Twelve-Years Ago (29-July-2007) — Colorado

Summertime Nature in Colorado. Arapaho National Wildlife Preserve.

While visiting Arapaho National Wildlife Preserve in central Colorado, I heard what I thought was a hummingbird. But when I finally saw it discovered that it was a very large White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata). It was feeding on the Purple Nettle Flowers. It never landed, and kept flying while feeding, and thus the hummingbird sound of rapidly flapping wings. I’ve been told that the large catepillars that the Sphinx Moth come from are voratious eaters that farmers hate.

Hummingbird Moth (also known as the White-lined Sphinx Moth, Hyles lineata). It is as large as a real hummingbird. Extracting nectar from a Nettle Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs Camera and 70-200 mm lens with a 1.7x Teleconverter. (ISO 100, 340 mm, f/4.8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Hummingbird Moth (also known as the White-lined Sphinx Moth, Hyles lineata). It is as large as a real hummingbird. Extracting nectar from a Nettle Flower. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs Camera and 70-200 mm lens with a 1.7x Teleconverter. (ISO 100, 340 mm, f/4.8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sunday (28-July-2019) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

The local lawn crew was out early (05:40) trimming the grass. The images are noisy since it was still dark out so the ISO was increased to 3200. Early evening (~19:00) another crew came by. It looked like one doe was left with the responsibility to watch four fawns. There was a bit of friction between the cousins. Captions for the 2nd slideshow.

1) Early Evening (19:00) lawn crew — Twins fawns with spots.
2)`Fawn Running Away.
3) Alpha Fawn.
4) Alpha Fawn telling the cousin she doesn’t smell good.
5) Alpha Fawn telling the cousin to go away.
6) Cousins running to mother.
7) Cousin telling Mommy “he was mean to me”
8) Alpha fawn — who me.
9) Cousin sticking her tongue out — Mommy said you shouldn’t be mean.
10) Alpha fawn — I didn’t do anything wrong.
11) Alpha fawn — Really, I didn’t do anything wrong!
12) Alpha fawn telling Mommy “She told a fib, I wasn’t mean”.
13) Mommy telling Alpha fawn to stop being a bully.
14) OK — Everybody play nice.
15) OK, Its time to move on.


Early Morning lawn crew. Click on the above image to access the individual images in my PhotoShelter Gallery.



Early Evening lawn crew. Click on the above image to access the individual images in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Daily Electric Energy Used (64.6 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (76.7 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The temperatures have been going up outside, resulting in more energy needed to power the Geothermal HVAC system to keep the house cool. I also ran a load of laundry and the dishwasher. Daily surplus of 12.1 kWh. Weekly energy usage 409 kWh, solar energy production 488 kWh for a surplus of 79 kWh.

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Saturday (27-July-2019) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

I went to the local farmers market this morning. I didn’t really need that much since my grow towers are producing more than I can eat. This afternoon while working on my image database, I heard the door bell/motion detector go off. I wasn’t expecting any deliveries so I checked the door bell/camera. There was a doe in the driveway eating grass. I wish the deer would also eat the mile-a-minute vine and the Japanese stilt grass. I have a neighbor that keeps telling me that I need to get a goat. It would mean needing a more substantial fence.

Doe visiting the house. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens (ISO 500, 200 mm, f/4, 1/300 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Doe visiting the house. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens (ISO 500, 200 mm, f/4, 1/300 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Doe visiting the house. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens (ISO 500, 200 mm, f/4, 1/300 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Doe visiting the house. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens (ISO 500, 200 mm, f/4, 1/300 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (57.8 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (78.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The temperatures have been going up outside, resulting in more energy needed to power the Geothermal HVAC system to keep the house cool. Daily surplus of 20.7 kWh.

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Five-Years Ago (27-July-2014) — Russia

Gone to See Europe 2014. Day 57: Semester at Sea, Summer 2014 Semester Voyage. Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Lauren and Julie behind a glass of Vodka – Pop Up Dinner at “Taste and Eat” in St Petersburg, Russia.  Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/50 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop CC.

Pop-up Dinner in Saint Petersburg. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/50 sec) (David J Mathre)
Pop-up Dinner in Saint Petersburg. Image taken with a Leica X2 camera (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/2.8, 1/50 sec) (David J Mathre)

Friday (26-July-2019) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Morning Walkabout with the Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm lens. Tiger Swallowtail butterfly on a Sunflower, Hummingbird Clearwing moth on a Zinnia flower, Four O’Clock flower, and Burma Water Gourd flower.

Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on a Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on a Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)


Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) moth. Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.


Four O'Clock flower covered with Dew. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Four O’Clock flower covered with Dew. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Burma Water Gourd Flower. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Burma Water Gourd Flower. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (51.4 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (80.7 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Daily surplus of 29.3 kWh.

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