Saturday (18-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Tulip and Daffodil flowers after the overnight spring rains. First Plum tree flowers this spring.

Orange Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Orange Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daffodil Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daffodil Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/8000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Orange Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/6400 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Orange Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/6400 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Red Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/4000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Red Tulip Flower after the rain. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/4000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Plum tree flower. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Plum tree flower. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 105 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 105 mm, f/2.8, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (60.5 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (18.2 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of clouds. A deficit of 42.3 kWh.


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Friday (17-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

At or under the birdfeeder — a Chipping Sparrow in the morning and a female Northern Cardinal in the afternoon. I cleaned out the bird bath, and the solar-powered fountain is now running. It is supposed to freeze tonight so we will see if it is running again tomorrow. A pink tulip flower. The deer nibbled on the plant, but it still survived. The deer at the back of the yard are looking through the electric fence trying to decide if the green plants inside the fence are edible wildflowers or weeds that they don’t like.

Chipping Sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Chipping Sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 12520, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 12520, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bird bath solar-powered fountain. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bird bath solar-powered fountain. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Pink Tulip 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)
Pink Tulip 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)
Scraggly looking Deer. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/4. 1/125 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Scraggly looking Deer. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/4. 1/125 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (61.1 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (54.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of clouds. A deficit of 6.8 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.

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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)
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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.

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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)
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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)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
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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