Landscape - David Mathre Photography

Sunday (13-February-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal. When it snows, the birds come back. First Brown-headed Cowbirds this year.

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

Walkabout in the Snow. By mid-morning we had ~3 inches of snow. Images of a statue laying on a bench, the troll on top of the mailbox, and helping a neighbor with his annual (first time in a couple of years) Maple syrup boil down.

Walkabout in the Snow. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (92.5 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (0.0 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Solar Panels covered with snow. Deficit of 92.5 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (588 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (211 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Deficit of 377 kWh.

Friday (11-February-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Dark-eyed Junco. Other than one Dark-eyed Junco, the small birds stayed away while the hawk and vultures were in area.

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

Time-lapse video of Osteospermum seedling taken with a Leica SL2s camera and Laowa 24 mm f/14 macro probe lens (24 mm, ISO 2000, f/40, 1/30 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro, and time-lapse video created with PhotoShop CC (1080p, 12p).

Daily Electric Energy Used (80.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (43.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny. Deficit of 36.8 kWh.

Friday (04-February-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, European Starling, American Robin, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Common Grackle, Northern Cardinal. A flock of 40+ American Robins and 20+ European Starling invaded the backyard after the rain stopped. Presumably feasting on worms. Later on the American Robins almost completely stripped the Holly Berries from my Holly Tree.

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

Daily Electric Energy Used (78.1 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (4.4 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cloudy, snow then rain. Deficit of 73.7 kWh.

Monday (31-January-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Red-tailed Hawk, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal. The flock of Red-winged Blackbirds is still around.

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

Flock of Red-winged Blackbirds. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Little Planet video of the flock of Red-winged Blackbirds.

Daily Electric Energy Used (120.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (0.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. The solar panels still covered with snow. The supplemental resistance heating kicked on at night as the outdoor temperature dropped below 10°F. Deficit of 109.1 kWh.

Monthly Electric Energy Used (2846 kWh) from Sense. Monthly Solar Electric Energy Produced (618 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Deficit of 2228 kWh.

Sunday (30-January-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day on a snowy day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal. A whole flock (~100) of the Red-winged Blackbirds descended on the patio and birdfeeders.

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

Flock of Red-winged Blackbirds. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Hydroponic Updates. The Bok Choi in AeroGarden Bounty-01 continues to be the fastest grower (although one plant seems to be a runt). In Bounty-02 the Rouge d’Hiver and Black-seeded Simpson lettuce are growing well, along with the Genovese Basil and Dill. One Thai Basil is growing, the other one remains small. In Bounty-0 the two transplanted 14-day Genovese Basil and Dill are doing well. The other 6-day herbs have not sprouted yet. Bounty-04 with the seed sprouting tray at day 6 has some seeds sprouting: Swiss Chard (0/5); Kale (5/5); Collard Greens (5/5); Spinach (0/5); Mustard Greens (4/5); Oregano (1/5); Rosemary (0/5); Tarragon (2/5); Thyme (5/5); Sage (3/5). About half of the poppy seedling in Farm-09R were moved to Farm-08L, Farm-08R, and Farm-09L.

Bounty-01, Bounty-02, Bounty Elite-03, Bounty Elite-04. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Farm-08L, Farm-08R, Farm-09L, Farm-09R. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Found another Stink Bug nibbling on the Bok Choi seedlings. Also, a Lady Beetle. I’m not sure if the Lady Beetle was also nibbling on the leaf, or looking for Aphids.

Stink Bug. (David J Mathre) — Caught another Stink Bug feeding on a Bok Choi seedling. Image taken with a Leica TL2 camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)

Lady Beetle on a Bok Choi leaf. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (127.2 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (0.0 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. The solar panels still covered with snow. The supplemental resistance heating kicked on at night as the outdoor temperature dropped below 10°F. Deficit of 127.2 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (770 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (143 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Deficit of 627 kWh.