Tag: Sunflower

Monday (29-June-2020) — New Jersey

Early Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: Blue Jay, Gray Catbird, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, American Goldfinch, and Turkey Vulture.


Summer Birds of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Flowers of the Day: Purple Allium, Red Poppy, Blanket Flower, Teasel, Four O’Clock, Garlic Scapes, Delphinium, Larkspur, Garlic Scapes, Black-eyed Susan, Sunflower, Pink Poppy, and Foxglove.


Summer Flowers of the Day (portrait). Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summer Flowers of the Day (landscape). Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Critters of the Day: Squirrel, Spots the Fawn, Rabbits, and Red Fox. This was the first time since last winter that I have seen Rabbits in the backyard. Within five minutes, the Red Fox showed up and the Rabbits disappeared.


Critters (mammals) of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (66.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (83.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Lots of Sun. A surplus of 17.9 kWh.


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Friday (26-June-2020) — New Jersey

Early Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: American Goldfinch, LBJ, Tufted Titmouse, and Chipping Sparrow. Not sure if the LBJ is a female/immature House Finch, or female/immature Brown-headed Cowbird.

American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
LBJ (not sure if it is a female/immature House Finch or female/immature Brown-headed Cowbird). Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
LBJ (not sure if it is a female/immature House Finch or female/immature Brown-headed Cowbird). Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Chipping Sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Chipping Sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 450, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Early Summer Wildflowers: It appears that at least one Sunflower self-seeded, and grew high enough to bloom out of reach of the ravenous deer. I’ve seen several other sunflower plants clipped off before they could bloom. It looks like the bee (Bumblebee) likes Sunflower pollen.

Bee collecting pollen on a Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bee collecting pollen on a Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bee collecting pollen on a Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bee collecting pollen on a Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon N1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Spent some time in the morning working on the patio Grow Towers. Still several to set up and plant.

Daily Electric Energy Used (53.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (78.3 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and intermittent clouds. A surplus of 25.0 kWh. The solar panels continue to produce more energy than required to keep the house cool with the energy efficient Geothermal HVAC system.


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Friday (06-September-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Cloudy, cool, and practically no wind. Hurricane Dorian passed well to the east of the state. During my daily walkabout, I saw a large number (flock?) of Goldfinches feeding on the smaller Sunflowers. A number of the birds must have just fledged, and their parents were feeding them cracked sunflower seeds. Apparently the young birds haven’t figured out how the crack the seeds yet. Another immature Goldfinch appeared to be pecking at the Sunflower stalk for food. Later on I saw an immature Goldfinch appear to be eating Zinnia flower petals

Adult feeding immature Goldfinch Sunflower seed. Image taken with a Nikon 1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Adult feeding immature Goldfinch Sunflower seed. Image taken with a Nikon 1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Adult feeding immature Goldfinch Sunflower seed. Image taken with a Nikon 1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Adult feeding immature Goldfinch Sunflower seed. Image taken with a Nikon 1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)


Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slide show.



Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slide show.



Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slide show.


Immature Goldfinch on wire. Image taken with a Nikon 1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Immature Goldfinch on wire. Image taken with a Nikon 1V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (36.9 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (14.9 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Very cloudy, and cooler for a net deficit of 22 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions

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Tuesday (03-September-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Daily walkabout with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. I mainly focused on flowers today. Bumblebee on a Marigold, a Blue Larkspur, various Sunflowers, Zinnias, and a Hummingbird Clearwing moth (white legs) attracted to Lemon Mint flowers. I didn’t see any butterflies.

Bumblebee working a Marigold flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bumblebee working a Marigold flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Larkspur (Delphinium) flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Larkspur (Delphinium) flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1100, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 450, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 450, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 320, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 320, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Zinnia flowers. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 220, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Zinnia flowers. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 220, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hummingbird Clearwing moth attracted to a Lemon Mint flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hummingbird Clearwing moth attracted to a Lemon Mint flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1600, 400 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hummingbird Clearwing moth attracted to a Lemon Mint flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1250, 400 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Hummingbird Clearwing moth attracted to a Lemon Mint flower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1250, 400 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (47.8 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (63.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. More sun, and higher temperatures for a net surplus of 15.5 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions

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Sunday (01-September-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Daily walkabout with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens. The smaller Sunflowers have wilted, and are being ravaged by a flock of Goldfinch. The tall Sunflowers, most taller than I am are still blooming and attracting Bees and Bumble Bees.

Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1100, 400 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1100, 400 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 180, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 180, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 220, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 220, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 110, 400 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 110, 400 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 450, 400 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Sunflower. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 450, 400 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (47.0 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (60.2 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Some clouds but still a net surplus of 13.2 kWh.

Weekly electric energy used (318 kWh) and solar electric energy produced (401 kWh) for a net surplus of 83 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions

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