Category: Nature

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

Sunday (16-June-2019) — New Jersey

Indoor Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

I noticed a large spider guarding my 600 mm lens. Went a grabbed a camera with a macro lens. After the photo session was complete, I let him go outside hoping he would munch on some caterpillars eating my vegetables in the grow towers.

Spider Guarding my 600 mm Lens. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 1600, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Spider Guarding my 600 mm Lens. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 1600, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Spider Guarding my 600 mm Lens. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 1600, 80 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Spider Guarding my 600 mm Lens. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 1600, 80 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Power Use (74.2 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (42.05 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is up since I reduced the indoor temperature provided by the WaterFurnace Geothermal HVAC system. Will raise the indoor temperature to 72°F for tomorrow. The power was also out for a little over one hour in the morning. For safety/code reasons, if the PSE&G power is down, my solar panels are disconnected from the grid. I’m thinking of getting a couple of Tesla PowerWall batteries so this doesn’t happen in the future.

Current Weather Conditions

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Sunday (16-June-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Wildflowers in bloom and my urban garden. The yucca plant sent shoots up to flower. The local deer really like these, and if I don’t catch and protect the shoots I don’t get any of the yucca flowers. These flowers bloom at night, around a full moon and attract some large moths. Lots of red poppies and cosmos flowers. Other flowers include the blue spiderworts (open for a day, every day new ones), cornflowers (bachelor buttons — attract goldfinches), morning glory vines, and daisy’s. The garden towers are full of fruits and vegetables. One of my sunflower plants is taller than I am. It is also supporting a burma gourd (water gourd plant) that I hope to get some gourds this year.







Daily Power Use (74.2 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (42.05 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is up since I reduced the indoor temperature provided by the WaterFurnace Geothermal HVAC system. Will raise the indoor temperature to 72°F for tomorrow. The power was also out for a little over one hour in the morning. For safety/code reasons, if the PSE&G power is down, my solar panels are disconnected from the grid. I’m thinking of getting a couple of Tesla PowerWall batteries so this doesn’t happen in the future.

Current Weather Conditions

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Sunday (16-June-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

I noticed a squirrel running from my patio that has a big belly. Either it is expecting, or has a large tumor (or Alien). Went a grabbed a camera with a telephoto lens. Before it left, I told it to stay away from the raccoon trap.

Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Power Use (74.2 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (42.05 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is up since I reduced the indoor temperature provided by the WaterFurnace Geothermal HVAC system. Will raise the indoor temperature to 72°F for tomorrow. The power was also out for a little over one hour in the morning. For safety/code reasons, if the PSE&G power is down, my solar panels are disconnected from the grid. I’m thinking of getting a couple of Tesla PowerWall batteries so this doesn’t happen in the future.

Current Weather Conditions

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Saturday (15-June-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Kermit and his Bullfrog brothers and sisters have been making lots of noise in the back pond. I am finally able to get close enough to get some images. Earlier in the year they have been very skittish — jumping into the pond with the slightest bit of motion. The pond is also full of many tadpoles, so there should be many more frogs through the summer. I have not seed the turtle yet this year.

Kermit the Bullfrog in the Backyard Pond. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)
Kermit the Bullfrog in the Backyard Pond. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)



Dragonfly at the Backyard Pond. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)
Dragonfly at the Backyard Pond. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)


Kermit the Bullfrog in the Backyard Pond. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)
Kermit the Bullfrog in the Backyard Pond. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (David J Mathre)

Daily Power Use (63.2 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (80.32 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is up since I reduced the indoor temperature provided by the WaterFurnace Geothermal HVAC system.

Current Weather Conditions

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Saturday (15-June-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

The deer are getting gutsy, moving in closer to my wildflower meadows, and nibbling on the recently planted forsythia and lilac shrubs. This one was making a salad out of some recently planted wildflowers under the weather station.

Doe with an Attitude. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 200 mm f/2 OIS lens + 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 320, 280 mm, f/4, 1/1800 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Doe with an Attitude. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 200 mm f/2 OIS lens + 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 320, 280 mm, f/4, 1/1800 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)


Daily Power Use (63.2 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (80.32 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is up since I reduced the indoor temperature provided by the WaterFurnace Geothermal HVAC system.

Current Weather Conditions

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