Month: April 2020

Wednesday (15-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Nighttime Spring Nature in New Jersey.

The raccoon eats an apple without going into the trap. Need to try again, but with the food tied down so the critter needs to enter the trap.

Daily Electric Energy Used (53.8 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (74.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun (some clouds). A surplus of 20.5 kWh.


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Wednesday (15-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Daily walkabout. Lots of Spring flowers: Grape Hyacinth, Daffodil, Dandelion, Violet, Plum Tree, Maple Tree, Pear Tree, and Tulips. The Grape Hyacinth bulbs were planted last spring — supposed to have been planted the previous fall. I thought the deer were nibbling the plants as they started to emerge this spring, but now are in full bloom. The section of Daffodils along the street on the west side of the house is now four years old, and keeps getting better. Only about half of the Tulips from last year on the patio remain. Deer nibbled on the accessible plants as they emerged.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Row of Purple Grape Hyacinth flowers. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 100 mm, f/6.4, 1/850 sec). (David J Mathre)
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Daffodills in bloom. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 100 mm, f/6.4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Dandelion and wild Violet flowers. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/6.4, 1/680 sec). (David J Mathre)


Tree Flowers. Images taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Tulips. Images taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed in my PhotoShelter Gallery. (David J Mathre)

Daily Electric Energy Used (53.8 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (74.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun (some clouds). A surplus of 20.5 kWh.



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Tuesday (14-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Three types of birds at the bird feeder this morning. Northern Cardinal, House Finch, and Carolina Wren.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Pair of Northern Cardinals in a tree. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Male Northern Cardinals at a bird feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1100, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
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Female Northern Cardinals below a bird feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
House Finch with a sunflower seed. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 6400, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Carolina Wren looking up. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1250, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
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Carolina Wren about to take off. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Daily Electric Energy Used (54.6 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (61.9 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun (some clouds). A surplus of 7.3 kWh.


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Tuesday (14-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

A Red Fox ran across the back section of the yard. I normally do not see them out during the day. Hope it doesn’t have rabies.


Fox crossing the back section. Images taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens.  Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (54.6 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (61.9 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun (some clouds). A surplus of 7.3 kWh.


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Monday (13-April-2020) — New Jersey

Indoor Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

I caught two Stink Bugs lurking in the Ground Cherry plants growing in my indoor hydroponic farm. I wonder if they are the cause of the white patches on the leaves. Supposedly, Stink Bugs are vegetarian…

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Stink Bug lurking on my indoor hydroponic garden Ground Cherry plants. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/16, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Stink Bug lurking on my indoor hydroponic garden Ground Cherry plants. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/16, 1/30 sec). (David J Mathre)

During this time of staying at home (for me day 38), I did recently get a delivery of fresh food from Whole Foods. Items that are difficult or impossible with the indoor hydroponic farm (eggs, cheese, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, apples, pears, pineapple, grapes). I used the broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower to prepare dinner.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Vegetable Casserole. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/28, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)

Daily Electric Energy Used (53.9 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (7.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of clouds and rainy. A deficit of 46.1 kWh.


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