The day after the “Global Big Day” not as many birds around. Granted, I didn’t spend as much time watching. Birds for the day included: American Crow, Tufted Titmouse, Gray Catbird, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Northern Cardinal.
Birds viewed from my backyard patio. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Daily Electric Energy Used (59.5 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (90.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny most of the day. A surplus of 30.9 kWh.
Weekly Electric Energy Used (385 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (435 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A surplus of 50.0 kWh.
Today was “Global Big Day” for observing and counting birds. Starting at first light in the morning I kept watch on the bird feeders and backyard. The outdoor temperatures dropped below freezing overnight, and the bird bath was frozen over. The bird feeder was stocked with a mixed feed (I was out of the high oil sunflower seeds) and an apple. By the end of the day I observed and took pictures of 15 bird species. Mourning Dove, Turkey Vulture, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Gray Catbird, American Robin, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is new, and I only observed the female. Looking forward to seeing the male. The female is larger than the local sparrows and finches and does not have the rose coloration of the male. The large beak helps with the identification. The bird images from the day are presented based on observation time.
Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak (?). 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)
Birds 06:45 to 07:30. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Birds 12:20 to 13:00. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Birds 16:50 to 17:10. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Birds 17:50 to 18:00. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
19:50 to 20:00. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Daily Electric Energy Used (54.0 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (74.2 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny in the morning with some clouds in the afternoon. A surplus of 20.2 kWh.
Doe (looks like she is expecting soon) inside the fenced in wildflower meadow. The fence needs to be repaired. I haven’t planted any wildflower seeds this year, so self-seeded from last year’s plants or local weeds. The tiny orange flowers are Siberian Wallflowers. I think the yellow ones are weeds. Daily birds include: Gray Catbird, pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds, Northern Cardinal, Chipping Sparrow, and Tufted Titmouse
Expecting Fawn. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro OIS lens (ISO 800, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/120 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Expecting Fawn. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro OIS lens (ISO 800, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/120 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Spring "Wildflowers". Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro OIS lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/170 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Today’s Birds. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Daily Electric Energy Used (58.2 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (18.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Cloudy most of the day. A deficit of 39.8 kWh.
A Doe left her very young Fawn in my backyard for daycare. Birds at the feeder today include Gray Catbird (likes apple), Brown-headed Cowbird, and Northern Cardinals
Shy very young Fawn. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 211 mm, f/6.4, 1/90 sec) (David J Mathre)
Daily Birds at the Bird Feeder. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Daily Electric Energy Used (52.8 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (70.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A surplus of 17.6 kWh.
More birds at the feeder today. In the morning: Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, and Chipping Sparrow. In the afternoon: Northern Cardinal, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Carolina Wren. The Carolina Wren actually was on the roof with a grub in its mouth. It was also calling out letting folks know it had a grub. I’m not sure if it was trying to attract a mate, or to get a young bird to fledge and get out of the nest. In the afternoon, I mowed the lawn for the first time this year. The grass was getting to be ankle high. I hadn’t mowed earlier because a tire on the lawn tractor was flat. While mowing, I noticed a number of small wildflowers already blooming. I haven’t planted andy wildflower seeds yet this spring, so these are either native, or have self-seeded from last year. Later in the afternoon, I went for a walkabout in the yard to document the early May flowers: Johnny-Jump-Up, Blue Forget me Not, Grape Hyacinth, Plum Tree, Siberian Wallflower, Five-Spots, Prunella Vulgaris (also known as Self-Heal, Heal-All, and Woundwort), Baby Blue Eyes, wild Violet (Viola), Jack in the Pulpit, Lilac, California Poppy, Allium bud, Star of Bethlehem, Strawberry, Yellow Tulip.
Birds in the Morning. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Birds in the Afternoon and Early Evening. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Carolina Wren with a grub. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Early May Backyard Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Early May Backyard Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Daily Electric Energy Used (45.9 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (69.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny, but the power was out for a couple of hours in the afternoon. A surplus of 23.6 kWh.
