Category: Nature

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

Two-Years Ago (13-October-2015) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey

A big mushroom in my lawn. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 14 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/11, 1/180 sec).

Big Mushroom in my backyard. Autumn nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 14 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/11, 1/180 sec). (David J Mathre)
Big Mushroom in my backyard. Autumn nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 14 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/11, 1/180 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thursday (12-October-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey

A number of small birds are going after the sunflower seeds in my wildflower garden. I hope they let a few drop to the ground for next years crop. I definitely plan to expand the wildflower garden/meadow.

Tufted Titmouse looking for sunflower seeds. Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)
Tufted Titmouse looking for sunflower seeds. Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)

 

Tufted Titmouse looking for sunflower seeds. Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR telephoto zoom lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/15 sec). (David J Mathre)
Tufted Titmouse looking for sunflower seeds. Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR telephoto zoom lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/15 sec). (David J Mathre)

 

Tufted Titmouse looking for sunflower seeds. Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)
Tufted Titmouse looking for sunflower seeds. Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/40 sec). (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (11-October-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey

I noticed a Praying Mantis, the autumn insect warrior working in my backyard. It just ate a cricket for lunch.  There are still a lot of flowers in the garden. A variety of Morning Glory and Cosmos blooms. The bees are still working hard to harvest nectar and pollen.

Autumn Warrior -- Praying Mantis. Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/600 sec). (David J Mathre)
Autumn Warrior — Praying Mantis. Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/600 sec). (David J Mathre)

 


Tuesday (10-October-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey

Although the growing season is winding down, there are still a lot of viable flowers in bloom.

Autumn flowers in my garden. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/420 sec). (David J Mathre)
Autumn flowers in my garden. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/420 sec). (David J Mathre)

 

Red Dahlia Bloom. Autumn flowers in my garden. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/140 sec). (David J Mathre)
Red Dahlia Bloom. Autumn flowers in my garden. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/140 sec). (David J Mathre)

 

Pink Dahlia Bloom. Autumn flowers in my garden. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
Pink Dahlia Bloom. Autumn flowers in my garden. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS telephoto zoom lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (08-October-2016) — New Jersey.

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey

While cutting up some cardboard for recycling, I felt something go by my feed. At first I thought it was a rat, but then saw it was a big fat toad. Once I realized what it was, I went and got the first camera I could find to take its picture. The toad was probably looking for a warm space in my garage to spend the winter. I wonder how many crickets it had to eat to get this big???

Toad trying to get into my garage. Fall Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 800, 60 mm, f/5, 1/60 sec) + popup flash. (David J Mathre)
Toad trying to get into my garage. Fall Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 800, 60 mm, f/5, 1/60 sec) + popup flash. (David J Mathre)