Tag: Sourland Mountain Preserve

Two-Years Ago (24-August-2014) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Pair of Bumblebees Working the Summer Goldenrod at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 1400, 300 mm, f/8, 1/1250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014.

Pair of Bumblebees Working the Late Summer Flowers at the Sourland Mountain Preserve, in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 1400, 300 mm, f/8, 1/1250 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)
Pair of Bumblebees Working the Late Summer Flowers at the Sourland Mountain Preserve, in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 1400, 300 mm, f/8, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (23-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Monarch Butterfly on a Thistle Bloom. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). I am amazed by the high resolution detail captured by this camera, down to the individual specks of dust or pollen on the wings of the butterfly.

Over the last two weeks I only saw three Monarch butterflies, and only got an image of one. Today, I saw at least ten and was very happy. In addition to the Monarch butterflies, I also saw many Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies, Black Swallowtail butterflies (two or three varieties), Great Spangled Fritillary butterflies, Clearwing Moths (two varieties), Dragonflies, and Robber Flies. All in all the best day this season. I am going to be up late tonight processing more images…

Monarch Butterfly on a Thistle Bloom. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Monarch Butterfly on a Thistle Bloom. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (23-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth Resting on a Leaf. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (IS00, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). It is the Hummingbird Clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe) since its legs are white. This is the first time I have ever seen one of these moths “at rest” and not flapping its wings.

Clearwing Hummingbird Moth Resting on a Leaf. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (IS00, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Clearwing Hummingbird Moth Resting on a Leaf. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (IS00, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sunday (21-August-2016) — New Jersey.

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Praying Mantis With an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail for Sunday Brunch. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens.

Praying Mantis With an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail for Sunday Brunch. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Praying Mantis With an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail for Sunday Brunch. Images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Praying Mantis With an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail for Sunday Brunch. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Praying Mantis With an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail for Sunday Brunch. Images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Praying Mantis With an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail for Sunday Brunch. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Praying Mantis With an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail for Sunday Brunch. Images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens. (David J Mathre)

Sunday (21-August-2016) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

A Shy immature Green Heron in a Tree Next to the Pond at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens. Every time I walked around the pond this bird flew to the other side of the pond or up into a tree. It is so well camouflaged that I never see it until it flies away. I now know why the frogs are so skittish.

[Note I originally thought this was an American Bittern, now think it is an immature Green Heron.]

Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Immature Green Heron (originally thought it was an American Bittern). Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 300 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)