Sunday (16-June-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

I noticed a squirrel running from my patio that has a big belly. Either it is expecting, or has a large tumor (or Alien). Went a grabbed a camera with a telephoto lens. Before it left, I told it to stay away from the raccoon trap.

Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Squirrel with a Heavy Pouch. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Power Use (74.2 kWh) from Sense and Solar Production (42.05 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Power use is up since I reduced the indoor temperature provided by the WaterFurnace Geothermal HVAC system. Will raise the indoor temperature to 72°F for tomorrow. The power was also out for a little over one hour in the morning. For safety/code reasons, if the PSE&G power is down, my solar panels are disconnected from the grid. I’m thinking of getting a couple of Tesla PowerWall batteries so this doesn’t happen in the future.

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Thursday (21-February-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Black Crow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens. (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Squirrel. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens. (David J Mathre)



Individual images in the slide show can be viewed here.

Saturday (09-February-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Blue Jay and Squirrel. It is cold out, and the bird bath is still frozen for the squirrel to walk across.



Individual images in the slide show can be viewed here.

Saturday (02-February-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

It has been very cold, and the local critters came out looking for food on this sunny morning. This is the first time that a crow came up onto the deck. It looks like it needs a bath, but all the water is frozen.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Black Crow looking for food. Image taken with a Nikon D850 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 900, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)






Friday (18-January-2019) — New Jersey

Wintertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

It snowed last night, but only about an inch. By afternoon, the snow melted and/or evaporated. A number of small birds (Dark-eyed Junco, Marsh Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse), and a Blue Jay visited the bird feeder. A Red-bellied Woodpecker chased the Blue Jay away. Later on a Squirrel got up onto the bird feeder to feast on some sunflower seeds.




Individual images in the slideshows can be viewed here.