While taking the trash out early in the morning, I noticed the Crescent Moon and Venus shining brightly in the eastern dawn sky.
Crescent Moon and Venus at Dawn. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 24-90 mm lens (ISO 6400, 59 mm, f/3.7, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Daily Electric Energy Used (40.1 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (36.6 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. More Sun. Geothermal HVAC system off. A deficit of 3.5 kWh.
Although it was cloudy much of the day, the sky cleared early in the evening. Waxing Gibbous Moon, image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 200-500 mm f/5.6 lens (hand-held).
Waxing Gibbous Moon. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 200-500 mm f/5.6 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
Daily Electric Energy Used (48.6 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (31.0 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cloudy much of the day. A deficit of 17.6 kWh.
It was a busy day. Up very early to see the Waning Gibbous moon. Birds for the day included Mourning Dove, Gray Catbird, House Finch, Brown-headed Cowbird, Indigo Bunting, Chipping Sparrow, American Crow, Northern Cardinal, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The Indigo Bunting is new here. With all of the rain, the grass is growing fast and needed to be mowed. Afterwards, I took a walkabout and came upon both a Fowler’s Toad, and an American Bullfrog. Lots of early spring flowers including Prunella Vulgaris (also known as Self-Heal, Heal-All, and Woundwort), Jack in the Pulpit, Five-spot, Forget Me Not, Johnny Jump Up, Siberian Wallflower, Crimson Clover, Allium, California Poppy, Flax, Dogwood, and Bethlehem Star (Grass Lily). As a bonus, at the end of the day, I found a White Poppy flower. This is the first regular poppy to bloom outdoors this year. The California Poppies have been blooming for a couple of weeks now.
Waning Gibbous Moon. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 600 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Birds Viewed from my Patio. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Male Indigo Bunting. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 200, 600 mm, f/4, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Fowler’s Toad. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Kermit the Bullfrog. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
May Flowers — Portrait Mode. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
May Flowers — Landscape Mode. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
White Poppy. Composite of 100 focus stacked images taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 60 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 64, 60 mm, f/4, 1/30 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and Helicon Focus. (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (56.1 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (82.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun. A surplus of 26.4 kWh.
I haven’t done any night sky images recently. It is getting colder, and the sky was clear with the Waxing Crescent Moon (nearly 3rd Quarter) shining brightly.
Waxing Crescent Moon. Composite of six images (15 second interval) taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop (scripts, maximum). (DAVID J MATHRE)Waxing Crescent Moon. Composite of nine images (10 second interval) taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop (scripts, maximum). (DAVID J MATHRE)Waxing Crescent Moon. Composite of eighteen images (5 second interval) taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and Photoshop (scripts, maximum). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (77.4 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (34.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The sun was out, but much colder outside. Overall a net deficit of 43.1 kWh. Geothermal HVAC was on to heat the house (11.9 kWh). Monthly server backups completed.
Weekly Electric Energy Used (444 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (134 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Overall a net deficit of 310 kWh. Cooler out so the Geothermal HVAC was on to heat the house. Notice the 12 hours when the power was off.
Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 10: At Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Celtic Sea, and Irish Sea.
There were several Northern Gannets following the MV Explorer. I wanted to get an image of one crossing the full moon. I took lots of pictures, but only came close a few times. Then there was the issue of whether the moon, or the bird should be in focus.
Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slideshow.