Hoverfly - David Mathre Photography

Wednesday (15-September-2021) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Bluebird, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Song Sparrow. My first ever sighting of an Eastern Wood-Pewee, and my first sighting since 2008 of an Eastern Bluebird. I’m guessing birds are starting to migrate south for winter.

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

Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Flowers of the day: Black-eyed Susan, Blanket Flower, Butterfly Bush, Canna, Chicory, Common Dayflower, Cosmos, Evening Primrose, Marigold, Morning Glory, Rose Mallow, Sunflower, Zinnia.

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

Bumblebee and Hoverfly (bee lookalike) feeding on flowers.

Bumblebee and Hoverfly. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (60.6 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (46.7 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and clouds. Deficit of 13.9 kWh.

Thursday (24-October-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey.

Even though I thought all of the butterflies were gone for the season, I came across an American Lady feeding on the Marigolds in my remaining Wildflower Meadow. Also a Hoverfly and a Spider.

American Lady Butterfly. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

American Lady Butterfly. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Hoverfly. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Spider. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (61.1 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (34.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Another sunny day, but at this time of the year the sun is lower, and the Sycamore tree leaves shadow the solar panels part of the day. Overall a net deficit of 26.7 kWh.

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Friday (19-July-2019) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Daily Walkabout. My back still hurts and it continues to be hot and humid outside. The high was 93 °F with a heat index of 113 °F according to my personal weather station. I was only out for a short time, but still was able to capture images of Painted Lady, Tiger Swallowtail, and Monarch butterflies. Today only one type of Clearwing moths — the Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe). I saw a large hoverfly on a Sunflower. The hoverflies look like bees. There were also many Bumblebees working the flowers.

Painted Lady butterfly on a Zinnia flower. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 VR lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Swallowtail Butterflies. Click on the above image to access the individual slideshow images in my gallery.

Monarch butterfly on a Zinnia flower. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 VR lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)

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

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

Hoverfly on a leaf. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 VR lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Bumble Bee on a Cosmos Flower. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 VR lens. (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Power Use (72.5 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (71.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny, hot, and humid outside which kept the GeoThermal HVAC system busy (28 kWh). I also did a load of laundry (3.7 kWh) and dishes (~2.5 kWh). Still the Solar Panels almost kept up with only a 1 kWh deficit for the day.