Tag: snake

Wednesday (02-June-2021) — New Jersey

Springtime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Lot of images today. Birds, Frogs, Snakes, Insects, and Flowers. The Brood X Cicadas are everywhere and continue singing their love song.

Birds viewed in the backyard and near the patio birdfeeder: American Robin, House Finch. The American Robin was feeding on a Cicada.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Kermit the Bullfrog and all of his relatives in the pond are getting fat fast this spring. Presumably out feeding on the Cicadas.


Bullfrogs in the pond. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

While working on the back wildflower meadow, I turned over some cardboard and found this Garter Snake.


Garter Snake. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Insects/bugs observed during the day include Cicada (Brood X), Dragonfly, Damselfly, Grasshopper, Cabbage White Butterfly, Water-walker, and tick(?).


Insects and other bugs. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Spring flowers blooming: Love-in-a-Mist, Red Poppy, California Poppy, Sweet Alyssum, Rhododendron, Baby Blue Eyes, Sweet William, Daisy, Blue-eyed Grass, Beardtongue Foxglove, Siberian Wallflower, Evening Primrose, Clematis, Honeysuckle, and Poison Ivy. The Poison Ivy flowers were on a giant 3 inch diameter vine climbing on a dead tree.


Love-in-a-Mist. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Red Poppy. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


California Poppy. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Spring Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Poison Ivy Vine and Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (51.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (56.2 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and clouds. A surplus of 4.5 kWh.

Friday (21-September-2018) — New Jersey

Last Day of Summer — Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Even though the rain has stopped, the sky remains overcast. I have  used more electricity than my solar panels have generated so far this month. Yesterday, the Sheep Shearer caught up with me for my annual hair reduction. My neighbor’s cat that normally runs away when it sees me, came up to me and allowed me to take her picture. So the cat noticed…

Post Sheep Shearer Portrait. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro OIS lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Post Sheep Shearer Portrait. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro OIS lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Neighbor's Cat. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro OIS lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Neighbor’s Cat. Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro OIS lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

There were a pair of garter snakes mating in a tree in  my neighbor’s backyard. The female is the larger of the two snakes. He said they have be up there for at least a day.


With all the rain we have had in the last few weeks, mushrooms are popping up all over the place. I’ll have to let the house trolls go out hunting tomorrow.


Individual images in the slide show can be viewed here.

Saturday (30-December-2017) — Florida

Gone to See Florida 2017/2018 Road Trip. Day 10: Big Cypress National Preserve.

I was told that the Loop road in Big Cypress National Preserve was only partially opened. I still tried it, and it turned out to be open all the way around. There was one section near the southern end that had some water on the road, but not all the way across.  The first thing I came across was a Turkey Vulture blocking the road. There were alligators, more birds,  and butterflies along the road. And not many other vehicles, which was good since most of the time it is a dirt road. When I got back to Clyde Butcher’s place, there was a Copperhead snake and some Spiders and Webs. Later on I found five Baby (or maybe year old) Alligators sunning themselves on the side of the pond. “Moma” was in the middle of the pond keeping watch. I went back to the start of the Loop Road for sunset.

Turkey Vulture blocking the Loop road in Big Cypress National Preserve. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII telephoto zoom lens (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture blocking the Loop road in Big Cypress National Preserve. Winter Nature in Florida Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII telephoto zoom lens (David J Mathre)







Six-Years Ago (27-December-2011) — Florida

December Road Trip to Florida in 2011: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Birds (American Avocet, Great Egret, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, and an unknown bird) and Reptiles (Rat Snake, Turtle, and Alligator) along Black Point Wildlife Drive or Biolab Road in the National Wildlife Refuge.

Alligator with its Jaw Wide Open. Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida Space Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 500 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Alligator with its Jaw Wide Open. Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida Space Coast. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 500 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)



Wednesday (31-May-2017) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

A small snake, and a poppy flower in the garden. I think the snake is garter snake. Every morning another several new poppy flowers open.

Small (garter?) snake in my garden. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/8, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Small (garter?) snake in my garden.  Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/8, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
New red poppy flower in my garden. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/7, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
New red poppy flower in my garden. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 105 mm f/2.8 VR macro lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/7, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)