Saturday (27-June-2020) — New Jersey

Early Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: Black-capped Chickadee, Gray Catbird, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, Chipping Sparrow, House Finch, and Brown-headed Cowbird.


Early Summer Birds of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Squirrel up on the birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel up on the birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Conflict at Bambi’s backyard playground as one of the fawns becomes a bully.


Bambi’s backyard playground. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Early Summer Birds of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Groundhog (notice the tick in its ear). Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300  mm, f/5.6, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre)
Groundhog (notice the tick in its ear). Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/50 sec). (David J Mathre)

Early Summer Wildflowers: Yucca, Larkspur, Delphinium, Black-eyed Susan, Daisy, Red Poppy, Pink Poppy, Mexican Hat, and Teasel,


Early Summer Flowers (Portrait). Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Early Summer Flowers (Landscape). Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (45.9 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (39.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Clouds and rain. A deficit of 5.0 kWh.


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Friday (26-June-2020) — New Jersey

Early Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: American Goldfinch, LBJ, Tufted Titmouse, and Chipping Sparrow. Not sure if the LBJ is a female/immature House Finch, or female/immature Brown-headed Cowbird.

American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
LBJ (not sure if it is a female/immature House Finch or female/immature Brown-headed Cowbird). Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
LBJ (not sure if it is a female/immature House Finch or female/immature Brown-headed Cowbird). Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Chipping Sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Chipping Sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Early Summer Wildflowers: It appears that at least one Sunflower self-seeded, and grew high enough to bloom out of reach of the ravenous deer. I’ve seen several other sunflower plants clipped off before they could bloom. It looks like the bee (Bumblebee) likes Sunflower pollen.

Bee collecting pollen on a Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bee collecting pollen on a Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bee collecting pollen on a Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bee collecting pollen on a Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Spent some time in the morning working on the patio Grow Towers. Still several to set up and plant.

Daily Electric Energy Used (53.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (78.3 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and intermittent clouds. A surplus of 25.0 kWh. The solar panels continue to produce more energy than required to keep the house cool with the energy efficient Geothermal HVAC system.


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Wednesday (24-June-2020) — New Jersey

Early Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: Red-bellied Woodpecker, House Finch, Northern Cardinal, Chipping Sparrow, Blue Jay, and Black-capped Chickadee. I think the Eastern Phoebe has given up on the nest above my front door.


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

Early Summer Wildflowers: Plains Coreopsis, Lemon-Mint, Delphinium, Larkspur, Lance-leaf Coreopsis, Rigid Goldenrod, Blanket Flower, Mexican Hat, Sweet Black-eyed Susan, Cornflower, and Yucca. I managed to save a few of the Yucca flowers from the ravenous deer.


Summer Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Mowed the lawn. Time-lapse video recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

Daily Electric Energy Used (61.2 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (82.6 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and intermittent clouds. A surplus of 21.4 kWh. The solar panels continue to produce more energy than required to keep the house cool with the energy efficient Geothermal HVAC system.


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Monday (22-June-2020) — New Jersey

Early Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: Gray Catbird, Mourning Dove, House Finch, Tufted Titmouse, Chipping Sparrow, and Northern Cardinal.


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

Early Summer Wildflowers: Daisy, Red Poppy, and Mexican Hat. The Mexican hat is new for the season. It is starting to get hot out and will be interesting to see what dies off, and what new arrives.


Summer Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (61.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (75.4 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and intermittent clouds. A surplus of 14.1 kWh.


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Sunday (21-June-2020) — New Jersey

Early Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: Chipping Sparrow, Blue Jay, House Finch, Mourning Dove, and Tufted Titmouse.


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

The Red Fox, that accidently got caught in my Raccoon trap earlier this year survived the trama. I periodically see the Fox in the nighttime security videos (sometimes even with a mouse or rat in its mouth). This morning it was out early in the morning munching on some leftovers the Vultures left behind. I had to laugh a bit later when one of the Fawn twins tried to challenge the Fox. The Fawns are getting bigger and bolder as they nibble on the plants in my Wildflower garden.


Red Fox. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Fawn twins with spots. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Early Summer Wildflowers: Poppies, Foxglove, Daisy, Lance-leaf Coreopsis, and Delphinium/Larkspur.


Red, Pink, Oriental, and Icelandic Poppies. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summer Wildflowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (57.1 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (75.6 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and intermittent clouds. A surplus of 18.5 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (321 kWh) from Sense. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (463 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and intermittent clouds. A surplus of 142 kWh.


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