Friday (01-May-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Afternoon May Day walkabout looking for flowers. Just had some heavy rain. While in shutdown mode, I haven’t used the front door that much. When I went out today, I noticed a bird nest has been built above the door. The door is splattered with mud. I need to figure what type of bird built the nest. Last year, a House or Carolina Wren built a nest in a hole where the doorbell button used to be mounted. The Plum tree is still in bloom, the Japanese Maple tree has filled out with red leaves. The last Tulip to bloom this spring is yellow. The first outdoor California Poppy flower opened today. Also, one of the Lilac shrubs planted last spring has started to bloom.

Birds nest above the front door. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 1250, 60 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Birds nest above the front door. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 1250, 60 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Plum tree flowers. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/3.5, 1/320 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Plum tree flowers. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/3.5, 1/320 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Japanese Maple Tree. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/3.2, 1/200 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Japanese Maple Tree. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/3.2, 1/200 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Yellow Tulip flower. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Yellow Tulip flower. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/4, 1/640 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
California Poppy flower after the rain. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
California Poppy flower after the rain. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Lilac flowers. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/3.5, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Lilac flowers. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/3.5, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (50.9 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (51.1 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The sun was out after the rain passe. A surplus of 0.2 kWh.


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Friday (01-May-2020) — New Jersey

Outdoor Nighttime Spring Nature in New Jersey.

Raccoons are back on the patio. They don’t seem to be following social distancing rules.

Daily Electric Energy Used (50.9 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (51.1 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The sun was out after the rain passe. A surplus of 0.2 kWh.


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Thursday (30-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Not many birds at the feeder today: Brown-headed Cowbird, Tufted Titmouse, and Chipping Sparrow.

Brown-headed Cowbird at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Brown-headed Cowbird at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tufted Titmouse at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tufted Titmouse at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Chipping Sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Chipping Sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (48.1 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (8.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Cloudy and rainy all day. A deficit of 39.6 kWh.

Monthly Electric Energy Used (1683 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. Monthly Solar Electric Energy Produced (1474 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A deficit of 209 kWh. Last year, April was net positive with a surplus of 67 kWh [Used (1542 kWh) vs. Produced (1609 kWh)]. Last year I wasn’t running the indoor AeroGarden Hydroponic farms that use ~ 20 kWh/day.


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Wednesday (29-April-2020) — Florida

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Not many birds at the feeder today: Blue Jay, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Northern Cardinal. Both the Cardinal and Cowbird are female, Jay sex undetermined.

Blue Jay below a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Blue Jay below a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Brown-headed Cowbird at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Brown-headed Cowbird at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Northern Cardinal at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Female Northern Cardinal at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (52.5 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (34.9 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Clouds and sun. A deficit of 17.6 kWh.


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Tuesday (28-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Not many birds at the feeder today: House Finch and Tufted Titmouse.

House Finch at a 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)
House Finch at a 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)
Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 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 640, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (54.9 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (87.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun. A surplus of 32.9 kWh.


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