Two-Years Ago (28-August-2014) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Praying Mantis Hiding In a Joe Pye Weed at the Sourland Mountain Preserve, in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014.

Praying Mantis Hiding In a Joe Pye Weed at the Sourland Mountain Preserve, in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)
Praying Mantis Hiding In a Joe Pye Weed at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 70-200 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (24-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

The Hummingbird Clearwing moths (Hemaris thysbe) were out in force. They mainly feed on Thistle flowers, Joe Pye Weed flowers. This year, I also saw them feed on blue Chicory flowers.


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


Sunday (14-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Great Spangled Fritillary on a Joe Pye Flower at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.  Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens.

Great Spangled Fritillary on a Joe Pye Flower at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.  Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 183 mm, f/5,6, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
Great Spangled Fritillary on a Joe Pye Flower at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.  Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 183 mm, f/5,6, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (12-August-2013) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on a Joe Pye Weed Bloom at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 250, 500 mm, f/5, 1/600 sec). Lens mounted on a monopod.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on a Joe Pye Weed Bloom at the Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 250, 500 mm, f/5, 1/600 sec). Lens mounted on a monopod. (David J Mathre)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on a Joe Pye Weed Bloom at the Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 250, 500 mm, f/5, 1/600 sec). (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (05-August-2012) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Monarch Butterfly feeding on Joe Pye Weed Flowers at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Look closely below to see a Praying Mantis staking the butterfly. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 sec).

Monarch Butterfly on a Joe Pye Weed Bloom at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Look Closely Below to See a Praying Mantis Staking the Butterfly. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/400 sec). . (David J Mathre)
Monarch Butterfly on a Joe Pye Weed Bloom at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Look Closely Below to See a Praying Mantis Staking the Butterfly. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/400 sec). . (David J Mathre)