Category: Skyscape

Views of the sky. Sunrise, sunset, clouds, and weather

Four-Years Ago (30-January-2016) — At Sea

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 25: At Sea, Traveling from Kobe, Japan to Shanghai, China.

There were a lot of fishing boats out in the East China Sea as we proceeded to Shanghai. Along with the fishing boats many Seagulls followed our ship. I think that I was able to identify Black-tailed Gull and Black-legged Kittiwake. I previously miss identified some Black-Tailed Gulls as Slaty-backed Gull. I admit gulls are difficult to identify since they go through several morphs over four years before getting to their adult state. I look at images in several books and internet sources.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Black-tailed Gull viewed from the deck of the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 149 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Black-tailed Gull viewed from the deck of the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/4.8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Black-legged Kittiwake viewed from the deck of the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/4.8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Black-legged Kittiwake viewed from the deck of the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/4.8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Black-legged Kittiwake viewed from the deck of the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/4.8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Black-tailed Gull viewed from the deck of the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Black-legged Kittiwake viewed from the deck of the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Black-legged Kittiwake viewed from the deck of the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Group of Black-tailed Gull viewed from the deck of the MV World Odyssey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 55-200 mm lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (29-January-2020) — New Jersey

Wintertime Backyard Night Sky Over New Jersey.

The night sky was clear and I haven’t done star trails for some time. I set up a Nikon D850 camera with a 8-15 mm fisheye lens (ISO 800, 15 mm, f/8, 30 sec) on my patio to collect a series of night sky images. The images were processed with Capture One Pro and the composite star trails created using Photoshop CC (scripts, statistics, maximum).


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



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


Daily Electric Energy Used (78.2 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (39.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A sunny day. A deficit of 38.7 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions


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Four-Years Ago (27-January-2016) — Japan

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 22: Overland Field Trip. Miyajima.

We took the ferry from Hiroshima to Miyajima. We spent the morning and afternoon walking about. I noticed a large Crow or Raven in a pine tree. Later on a Rock Pigeon on the ground, and a Black Kite flying overhead.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Raven or large Crow in Miyajima Island, Japan.Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 186 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Rock Pigeon in Miyajima Island, Japan.Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 70 mm, f/8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Black Kite flying over Miyajima Island, Japan.Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 215mm, f/8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Black Kite flying over Miyajima Island, Japan.Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/8, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (20-January-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

A Dark-eyed Junco at the feeder, and several Turkey Vultures soaring during the day.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Dark-eyed Junco at the bird feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 3200, 600 mm, f/4, 1/160 sec).
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture Soaring. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 200 mm f/2 telephoto lens + 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 320, 280 mm, f/22, 1/500 sec).
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture Soaring. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1600 sec).
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture Soaring. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 200 mm f/2 telephoto lens + 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 320, 280 mm, f/6.4, 1/500 sec).

Twelve-Years Ago (19-January-2008) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Morning walkabout at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. The pond was filled with Mallard Ducks. I also saw a Great Blue Heron on the other side of the pond. I stayed until the ducks flew away.

Great Blue Heron at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 360, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 360, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 320, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 320, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 500, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 500, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 280, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 280, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks taking off out of the pond at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 560, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks taking off out of the pond at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 560, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks in flight at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 360, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks in flight at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 360, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks in flight at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 560, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks in flight at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 560, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks in flight at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Mallard Ducks in flight at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)