Three-Years Ago (21-June-2012) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Three Young Wild Turkeys grazing on the first day of summer three years ago. They are small so the clovers can be considered as underbrush. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec).

Young Wild Turkeys. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Young Wild Turkeys. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (18-May-2014) — Texas

South Texas Birding Photo Safari with Jason Odell Day 3.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Texas Bird of Paradise) About to Take Flight in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec).

Sissor-tailed Flycatcher (Texas Bird of Paradise) About to Take Flight in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Texas Bird of Paradise) About to Take Flight in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (17-May-2014) — Texas

South Texas Birding Photo Safari with Jason Odell Day 2.

Several birds drinking water at a pond at a private ranch in southern Texas. We were set up in a blind on the other side of the pond, and didn’t have to be patient very long before the birds showed up.

Common Ground Dove Drinking at Dos Vandas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 250, 400 mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Common Ground Dove Drinking at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 250, 400 mm, f/4, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Bronzed Cowbird Drinking at Dos Vandas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 400 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 140, 400 mm, f/4, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Bronzed Cowbird Drinking at Dos Vandas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 400 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 140, 400 mm, f/4, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
House Sparrow (?) and Reflection Taking a Drink in a Pond at Campos Viejos Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 500, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
House Sparrow (?) and Reflection Taking a Drink in a Pond at Campos Viejos Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 500, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (26-August-2014) — New Jersey

Autumn Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

I went out for a walk this morning at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. I saw a large snapping turtle moving from the pond to a marsh area. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and the new 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Nik Define, and Photoshop CC. This image is not cropped, and if you look closely you can see my reflection in its eye.

Snapping Turtle moving from the pond to the marsh at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and the new 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)
Snapping Turtle moving from the pond to the marsh at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and the new 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Friday (19-September-2014) — New Jersey

Late Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Tree Fungus on a Dying Birch Tree in My Backyard. Image taken with a Leica T camera and 18-56 mm lens (ISO 500, 56 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec).

Out of the camera jpg because Capture One doesn’t recognize the RAW/DNG file created by the Leica T camera at this time. By the end of the afternoon, the birch trees were gone along with several other dying trees. I have lost over 30 trees due to storms, disease, and vines over the last 4 years.

Tree Fungus on a Dying Birch Tree in My Backyard. (David J Mathre)
Tree Fungus on a Dying Birch Tree in My Backyard. (David J Mathre)