Month: May 2020

Monday (11-May-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Daily birds include an American Crow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Mourning Dove, and Downy Woodpecker. Young fawn (with spots) at the far end of my backyard.

American Crow in the grass. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 720, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
American Crow in the grass. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 720, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
American Crow with stolen sandwich. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
American Crow with stolen sandwich. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Brown-headed Cowbird feeding. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Brown-headed Cowbird feeding. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Mourning Dove feeding. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Mourning Dove feeding. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Downy Woodpecker. 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)
Downy Woodpecker. 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)
Young Fawn following its mother. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 500, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Young Fawn following its mother. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 500, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Young Fawn. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Young Fawn. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (53.6 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (54.2 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Mix of sun and clouds, but still a surplus of 0.6 kWh.


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Sunday (10-May-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

The day after the “Global Big Day” not as many birds around. Granted, I didn’t spend as much time watching. Birds for the day included: American Crow, Tufted Titmouse, Gray Catbird, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Northern Cardinal.


Birds viewed from my backyard patio. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (59.5 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (90.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny most of the day. A surplus of 30.9 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (385 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (435 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A surplus of 50.0 kWh.


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Saturday (09-May-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Today was “Global Big Day” for observing and counting birds. Starting at first light in the morning I kept watch on the bird feeders and backyard. The outdoor temperatures dropped below freezing overnight, and the bird bath was frozen over. The bird feeder was stocked with a mixed feed (I was out of the high oil sunflower seeds) and an apple. By the end of the day I observed and took pictures of 15 bird species. Mourning Dove, Turkey Vulture, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Gray Catbird, American Robin, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is new, and I only observed the female. Looking forward to seeing the male. The female is larger than the local sparrows and finches and does not have the rose coloration of the male. The large beak helps with the identification. The bird images from the day are presented based on observation time.

Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak (?). 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)
Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak (?). 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)


Birds 06:45 to 07:30. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds 12:20 to 13:00. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds 16:50 to 17:10. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds 17:50 to 18:00. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


19:50 to 20:00. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (54.0 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (74.2 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny in the morning with some clouds in the afternoon. A surplus of 20.2 kWh.



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Friday (08-May-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Doe (looks like she is expecting soon) inside the fenced in wildflower meadow. The fence needs to be repaired. I haven’t planted any wildflower seeds this year, so self-seeded from last year’s plants or local weeds. The tiny orange flowers are Siberian Wallflowers. I think the yellow ones are weeds. Daily birds include: Gray Catbird, pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds, Northern Cardinal, Chipping Sparrow, and Tufted Titmouse

Expecting Fawn. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro OIS lens (ISO 800, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/120 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Expecting Fawn. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro OIS lens (ISO 800, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/120 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Expecting Fawn. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro OIS lens (ISO 800, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/120 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Expecting Fawn. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro OIS lens (ISO 800, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/120 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Spring "Wildflowers". Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro OIS lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/170 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Spring "Wildflowers". Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro OIS lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/170 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)


Today’s Birds. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (58.2 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (18.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Cloudy most of the day. A deficit of 39.8 kWh.


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Thursday (07-May-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Visitors at the birdfeeder. Blue Jay, pair of Brown Headed Cowbirds, Chipping Sparrow, and pair of Gray Catbirds.

Blue Jay. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 560, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Blue Jay. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 560, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Brown-headed Cowbird at the bird feeder. 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)
Female Brown-headed Cowbird at the bird feeder. 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)
Male Brown-headed Cowbird at the bird feeder. 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 Brown-headed Cowbird at the bird feeder. 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)
Chipping Sparrow at the bird feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Chipping Sparrow at the bird feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pair of Gray Catbirds at the bird feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pair of Gray Catbirds at the bird feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pair of Gray Catbirds at the bird feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1250, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pair of Gray Catbirds at the bird feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1250, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (61.9 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 27.1 kWh.


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