Author: David Mathre

I am a scientist by training (Eckerd College, BSc; Caltech, Ph.D.). I worked for 27 years as a Chemist in the Pharmaceutical Industry developing processes to manufacture medicines for human and animal health. I now spend my time as a photographer and world traveler. My interests include the natural world, wildlife, landscapes, sky, and seascapes, travel, and astrophotography. I look for unique ways of viewing the world and presenting my images. I have traveled to over 55 countries in six continents, often on Semester at Sea voyages. While at home in New Jersey, I spend time on home renovation and expansion of a wildflower garden/meadow.

Friday (29-October-2021) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, House Finch.


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

Images of a new solar-powered water fountain in the birdbath at different exposures/shutter speeds (1/100, 1/30, 1/13, 1/8 sec).


Water Fountain in a Birdbath. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Today I figured out how to attach a rear weight and tool box to the 3-point connection on the rear of Red Rover. It took a while to figure things out, and I can see I need to get a variety of pins to hold the connectors. Also, I couldn’t adjust the turnbuckle on the 3-point hitch stabilizer chains. The jam bolt was “jammed” too tight. Will probably need to take it off and put the turnbuckle onto a vice. Job for another day. Then moved the last of the deer fence pipes from the metal pallet.

Assembling the Shelter Logic “Shed in a Box” Storage Shed on a windy day. The first thing the hieroglyphic assembly instructions show is two people, and that it can be completed in 2 hours. By myself, it took a lot longer…

Daily Electric Energy Used (39.2 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (12.5 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cloudy most of the day. Deficit of 26.7 kWh.

Thursday (28-October-2021) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

As you can see in the pictures, the autumn leaves are falling. Red Rover, my new Massey Ferguson GC1725M compact garden tractor was delivered. In addition to the front loader, mid-powered mower, and backhoe I got the powered front blade, post-hole auger, rototiller, and forklift blades. The fork lift blades would have been helpful yesterday for moving the Deer Fence pallets closer to the house. But still would not have been able to handle the 8 foot wide 2000+ pound pallets.


Red Rover (Massey Ferguson GC1725M Compact Garden Tractor) Delivery. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Before the new tractor arrived a Little Planet time-lapse video of moving deer fence pipes.

Then a Little Planet time-lapse video of the tractor arrival, getting orientated on how to operate the tractor, some practice moving pallets, and removing the Back Hoe attachment.

Daily Electric Energy Used (42.2 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (30.0kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny most of the day. Deficit of 12.2 kWh.

Wednesday (27-October-2021) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

As you can see in the pictures, the autumn leaves are falling. I’ve ordered the materials to install a deer fence around the property. Everything shipped last Thursday from Pennsylvania and arrived early Friday morning at a Carteret, NJ. Even though the tracking info indicated delivery Friday by 5 PM, nothing was delivered. Finally, on Tuesday I got a phone call that the delivery would be between 1 and 4 PM on Wednesday. The UPS LTL (less than truckload) truck arrived, but there was a problem. The 4 pallets were very heavy, and two were 8 feet wide. The driver did his best, but some of the steel poles had to be manually unloaded from the truck. A bit later, another truck arrived to deliver a DR Power half-ton tow-behind trailer. That was easier to unload. Some assembly required.


Deer Fence Delivery. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (41.9 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (9.2 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cloudy most of the day. Deficit of 20.7 kWh.

Tuesday (26-October-2021) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, House Finch.


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

After the rain stopped, I rode my bike down to Rock Brook to see how far the water level had risen. The last storm when we got 6-7 inches of rain Rock Brook overflowed and damaged the one-lane bridge. This storm we got a little over 3 inches. The water was running fast, but still under the roadway. There was a new tree down, downstream of the bridge.


Rock Brook after a Heavy Rainstorm. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

On the way back from the bridge, I took several images of a local field that had just been mowed, and the hay rolled up into round bales.

Autumn Hay Bale. (David J Mathre)
Round bales of hay on a local recently mowed field. Composite of six images taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. (David J Mathre)

Daily Electric Energy Used (41.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (19.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cloudy most of the day. Deficit of 21.8 kWh.

Monday (25-October-2021) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

My infrared security video camera caught “Thumper” the rabbit on my patio. I’ve not seen the rabbit recently during the day. It does need to be careful as there is a Red Fox that is in the neighborhood hunting every night.

Daily Electric Energy Used (41.6 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (25.5 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cloudy with some sun. Deficit of 26.1 kWh.