Month: July 2020

Friday (31-July-2020) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

The Brown Thrasher is a relatively new visitor to the birdfeed. I like its intense yellow eyes. It comes in just below the Blue Jay in regards to the pecking order feeding rights. I was really surprised to have captured a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. It wasn’t there to feed as I don’t have a hummingbird feeder with sugar syrup — just happened to be in the field of view of the camera.

Morning at the Birdfeeders: Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, and Northern Cardinal.


Morning at the Birdfeeder. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Afternoon at the Birdfeeders: Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Gray Catbird, American Goldfinch, and Brown-headed Cowbird.


Afternoon at the Birdfeeder. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (56.2 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (35.0 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Lots of clouds. A deficit of 21.2 kWh.

Monthly Electric Energy Used (1897 kWh) from Sense. Monthly Solar Electric Energy Produced (1942 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. A surplus of 45 kWh.

Thursday (30-July-2020) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

There are lots of Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies about even though the wildflower population has been drying out in the late July heat. Apparently, they have been laying eggs in the Broccoli Rabe plants as their caterpillars are munching on the Broccoli leaves. I need to get some BT or Neam oil spray.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

Morning at the Birdfeeders: Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Gray Catbird, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.


Morning at the Birdfeeder. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Afternoon at the Birdfeeders: Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Gray Catbird, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.


Afternoon at the Birdfeeder. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (63.2 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (61.4 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and clouds. A deficit of 1.8 kWh. During these hot days, the solar is not keeping up unless it is sunny all day. Part of the problem is that the Sycamore trees are full of leaves shading the solar panels part of the day.

Wednesday (29-July-2020) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Morning at the Birdfeeders: Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, and Northern Cardinal.


Morning at the Birdfeeder. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Afternoon at the Birdfeeders: Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, House Finch, American Goldfinch, and Northern Cardinal.


Afternoon at the Birdfeeder. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (71.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (77.3 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. More sun. A surplus of 6.2 kWh. .

Tuesday (28-July-2020) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

The birds noticed a cat lurking below the birdfeeder.


Local Neighborhood Cat Lurking below the Birdfeeder. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Morning at the Birdfeeders: Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Thrasher, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Northern Cardinal.


Morning at the Birdfeeder. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Afternoon at the Birdfeeders: Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Thrasher, House Finch, American Goldfinch, and Northern Cardinal.


Afternoon at the Birdfeeder. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (75.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (66.1 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. More clouds. A deficit of 9.6 kWh. .

Monday (27-July-2020) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

The lawn was getting long, or the deer weren’t eating enough.

Morning at the Birdfeeders: Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, and Northern Cardinal

Afternoon at the Birdfeeders: Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Wren, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Northern Cardinal

Daily Electric Energy Used (72.4 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (73.6 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny with clouds in the afternoon. A surplus of 1.2 kWh. As long as the sun is out most of the day, the Geothermal HVAC system keeps the house cool without needed additional electricity from PSE&G.