Eight-Years Ago (09-September-2007) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

While out looking for butterflies, I came upon a Monarch butterfly feeding on a yellow Tick Weed. A bit later saw another Monarch butterfly that had been captured by a Praying Mantis and was being eaten for breakfast. A Darwin Award for this Monarch butterfly that won’t make it to Mexico this year. Kermit, a very large Bullfrog was waiting in the mud next to the pond. You wonder what he has been eating?


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



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


One-Year Ago (08-September-2014) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Doe and Two Fawns — Lets Go and Eat the Grass in the Next Yard. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 500, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014.

Doe and Two Fawns. (David J Mathre)
Doe and Two FawnsImage taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 500, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (03-September-2011) — New Jersey

Indoor Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

One of my house pets. Scutigera coleoptrata (House Centipede) — Not a Silverfish.

Creepy Crawly. Scutigera Coleoptrata (House Centipede) -- Not a Silverfish. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR Macro (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec) with SB-900 Flash. Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Creepy Crawly. Scutigera Coleoptrata (House Centipede) — Not a Silverfish. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR Macro (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec) with SB-900 Flash. Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Creepy Crawly. Scutigera coleoptrata (House Centipede) -- Not a Silverfish. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR Macro (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec) with SB-900 Flash. Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Creepy Crawly. Scutigera coleoptrata (House Centipede) — Not a Silverfish. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 105 mm f/2.8 VR Macro (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec) with SB-900 Flash. Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (01-September-2015) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

The second set of images for today. Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly, Hummingbird Clearwing moth, Praying Mantis (that just missed catching a Hummingbird Clearwing moth for Lunch), and a Bee. They were all attracted to the Thistle flowers. I missed most of the butterfly and clearwing butterfly moth season while having my cataract surgery. My eyes are healing, I am seeing better, and now finally getting used to being out in the sun (with wrap-around sunglasses).


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



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


Praying Mantis hunting on a Thistle flower. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (David J Mathre)
Praying Mantis hunting on a Thistle flower. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (David J Mathre)
Honey Bee approaching a Thistle flower. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (David J Mathre)
Honey Bee approaching a Thistle flower. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (01-September-2015)– New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

There will be two sets images for today. The first group will be some very small wildflowers, a grass seed head, and thistle flowers. My eyes are healing after cataract surgery, and I am getting better and used to being out in the sun (with wrap-around sunglasses).


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


Grass seed head. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (David J Mathre)
Grass seed head. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. (David J Mathre)