Tag: Thistle

Saturday (29-August-2020) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

I received the newly released Sigma 100-400 mm telephoto zoom lens with a L-mount and spent the day testing it with a Leica SL2 camera. Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma formed an alliance to use the L-mount system. This lens provides a bit more reach than the Leica 90-280 mm lens. The alliance means that Sigma was able to make a lens that is fully compatible with the Leica TL2, CL, and SL2 cameras (autofocus and aperture control).

Something has been nibbling on the May Apple seeds, and wonder if a turtle found them. The wildflowers (Cosmos, Lance-leaf Coreopsis, Plains Coreopsis, Chicory, Marigold, Blanket Flower, Sunflower, Gloriosa Daisy, Shasta Daisy, Thistle, Lemon-mint, and Zinnia) are almost done for the season. I noticed an Eastern Chipmunk eating seeds under the birdfeeder. In 25+ years here, I’ve never seen a chipmunk in the yard before. I wonder if it will leave my Grow Towers alone. Kermit the bullfrog was out in the pond. Birds at the patio bird feeder today included Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, and Northern Cardinal. At one point a Blue Jay and Mourning Dove were feeding when an immature Red-bellied Woodpecker chased them away.

May Apple Seeds. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and Sigma 100-400 mm lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
May Apple Seeds. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and Sigma 100-400 mm lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
May Apple Seeds. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and Sigma 100-400 mm lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
May Apple Seeds. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and Sigma 100-400 mm lens (DAVID J MATHRE)


Wildflowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Eastern Chipmunk. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Kermit the Bulfrog. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and Sigma 100-400 mm lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Kermit the Bulfrog. Image taken with a Leica SL2 camera and Sigma 100-400 mm lens (DAVID J MATHRE)


Birds at the Birdfeeders. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Blue Jay and Mourning Dove chased away by an immature Red-bellied Woodpecker. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (47.8 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (26.1 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. More clouds. A deficit of 21.7 kWh.

Saturday (25-July-2020) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Lots of Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies out today. They were only interested in the Thistle blooms. The Clearwing Hummingbird moths were less selective working the Lemon Mint/Bee Balm/Bergamot flowers. Surprisingly, one was feeding on a Black-eyed Susan. Images taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens.

IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO VIEW THE FOLLOWING SLIDE-SHOWS, TRY A DIFFERENT BROWSER — AND LET ME KNOW.


Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly captured with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Clearwing Hummingbird Moth (Hemaris thysbe). Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Clearwing Hummingbird Moth (Hemaris thysbe). Image taken with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (DAVID J MATHRE)


Clearwing Hummingbird Moths (Hemaris thysbe) feeding on Thistle flowers. Images captured with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Clearwing Hummingbird Moths (Hemaris thysbe) feeding on Lemon Mint/Bee Balm/Bergamot flowers. Images captured with a Fuji X-H1 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Morning at the Birdfeeders: Gray Catbird, House Finch, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch, Carolina Wren, and Brown Thrasher

Afternoon at the Birdfeeders: Gray Catbird, House Finch, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch, Carolina Wren, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Brown Thrasher.

Daily Electric Energy Used (64.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (77.1 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny and hot all day. A surplus of 12.4 kWh. As long as the sun is out most of the day, the Geothermal HVAC system keeps the house cool without needed additional electricity from PSE&G.

Friday (24-July-2020) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Early morning thunderstorm, with lots of rain (1.50″). The pond is full, but muddy. It was foggy out early in the morning adding atmosphere to some of the images. The rain brought a bit more life out of the Lemon-Mint, Bee-Balm, and Bergamot — but the butterflies and clearwing moths are preferring the Thistle flowers. In one set of butterfly images, an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is being chased by a Yellow-jacket Wasp. Morning images are with a Nikon D5 camera and 200-500 mm f/5.6 VR lens.

IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO VIEW THE FOLLOWING SLIDE-SHOWS, TRY A DIFFERENT BROWSER — AND LET ME KNOW.


Clearwing Hummingbird Moths (Hemaris thysbe) captured with a Nikon D5 camera and 200-500 mm f/5.6 VR lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Clearwing Hummingbird Moths (Hemaris thysbe) captured with a Nikon D5 camera and 200-500 mm f/5.6 VR lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Clearwing Hummingbird Moths (Hemaris thysbe) captured with a Nikon D5 camera and 200-500 mm f/5.6 VR lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Clearwing Hummingbird Moths (Hemaris thysbe) captured with a Nikon D5 camera and 200-500 mm f/5.6 VR lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly being chased by a Yellow-jacket Wasp. captured with a Nikon D5 camera and 200-500 mm f/5.6 VR lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Afternoon images are with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm f/4 lens. They include Clearwing Hummingbird moth and both the common Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly and the Dark morph Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. This camera sometimes is slow in focusing on close subject, but once it locks onto the subject does a great job keeping focus on the rapidly moving Clearwing Hummingbird moth.


Clearwing Hummingbird Moths (Hemaris thysbe) captured with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm f/4 lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Clearwing Hummingbird Moths (Hemaris thysbe) captured with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm f/4 lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Clearwing Hummingbird Moths (Hemaris thysbe) captured with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm f/4 lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Clearwing Hummingbird Moths (Hemaris thysbe) captured with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm f/4 lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly captured with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm f/4 lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Dark Morph Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly captured with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm f/4 lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the Day: American Black Vulture and American Goldfinch captured with a Leica SL2 camera and 90-280 mm f/4 lens. Individual images from this slide show can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Morning at the Birdfeeders: Gray Catbird, House Finch, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Mourning Dove, American Goldfinch, American Crow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Song Sparrow.

Afternoon at the Birdfeeders: Gray Catbird, House Finch, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Cowbird, Hairy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch.

Daily Electric Energy Used (57.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (35.8 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cloudy all day. A deficit of 21.5 kWh.

Tuesday (07-July-2020) — New Jersey

Summertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the Day: Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Red-bellied Woodpecker, House Finch, Tufted Titmouse, and Chipping Sparrow.


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

The pond is nearly dry, but still has a number of frogs.


Kermit the Bullfrog and his relatives. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Summer Wildflowers of the Day: Sunflower, Black-eyed Susan, Four O’Clock, Red Poppy, Lemon-Mint, Horsemint, Bee Balm, Daisy, Sweet William, Thistle, and Teazel. The Bees really like the Bergamont (Bee Balm, Lemon Mint, Horsemint, Monarda). I like it because the deer don’t like it.


Summer Wildflowers. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Summer Wildflowers. Individual images in the slideshow can be viewed at my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (66.6 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (53.7 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Lots of Clouds. A deficit of 12.7 kWh.


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Tuesday (13-August-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Daily Walkabout: I went out with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 200 mm f/2 OIS lens. Butterflies (Spicebush Swallowtail, Silver-spotted Skipper, Monarch, Painted Lady, Common Buckeye, and Tiger Swallowtail). Bumble Bees on a variety of Sunflowers. Leaf-legged Bug on a Thistle, and an ant on a Bee Balm.


Click on the above image to access the images in the slideshow.



Click on the above image to access the images in the slideshow.


Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bee Balm Flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)
Bee Balm Flower. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (60.3 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (25.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A load of Laundry (3.7 kWh) and two loads in the dishwasher contributed to the increased energy used. The sky was cloudy most of the day (but no measurable rain) impacted the solar production. Daily net deficit 34.8 kWh.

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