Sunday (21-June-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Early Summer Nighttime Nature in New Jersey.

Now that it is summer, and a bit warmer at night, the fireflies stay active longer into the night. The battery in the camera died before the fireflies stopped flashing. Composite of images taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 24-90 mm lens (ISO 800, 66 mm, f/11, 60 sec). The problem with a high resolution sensor camera is the trails become sharper and don’t look as good unless viewed with a high resolution monitor.

Firefly Trails. Composite of images (21:35-02:04) taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 24-90 mm lens (ISO 800, 66 mm, f/11, 60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Firefly Trails. Composite of images (21:35-02:04) taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 24-90 mm lens (ISO 800, 66 mm, f/11, 60 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)


Composite Firefly Trails in 30 minute intervals. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (57.1 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (75.6 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and intermittent clouds. A surplus of 18.5 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (321 kWh) from Sense. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (463 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and intermittent clouds. A surplus of 142 kWh.


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Sunday (21-June-2020) — New Jersey

Early Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: Chipping Sparrow, Blue Jay, House Finch, Mourning Dove, and Tufted Titmouse.


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

The Red Fox, that accidently got caught in my Raccoon trap earlier this year survived the trama. I periodically see the Fox in the nighttime security videos (sometimes even with a mouse or rat in its mouth). This morning it was out early in the morning munching on some leftovers the Vultures left behind. I had to laugh a bit later when one of the Fawn twins tried to challenge the Fox. The Fawns are getting bigger and bolder as they nibble on the plants in my Wildflower garden.


Red Fox. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Fawn twins with spots. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Early Summer Wildflowers: Poppies, Foxglove, Daisy, Lance-leaf Coreopsis, and Delphinium/Larkspur.


Red, Pink, Oriental, and Icelandic Poppies. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summer Wildflowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (57.1 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (75.6 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and intermittent clouds. A surplus of 18.5 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (321 kWh) from Sense. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (463 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and intermittent clouds. A surplus of 142 kWh.


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Saturday (20-June-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day — Northern Cardinal, House Finch, American Crow, Gray Catbird, Turkey Vulture, Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, and Red-bellied Woodpecker. The Eastern Phoebe appears to be reconstructing the top of the nest?


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


Spots and his sister Spots. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

First day of Summer Flowers: Including Poppies (Red, Pink, Oriental, and California). Daisy, Foxglove, Cosmos, Delphinium, Cornflower, Lance-leaf Coreopsis, Love-in-a-mist (seed pod), and Prickly Pear Cactus.


Poppies (portrait mode). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Poppies (landscape mode). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Wildflowers (portrait mode). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Wildflowers (landscape mode). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (50.8 kWh) from Sense. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (63.6 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. More clouds. A surplus of 12.8 kWh.


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Friday (19-June-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day — Northern Cardinal, House Finch, Common Grackle, Gray Catbird, American Goldfinch, Blue Jay, and Tufted Titmouse. The Eastern Phoebe continues to sit on the nest.


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


Northern Cardinal Portrait Session. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Two fawns with spots have been spending their days in the backyard.


Spots and his sister Spots. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Last day of Spring Flowers: Including Poppies (Red, Pink, Oriental, and California). Daisy, Foxglove, Cosmos, Delphinium, Bearded Tongue, Blanket Flower, Forget-me-not, Lemmon Mink, Sweet William, Cornflower, Lance-leaf Coreopsis, Love-in-a-mist (seed pod), and Prickly Pear Cactus. The deer nibbled on the Yucca shoots this year before I could protect them.


Poppies (portrait mode). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Poppies (landscape mode). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Wildflowers (portrait mode). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Wildflowers (landscape mode). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (49.4 kWh) from Sense. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (65.2 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. More sun than clouds. A surplus of 9.0 kWh.


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Tuesday (16-June-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Spring Nighttime Nature in New Jersey.

Even more fireflies than last night. It was a bit warmer out. The activity didn’t drop off until after midnight when the temperature went below 60°F. Composite of images taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/8, 30 sec).

Firefly Trails [2145-0159]. Composite of image takens with a Nikon D4 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/8, 30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Firefly Trails [2145-0159]. Composite of image takens with a Nikon D4 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/8, 30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)


Firefly trails — 30 min intervals. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (38.1 kWh) from Sense. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (86.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Lots of sun. A surplus of 48.8 kWh.


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