Saturday (29-August-2020) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

I received the newly released Sigma 100-400 mm telephoto zoom lens with a L-mount and spent the day testing it with a Leica SL2 camera. Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma formed an alliance to use the L-mount system. This lens provides a bit more reach than the Leica 90-280 mm lens. The alliance means that Sigma was able to make a lens that is fully compatible with the Leica TL2, CL, and SL2 cameras (autofocus and aperture control).

Something has been nibbling on the May Apple seeds, and wonder if a turtle found them. The wildflowers (Cosmos, Lance-leaf Coreopsis, Plains Coreopsis, Chicory, Marigold, Blanket Flower, Sunflower, Gloriosa Daisy, Shasta Daisy, Thistle, Lemon-mint, and Zinnia) are almost done for the season. I noticed an Eastern Chipmunk eating seeds under the birdfeeder. In 25+ years here, I’ve never seen a chipmunk in the yard before. I wonder if it will leave my Grow Towers alone. Kermit the bullfrog was out in the pond. Birds at the patio bird feeder today included Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, and Northern Cardinal. At one point a Blue Jay and Mourning Dove were feeding when an immature Red-bellied Woodpecker chased them away.

May Apple Seeds. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and Sigma 100-400 mm lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
May Apple Seeds. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and Sigma 100-400 mm lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
May Apple Seeds. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and Sigma 100-400 mm lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
May Apple Seeds. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and Sigma 100-400 mm lens (DAVID J MATHRE)


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


Eastern Chipmunk. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Kermit the Bulfrog. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and Sigma 100-400 mm lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Kermit the Bulfrog. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and Sigma 100-400 mm lens (DAVID J MATHRE)


Birds at the Birdfeeders. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Blue Jay and Mourning Dove chased away by an immature Red-bellied Woodpecker. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (47.8 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (26.1 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. More clouds. A deficit of 21.7 kWh.

Saturday (25-July-2020) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Lots of Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies out today. They were only interested in the Thistle blooms. The Clearwing Hummingbird moths were less selective working the Lemon Mint/Bee Balm/Bergamot flowers. Surprisingly, one was feeding on a Black-eyed Susan. Images taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens.

IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO VIEW THE FOLLOWING SLIDE-SHOWS, TRY A DIFFERENT BROWSER — AND LET ME KNOW.


Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly captured with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Clearwing Hummingbird Moth (Hemaris thysbe). Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Clearwing Hummingbird Moth (Hemaris thysbe). Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (DAVID J MATHRE)


Clearwing Hummingbird Moths (Hemaris thysbe) feeding on Thistle flowers. Images captured with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Clearwing Hummingbird Moths (Hemaris thysbe) feeding on Lemon Mint/Bee Balm/Bergamot flowers. Images captured with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Morning at the Birdfeeders: Gray Catbird, House Finch, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch, Carolina Wren, and Brown Thrasher

Afternoon at the Birdfeeders: Gray Catbird, House Finch, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch, Carolina Wren, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Brown Thrasher.

Daily Electric Energy Used (64.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (77.1 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny and hot all day. A surplus of 12.4 kWh. As long as the sun is out most of the day, the Geothermal HVAC system keeps the house cool without needed additional electricity from PSE&G.

Tuesday (07-July-2020) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Red-bellied Woodpecker, House Finch, Tufted Titmouse, and Chipping Sparrow.


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

The pond is nearly dry, but still has a number of frogs.


Kermit the Bullfrog and his relatives. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Summer Wildflowers of the Day: Sunflower, Black-eyed Susan, Four O’Clock, Red Poppy, Lemon-Mint, Horsemint, Bee Balm, Daisy, Sweet William, Thistle, and Teazel. The Bees really like the Bergamont (Bee Balm, Lemon Mint, Horsemint, Monarda). I like it because the deer don’t like it.


Summer Wildflowers. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summer Wildflowers. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (66.6 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (53.7 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Lots of Clouds. A deficit of 12.7 kWh.


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Saturday (04-July-2020) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, American Goldfinch, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Song Sparrow, and Mourning Dove.


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

Flowers of the Day: Poppies (Red, Pink, Icelandic), Black-eyed Susan, Moth Mullein, Blanket Flower, Larkspur, Foxglove, Spiderwort, Bergamot, Horsemint, Lemon-Mint, Bee Balm, Monarda, Mexican Hat, Teazel


Summertime Flowers of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summertime Flowers of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summertime Flowers of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summertime Flowers of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (61.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (60.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Mixed clouds and some sun. A deficit of 0.8 kWh. Power glitch in the morning stopped data collection on the Sense Monitor until it was rebooted. The daily numbers are guesstimates.


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Thursday (02-July-2020) — New Jersey

Early Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, Northern Cardinal, Gray Catbird, and House Finch.


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

Flowers of the Day: Poppies (Red, Pink, Icelandic), Larkspur, Foxglove, Lance-leaf Coreopsis, Black-eyed Susan, Daisy, Common Mullein, Blanket Flower, Cosmos, Spiderwort, Bergamot, Horsemint, Lemon-Mint, Bee Balm, Monarda, Mexican Hat


Summertime Flowers of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summertime Flowers of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summertime Flowers of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summertime Flowers of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summertime Flowers of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (57.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (81.6 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Mixed clouds and some sun. A surplus of 24.6 kWh.


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