Two-Years Ago (11-May-2012) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Tree Swallow Watching its Nest. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 85 mm f/1.4G lens with FT1 adapter (ISO 100, 85 mm, f/4, 1/2500 sec). FOV equiv to 230 mm on a 35 mm camera body.

Tree Swallow Watching its Nest. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 85 mm f/1.4G lens with FT1 adapter (ISO 100, 85 mm, f/4, 1/2500 sec). FOV equiv to 230 mm on a 35 mm camera body. (David J Mathre)
Tree Swallow Watching its Nest. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 85 mm f/1.4G lens with FT1 adapter (ISO 100, 85 mm, f/4, 1/2500 sec). FOV equiv to 230 mm on a 35 mm camera body. (David J Mathre)

Six-Years Ago (11-May-2008) — Colorado

Gone to See America. May 2008 Colorado Road Trip. Day 2: Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge.

Black-crowned Night Heron with a fish at the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge.

Black Crowned Night Heron Been Fishing, Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge in Southern Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec). . (David J Mathre)
Black Crowned Night Heron Been Fishing, Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge in Southern Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1600 sec). . (David J Mathre)

Six-Years Ago (10-May-2008) — Colorado

Gone to See America. May 2008 Colorado Road Trip. Day 1: Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Black-Billed Magpie in Medano Creek. Most of the year this creek is dry, but in the spring the snow melt from the nearby mountains keeps it flowing.

Black-Billed Magpie in Medano Creek. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Black-Billed Magpie in Medano Creek. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Friday (09-May-2014) — New Jersey

Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey.

Volunteer Azalea Blooms. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/16, 1/6 sec). For years the deer have decimated my Azalea plants during the winter. This spring I removed the old dead plants. Yesterday, I noticed these blooms only a couple of inches off the ground on some volunteer Azalea plants. If you look close in the left flower, there is a caterpillar looking for lunch.

Volunteer Azalea Blooms. Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/16, 1/6 sec). For years the deer have decimated my Azalea plants during the winter. This spring I removed the old dead plants. Yesterday, I noticed these blooms only a couple of inches off the ground on some volunteer Azalea plants. If you look close in the left flower, there is a caterpillar looking for lunch. (David J Mathre)
Volunteer Azalea Blooms. Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 60 mm f/2.4 macro lens (ISO 200, 60 mm, f/16, 1/6 sec). (David J Mathre)

Seven-Years Ago (08-May-2007) — New Jersey

Backyard Spring Nature in New Jersey.

Backlit spring afternoon maple leaf. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.3, 1/125 sec).

Spring Afternoon Maple Leaf. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.3, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Spring Afternoon Maple Leaf. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/5.3, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)