One-Year Ago (17-May-2016) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

It has been raining a lot. Nibbles, the rabbit in my wildflower garden started eating the Italian (Crimson) clover. The Italian clover was part of the wildflower seed mixture I planted in the section previously used as the kitchen garden. I also saw a groundhog brushing its teeth with some rebar in the far backyard, a robin in the rain, and a squirrel with a nut. All of the wildlife images were taken from within the house. Later on I went outside with a macro lens to capture some flower pictures.

Rabbit nibbling on a Italian clover flower. Backyard spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Rabbit nibbling on a Italian clover flower. Backyard spring in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 600 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)


Nine-Years Ago (15-March-2008) — New Jersey

Late-Winter Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

I have two sycamore trees that frame my backyard. Theses are a few shots of the sycamore seed balls (pods). One by itself, one that a squirrel is checking out, and the final one of a black crow watching me from the tree. Unfortunately, the limbs on these trees are pretty brittle, and every winter more branches come down. I will see how much they block the solar panels on the south side of the house later this spring as the leaves emerge.

Lone sycamore seed. Late winter backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Lone sycamore seed. Late winter backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel checking out a sycamore seed. Late winter backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 640, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel checking out a sycamore seed. Late winter backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 640, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Crow in a sycamore tree. Late winter backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Crow in a sycamore tree. Late winter backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (10-March-2012) — New Jersey

Backyard Late Winter Nature in New Jersey.

Walkabout in my backyard on a late winter sunny day with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and some big Nikon lenses using a FT1 adapter. A bright yellow daffodil bloom, and a squirrel with an acorn that he just dug up.

Late winter, and spring is comming! Daffodil bloom in the afternoon sun. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)
Late winter, and spring is comming! Daffodil bloom in the afternoon sun. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel with an acorn in the afternoon sun. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2.5, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel with an acorn in the afternoon sun. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2.5, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel with an acorn in the afternoon sun. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel with an acorn in the afternoon sun. Winter nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 200 mm f/2 VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (09-March-2012) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey.

Pictures of a squirrel in my backyard after finding a nut. The images were taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens. I prefer the squirrels outside rather than doing damage in my attic. I’ve put up flashing Christmas lights and ultrasonic noisemakers in my attic to try keeping them outside. That worked for a while, but they ultimately came back. Finally it took traps and the physical removal of 8 nests. All of the insulation in the attic needed to be replaced, as well as the electrical wiring that had been chewed. The cedar shake siding on house was replaced with a concrete composite, and the soffits all replaced. Now all of the ways into the attic have been blocked.

Squirrel with a nut on a sunny winter day. Backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel with a nut on a sunny winter day. Backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel with a nut on a sunny winter day. Backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel with a nut on a sunny winter day. Backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel with a nut on a sunny winter day. Backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/8, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel with a nut on a sunny winter day. Backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 400, 200 mm, f/8, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel with a nut on a sunny winter day. Backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 450, 200 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel with a nut on a sunny winter day. Backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 450, 200 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel with a nut on a sunny winter day. Backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 500, 200 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel with a nut on a sunny winter day. Backyard nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera, FT1 adapter, and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 500, 200 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)

Nine-Years Ago (13-January-2008) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey.

Let’s see, whose cable can I disrupt today… Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec).

Let's see, whose cable can I disrupt today... Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Let’s see, whose cable can I disrupt today… Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)