Category: Nature

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

Tuesday (25-December-2007) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2007 Road Trip Day 4: A Busy Christmas Day.

Early morning sunrise and night-time photography at the Vinoy Hotel.  Wildlife photography at the Weedon Island Nature Preserve. Lots of birds, a crab spider, and how often do you see, let alone catch a “flying fish” in midair. Then the extended Mathre family Christmas Day celebration.

Sunrise over Tampa Bay from the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 14-28 mm f/2.8 len (ISO 100, 20 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Sunrise over Tampa Bay from the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 14-28 mm f/2.8 len (ISO 100, 20 mm, f/11, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)


Mullet in Flight. Weedon Island Nature Preserve, Pinellas County, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/5, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Mullet in Flight. Weedon Island Nature Preserve, Pinellas County, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/5, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)



Monday (24-December-2007) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2007 Road Trip Day 3: Fort De Soto Park.

I drove to Fort De Soto Park to find some birds to try out a 200 mm f/2 VR lens with a TC-EII 2.0x teleconverter. Other than this turkey vulture that wanted to pose, the rest of the birds seemed to be on a siesta and were in hiding. I should have gone earlier in the morning…

Turkey Vulture on a post at Fort De Soto park in Pinellas County, Florida. Image taken with a D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens with a TC-EII 2x teleconverter (ISO 360, 400 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture on a post at Fort De Soto park in Pinellas County, Florida. Image taken with a D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens with a TC-EII 2x teleconverter (ISO 360, 400 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)


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Sunday (23-December-2007) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2007 Road Trip Day 2: Family & Friends in St. Petersburg.

Images of a brown anole lizard, house sparrow (?), mosquito, bright red flower, and paparazzi all in the family garden. Then the full moon, St. Petersburg Pier, and holiday lights from the Vinoy Hotel.

Looking at You. Brown Anole Lizard in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Looking at You. Brown Anole Lizard in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mosquito on a screen in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mosquito on a screen in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Family Photography. St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 3200, 200 mm, f/11, 1/5000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Family Photography. St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 3200, 200 mm, f/11, 1/5000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Bright red flowers in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 900, 200 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Bright red flowers in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 900, 200 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
House Sparrow (?) on a Carambola Tree in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
House Sparrow (?) on a Carambola Tree in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Full Moon from a balcony a the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and Questar 3.5" telescope (ISO 3200, ~1400 mm, f/16, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Full Moon from a balcony a the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and Questar 3.5″ telescope (ISO 3200, ~1400 mm, f/16, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)



Sunday (09-December-2007) — New Jersey

Backyard Late Autumn Nature in New Jersey.

Birds and seeds and berries I found while waking around my yard. All of the images were taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens.

New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Bittersweet berries. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Bittersweet berries. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec).
White-throated Sparrow. New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
White-throated Sparrow. New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/400 sec).
New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Holly berries. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Holly berries. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/160 sec).
Northern Mockingbird. New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Northern Mockingbird. New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/400 sec).
New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Grass Seed. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/11, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Grass Seed. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/11, 1/160 sec).
New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Pine Cone. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 160 mm, f/3.5, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Pine Cone. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 160 mm, f/3.5, 1/125 sec).
New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Tree Seeds. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 175 mm, f/4, 1/80 sec). (David J Mathre)
New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Tree Seeds. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 175 mm, f/4, 1/80 sec).
New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Yucca Seed Pod. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/11, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
New Jersey Late Fall Backyard Nature. Yucca Seed Pod. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/11, 1/160 sec).