Seven-Years Ago (10-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 8: Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve.

After sunrise at Playalinda beach, I went went for a drive on Biolab road. A lot of birds were out in the early morning sun. Birds observed with images include Great Blue Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Peregrine Falcon, Pied-beak Grebe, Ring-billed Gull, Great Egret, Northern Cardinal, American White Pelican, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Turkey Vulture, and Red Shouldered Hawk.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Three Roseate Spoonbills and a Great Blue Heron. Early morning at Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 18-300mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron. Early morning at Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 18-300mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/9, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Peregrine Falcon. Early morning at Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 18-300mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Pied-beak Grebe. Early morning at Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 18-300mm VR lens (ISO 1100, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Ring-billed Gull. Early morning at Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 18-300mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Great Egret. Early morning at Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 18-300mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Northern Cardinal. Early morning at Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 18-300mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Five American White Pelicans and two Roseate Spoonbills flying in formation. Early morning at Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 18-300mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Line of American White Pelicans flying in a line. Early morning at Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 18-300mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Four Snowy Egrets flying in formation. Early morning at Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 18-300mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Tricolored Heron. Early morning at Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 18-300mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/10, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture on a dead palm tree. Early morning at Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 18-300mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Red-shouldered Hawk perched on a dead tree. Early morning at Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 18-300mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/6.3, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (13-August-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Daily Walkabout: I went out with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 200 mm f/2 OIS lens. Butterflies (Spicebush Swallowtail, Silver-spotted Skipper, Monarch, Painted Lady, Common Buckeye, and Tiger Swallowtail). Bumble Bees on a variety of Sunflowers. Leaf-legged Bug on a Thistle, and an ant on a Bee Balm.


Click on the above image to access the images in the slideshow.



Click on the above image to access the images in the slideshow.


Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bee Balm Flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bee Balm Flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (60.3 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (25.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A load of Laundry (3.7 kWh) and two loads in the dishwasher contributed to the increased energy used. The sky was cloudy most of the day (but no measurable rain) impacted the solar production. Daily net deficit 34.8 kWh.

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Six-Years Ago (03-February-2013) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2013 Chasing the Northern Lights. Day 6: Hurtigruten MS Nordkapp Norwegian Coastal Voyage Northbound (Brønnøysund to Svolvær).

On the third full day of the northbound Hurtigruten voyage, the ship stopped in seven ports: Brønnøysund (00:30-01:00); Sandnessjøen (03:45-04:15); Nesna (05:25-05:30); Ørnes (09:00-09:30); Bodø (12:30-15:00); Stamsund (19:00-19:30); and Svolvær (21:00-22:00).

Early morning short stop in Sandnessjøen. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera. (David J Mathre)
Early morning short stop in Sandnessjøen. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera. (David J Mathre)


The ship crossed the Arctic Circle at 07:20, while it was still dark out. Champagne was served for those up early enough. Baptism for those that were crossing the Arctic Circle for the first time would be celebrated later in the afternoon. At this time of the year, and this far north dawn lasts a long time. The panorama view at dawn shows the unique pink color of the Belt of Venus and blue Earth Shadow below. Conditions have to be right to see these colors.


Arctic Dawn. Composite of 7 images taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)
Arctic Dawn. Composite of 7 images taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/4, 1/60 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)


While in Bodø I took the bus tour — the city and out to the Saltstraumen. When conditions are right this has one of the worlds strongest tidal currents causing whirlpools or maelstroms. We weren’t there at the right time, and the weather was deteriorating. The bus driver wanted to make sure we got back to the ship before it left. Watch the time-lapse video, a scary ride in a snowstorm.

Saturday (15-September-2018) — New Jersey

Indoor Late Summer Nature in New Jersey.

In addition to all of the crickets making noise outside, I heard one in the house last night. When I woke up this morning, I found Jiminy in the laundry room. He stayed still long enough for me to grab a camera with a macro lens. Afterwards, I helped him find his way back outside to be with his friends.

Jiminy Cricket. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 OIS macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Jiminy Cricket. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 OIS macro lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Four-Years Ago (06-July-2014) — Scotland

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 36: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. Scotland.

Ten, Twelve, Eighteen, and Twenty One Year Old Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Image taken with a Fuji XT-1 camera and 32 mm f/1.2 lens (ISO 800, 32 mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CC.

Scotch Whisky Tasting - Glengoyne Distillery. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 32 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 32 mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Scotch Whisky Tasting – Glengoyne Distillery. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and Zeiss 32 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 32 mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)