Tuesday (08-March-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Mourning Dove. I don’t know if it is the warmer weather, or if a raptor is lurking nearby. The birds were staying away from the patio and birdfeeders.

Mourning Dove. (David J Mathre)
Mourning Dove. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens. (David J Mathre)

Outdoors, Snow Drops, and the first Daffodil flowers of the season.


Daffodils and Snow Drops. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Time-lapse video of a red California Poppy opening and closing. Also a bit of a pale yellow California Poppy starting to close. Images taken every 60 seconds with a Leica SL2s camera and Laowa 24 mm f/14 macro probe lens.

Daily Electric Energy Used (68.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (52.7 kWh) from Sense. Sun and some clouds. Deficit of 15.3 kWh. I should note that the Solar monitoring from SolSystem via Locus Energy stopped working since the Locus LG-120 meter uses 3G cellular to connect. ATT has turned off 3G cellular.

Saturday (20-March-2021) — New Jersey

First Day of Spring Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Visitors to the backyard patio birdfeeder: Tufted Titmouse, Dark-eyed Junco, Carolina Wren, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal.


> Daily backyard visitors. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

A few Purple Crocuses in my backyard bloomed.


Early Spring Purple Crocus Flowers. Images taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 24-90 mm f/2.8-4 lens. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

A neighbor had many more early spring Purple Crocuses, Yellow Crocuses, Snow Drops, and Daffodils (about to bloom).


Early spring wildflowers across the street. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (61.5 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (65.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny all day. Still cold at night so the Geothermal HVAC system was on. A surplus of 4.4 kWh.

Friday (19-March-2021) — New Jersey

Last Day of Winter Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Visitors to the backyard, patio birdfeeder, and patio birdbath: Mourning Dove, Turkey Vulture, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Finch, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal. The Carolina Wrens must be building a nest as they are spending a lot of time collecting small twigs.


Daily backyard visitors. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Late in the afternoon the birdbath warmed up enough for a Song Sparrow to take a bath. It is still cold enough at night for the birdbath to freeze over.


Song Sparrow taking a Birdbath. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Lots of Purple Crocuses and White Snowdrops blooming. The Daffodils are just about to open.


Early wildflowers on the last day of winter. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (58.5 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (66.2 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny all day. Still cold at night so the Geothermal HVAC system was on. A surplus of 7.7 kWh.

Wednesday (10-March-2021) — New Jersey

Wintertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

First Spring Wildflowers: Snow Drops, Purple Crocus. The snow finally melted, and some wildflowers appeared overnight along my neighbors south facing rock wall. A bit later than previous years. The Daffodils should be here soon.

Snow Drops. (David J Mathre)
Snow Drops. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm lens. (David J Mathre)


Purple Crocuses. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (53.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (58.2 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny. Geothermal HVAC system on, but was able to open the house for a few hours in the afternoon when the outside temperature was higher outdoors than indoors. A surplus of 4.8 kWh. Two days in a row that the solar panels produced a surplus.

Saturday (07-March-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Daily walkabout looking for early flowers. Found Snow Drops without any snow, Daffodils, and Purple Crocus.

Snow Drops with no snow. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/6.4, 1/1000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Snow Drops with no snow. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/6.4, 1/1000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daffodil flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daffodil flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Purple Crocus flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Purple Crocus flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 320, 80 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (65.9 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (63.2 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun. A deficit of 2.7 kWh.


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