Month: July 2021

Thursday (22-July-2021) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Gray Catbird, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Northern Cardinal.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds seem to like both the Red Cannas and the Gladiolus. Note that the plastic fence in the background is to keep the deer out. The hummingbirds and other birds visiting know to fly above the fence.


Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (52.6 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (68.8 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and clouds. A surplus of 16.2 kWh.

Wednesday (21-July-2021) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Northern Cardinal.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (59.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (57.4 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny then some rain, hot, and hazy. A deficit of 2.3 kWh.

Tuesday (20-July-2021) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, American Robin, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Chipping Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Two types of Dragonflies viewed near the backyard pond. One with an all black body and clear wings (Darth Vader). The other one had a blue body and green eyes. They were observed mating and laying eggs in the water.


Dragonflies of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (67.6 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (58.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun, hot, hazy, and a few clouds. A deficit of 8.7 kWh.

Friday (02-July-2021) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

My field of Bee Balm and Lemon Mint plants is in bloom. The deer do not like these plants, but they do attract bees, butterflies, and two types of clearwing moths. The two types of Clearwing Moths are similar. Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris Thysbe) has lighter colored front legs, and Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris Diffinis) is slightly smaller and has dark colored front legs.

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth. (David J Mathre)
Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris Thysbe) feeding on a Bee Balm flower. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm lens. (David J Mathre)
Snowberry Clearwing Moth. (David J Mathre)
Snowberry Clearwing Moth (Hemaris Diffinis) feeding on a Bee Balm flower. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm lens. (David J Mathre)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. (David J Mathre)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly feeding on a Bee Balm flower. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm lens. (David J Mathre)

Daily Electric Energy Used (52.1 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (4.7 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Clouds and light rain. A deficit of 10.9 kWh.