Category: Nature

Views of nature and the natural world. Plants, animals, and wildlife from around the world.

Wednesday (22-January-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

In addition to the regulars (Dark-eyed Junco, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, and Northern Cardinal) at my bird feeder this morning, a flock of aggressive European Starlings arrived. They left when some American Black Crows landed in my backyard.


Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slide show.


Daily Electric Energy Used (92.5 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (39.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny Day. A deficit of 53 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions


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One-Year Ago (22-January-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

A Blue Jay and Tufted Titmouse.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Blue Jay. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 90, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec).
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 90, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec).

Tuesday (21-January-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Regulars at my bird feeder this morning. Blue Jay and Red-bellied Woodpecker


Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slide show.


Daily Electric Energy Used (95.3 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (40.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny Day. A deficit of 54.9 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions

powered by Ambient Weather

Tuesday (21-January-2020) — New Jersey

Wintertime Indoor Hydroponic Gardening.

The Zucchini plant produces large (edible) yellow flowers. They appear to open in the morning, and then close at night. And I think that they only open for one day. I took an image of one using a Leica TL2 camera and 35 mm lens f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). The second version is a focus stacked image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). Composite of 50 images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus (method B)

Male Zucchini Flower. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Zucchini Flower. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/50 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Zucchini Flower. Focus stacked image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). Composite of 50 images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus (method B) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Male Zucchini Flower. Focus stacked image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/8, 1/60 sec). Composite of 50 images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus (method B) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (95.3 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (40.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny Day. A deficit of 54.9 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions

powered by Ambient Weather

One-Year Ago (21-January-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

A Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, and House Finch below the feeder. Carolina Wren at the bird feeder. American Black Crow in the backyard.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Dark-eyed Junco. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 320, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec).
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Female Northern Cardinal (male House Finch in the background). Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 320, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec).
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Carolina Wren. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 90, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec).
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
American Crow. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 320, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec).