Sunday (27-February-2022) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Mourning Dove, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-Tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal. A “wake” of both Turkey and Black Vultures returned just after sunrise to continue feeding on a dead critter. Mid-morning all of the vultures disappeared when a Bald Eagle showed up for a late breakfast. After the eagle left, the vultures returned. Then in the early afternoon a Red-tailed Hawk showed up. The vultures and hawks alternated feeding on the remaining carcass.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Black Vultures. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Turkey Vultures. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Bald Eagle. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Red-tailed Hawk. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (92.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (54.0 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny but cold. Deficit of 35.4 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (629 kWh) from Sense. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (224 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Deficit of 405 kWh.

Sunday (20-February-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Third day of the Annual Backyard Bird Count. Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, European Starling, American Robin, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (114.9 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (48.6kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny but colder. Deficit of 66.3 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (684 kWh) from Sense. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (223kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. . Deficit of 66.3 kWh.

Friday (28-January-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day on a snowy day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (102.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (9.8 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Snow and Rain. Deficit of 92.9 kWh.

Sunday (23-January-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Colorful Clouds at Dawn. The clouds went from pink to orange in just a few minutes as the sun was about to rise. Composite of several images using the Panorama tool within Capture One Pro.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Colorful Clouds at Dawn. Composite of nine images taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. Raw images processed and panorama generated with Capture One Pro. (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Colorful Clouds at Dawn. Composite of eight images taken with a Leica CL camera and 23 mm f/2 lens. Raw images processed and panorama generated with Capture One Pro. (David J Mathre)

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Hydroponic Updates. Classic 6 #1 Day 7: All 6/6 of the Basil have sprouted. Bounty #1 Day 7: All 9/9 of the Bok Choi have sprouted. Bounty #2 Day 6: 2/2 of the Rouge d’Hiver and 2/2 of the Black Seed Simpson have sprouted. The other lettuce varieties have not sprouted. Classic 6 #2 Day 6: In addition to the Celosia flower, a Dill plant has sprouted. Farm 9R Seed Starting Tray, Day 5: Many more of the poppy seeds have started to germinate.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
AeroGarden Classic-6 #1. AeroGarden Classic-6 #1. Day 7. Genovese Basil (4/4). Thai Basil (2/2). Image taken with a Leica TL2 camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
AeroGarden Bounty #1. Day 7. Bok Choi (9/9). Image taken with a Leica TL2 camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
AeroGarden Bounty #2. Day 7. Red Sails (0/2); Rouge d’Hiver (2/2), Paris Island (0/1), Deer Tongue (0/1), Marvel of 4 Seasons (0/1), Black Seeded Simpson (2/2). Image taken with a Leica TL2 camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
AeroGarden Classic-6 #2. Day 7. Dill (1/1), Italian Parsley (0/1), Chives (0/1), Orange Gazania (0/1), Phlox Mix (0/1), Celosia (1/1). Image taken with a Leica TL2 camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
AeroGarden Farm 9R Seed Sprouting Tray. Day 6. Row A: California Poppy (American Meadows, 2018) 6/8; Row B: Oriental Poppy (American Meadows, 2019) 0/10; Row C: Lauren Grape Poppy Seeds (Marde Ross & Company, 2020) 4/11; Row D: Hungarian Breadseed Poppy Seeds (Plant Good Seed, 2020) 10/10; Row E: Red Poppy Seeds (American Meadows, 2019) 8/8; Row F: Turkish Tulip Poppy Seeds (Waterfall Seeds, 2020) 9/10; Row G: Somniferum Blend Poppy Seeds (Seed Needs, 2020) 10/11; Row H: Red Poppy Seeds (American Meadows, 2019) 9/9; Row I: Mixed Red Poppy Seeds (American Meadows, 2019) 8/8. Image taken with a Leica TL2 camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)

When I checked the hydroponic gardens this morning, I noticed a Stink Bug nibbling on one of the Bok Choi seedlings.



Stink Bug nibbling on a Bok Choi seedling. Images taken with a Leica SL2s camera and Laowa 24 mm f/14 macro probe lens. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (100.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (34.5 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cold outside. Whenever the external temperature drops below 10°F, the resistance heaters kick in to assist the Geothermal HVAC heating the house. Deficit of 65.8 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (712 kWh) from Sense. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (174 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Deficit of 538 kWh.

Wednesday (21-July-2021) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Northern Cardinal.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (59.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (57.4 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny then some rain, hot, and hazy. A deficit of 2.3 kWh.