4. 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/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pair of American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/16, 1/250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pair of American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/16, 1/250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
American Robin. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/6.4, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
American Robin. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/6.4, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Purple Grape Hyacinth flowers. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Purple Grape Hyacinth flowers. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)


Spring tulips that survived the winter and deer. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Fancy Daffodils. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Backlit spring red Maple leaves. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backlit spring red Maple leaves. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)


Not Houdini. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (60.0 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (46.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of clouds. A deficit of 13.6 kWh.


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Sunday (19-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Northern Cardinal at the birdfeeder, Tulips on the patio.

Female Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/4. 1/800 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/4. 1/800 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Tulip flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Tulip flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Orange Tulip flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 600 mm, f/4.5. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Orange Tulip flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 600 mm, f/4.5. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 280, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 280, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 180, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 180, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 160, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 160, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 250, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 250, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 250, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 250, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (60.5 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (18.2 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of clouds. A deficit of 42.3 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (401 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (362 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A deficit of 49 kWh. Getting closer to being net positive.


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Saturday (18-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Tulip and Daffodil flowers after the overnight spring rains. First Plum tree flowers this spring.

Orange Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Orange Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daffodil Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daffodil Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Orange Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/6400 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Orange Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/6400 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Red Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/4000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Red Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/4000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Plum tree flower. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Plum tree flower. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (60.5 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (18.2 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of clouds. A deficit of 42.3 kWh.


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