Monday (23-April-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime in New Jersey.

The temperatures have warmed a bit, so it is time to get started on the red-brick walkway around the house. The path was laid out last fall with gravel and fine stone dust. The Japanese Andromeda shrub is in bloom. This, and the daffodils are some of the few flowers ignored by the ravenous deer.



Sunday (22-April-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.



Saturday (21-April-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Chipping Sparrow at a bird feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 125, 600 mm, f/4, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Chipping Sparrow at a bird feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 125, 600 mm, f/4, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Chipping Sparrow at a bird feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 360, 600 mm, f/4, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Chipping Sparrow at a bird feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 360, 600 mm, f/4, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Saturday (21-April-2018) — New Jersey

Home Cooking. Rye, Oatmeal, and Maple Syrup Bread.

Whole Wheat & Oatmeal Bread Recipe: Oatmeal (1 cup); Rye Flour (1 cup); Sorghum (1/2 cup); Sprouted Wheat Flour (1 cup); Flax Seed (1/4 cup);  brown sugar (2 tbs); maple syrup (1 tbs); dry milk (1/4 cup); salt (2 tsp); egg (1 large); walnut oil (2 tbs); water (1 1/3 cup). Above ingredients added to the Panasonic Bread Bakery. Yeast (2 tsp) added to yeast hopper and the unit set for Whole Wheat Bread (Rapid) and started. Three hours later, the loaf of bread was removed and allowed to cool. This time the bread rose only 75%. Next time need to increase the sugar (maple syrup). The bread was very dense, and moist (almost gummy) in the center.


Friday (20-April-2018) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

An American black crow, house finch, and a pair of northern cardinals. At one point I observed a male cardinal feeding a female. I’ve seen male cardinals feeding juvenile cardinals before. Is this springtime courtship behavior?

Male Northern Cardinal Feeding a Female. (Courtship Behavior???). Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 600 mm, f/4, 1/800 sec) (David J Mathre)
Male Northern Cardinal Feeding a Female. (Courtship Behavior???). Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 600 mm, f/4, 1/800 sec) (David J Mathre)





House Finch at a Bird Feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 600 mm, f/4, 1/400 sec) (David J Mathre)
House Finch at a Bird Feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 600 mm, f/4, 1/400 sec) (David J Mathre)