Tufted Titmouse - David Mathre Photography

Sunday (27-February-2022) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Mourning Dove, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-Tailed Hawk, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal. A “wake” of both Turkey and Black Vultures returned just after sunrise to continue feeding on a dead critter. Mid-morning all of the vultures disappeared when a Bald Eagle showed up for a late breakfast. After the eagle left, the vultures returned. Then in the early afternoon a Red-tailed Hawk showed up. The vultures and hawks alternated feeding on the remaining carcass.

Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Black Vultures. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Turkey Vultures. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Bald Eagle. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Red-tailed Hawk. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (92.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (54.0 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny but cold. Deficit of 35.4 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (629 kWh) from Sense. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (224 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Deficit of 405 kWh.

Friday (25-February-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, European Starling, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal. Freezing rain brought the birds back to the birdfeeders.

Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Images of the freezing rain. The first set monochrome taken before sunrise. The second set taken during the day while bird watching.

Freezing rain before sunrise. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Freezing rain during the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (98.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (19.4kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Freezing rain, and rain in the morning. Deficit of 78.6 kWh.

Thursday (24-February-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, European Starling, Dark-Eyed Junco.

Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Indoor Hydroponic Updates. Bounty-01 (Day 39). Bok Choi doing well. Two plants harvested this last week. It was important that I thinned it down to 1 plant per position. Even then the plants are crowded in the Bounty. I also have to top off the water every day, and add fertilizer every other day. Bounty-02 (Day 39). The Dill is growing tall. I started harvesting the top of the Dill. The Black-seeded Simpson and Rouge d’Hiver lettuce doing well. Harvesting leaves every other day. The Genovese Basil is doing well. Needed to trim some of the Dill and lettuce so the basil gets more light. I’ve needed to top off the water every day and add fertilizer every other day. Bounty-03 (Day 30). Dill and Genovese Basil doing well. The Italian and Curly Parsley starting to get bigger. Giving up on the Thyme and Chives. Bounty-04 (Day 16). Heirloom Red Tomatoes (5/5). Golden Harvest Tomatoes (4/4). The Heirloom Red Tomatoes are about ready to be thinned and transplanted to a Farm module.

Bounty-01, Bounty-02, Bounty-03, Bounty-04. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Farm-01L (Day 38). California Poppy, Oriental Poppy, Lauren’s Grape Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-01R (Day 38). Hungarian Bread Seed Poppy, Red Poppy, Turkish Tulip Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-02L (Day 38). Somn Blend Poppy, Red Poppy Red Poppy, Red Mix Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-02R (Day 38). Oriental Poppy, Hungarian Bread Seed Poppy, Turkish Tulip Poppy, Red Poppy, Red Poppy, Somn Blend Poppy.

Farm-01L, Farm-01R, Farm-02L, Farm-02R. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Farm-03L and Farm-03R (Day 31). Kale, Collard Greens, Spinach, Mustard Greens. I initially thought I also planted Swiss Chard but during the transfer from the seed starting tray probably swapped with Sage. The Swiss Chard ended up in Farm-04L and Farm-04R. All of the greens are growing fast, and producing large leaves. I am having to harvest the largest leaves to provide light to the smaller plants. Next time I should probably only plant a single type of greens in each Farm. An limit it to 4 or 6 plants. AeroGarden Farm-04L and Farm-04R (Day 31). Oregano, Rosemary, Tarragon, Thyme, and Swiss Chard. As mentioned above the Swiss Chard was a mistake (supposed to be Sage). It is growing much faster (and bigger) than the herbs. I will probably harvest the Swiss Chard soon to give the herbs more room and light.

Farm-03L, Farm-03R, Farm-04L, Farm-04R. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Farm-06L (Day 22). Transplanted from seed starter Farm-09R. Snapdragon (A1); Chrysanthemum (A2, A3); Iceland Poppy (B1, B2); Sweet William (B3), Columbine (C1, C2, C3); Osteospermum (D1, D2); Blue Daisy (D3). AeroGarden Farm-06R (Day 4). Various types of lettuce. Red Sails (A1, A2, A3, B3); Deer Tongue (B1, B2); Black-seeded Simpson (C1, C2); Rouge d’Hiver (C3, D3); Paris Island (D1, D2). AeroGarden Farm-07L (Day 4). Heirloom Red Tomatoes and Golden Harvest Tomatoes. AeroGarden Farm-0RL (Day 4). Bok Choi (12/12) already sprouted.

Farm-06L, Farm-06R, Farm-07L, Farm-07R. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Farm-08 (Day 38). California Poppy, Oriental Poppy, Lauren’s Grape Poppy. The two odd plants are Celosia and Bok Choi. The Bok Choi plant was moved to Bounty-01 to replace one of the larger harvested Bok Choi plantsAeroGarden Farm-08R (Day 38). Hungarian Bread Seed Poppy, Red Poppy, Turkish Tulip Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-09L (Day 38). Somn Blend Poppy, Red Poppy Red Poppy, Red Mix Poppy. AeroGarden Farm-09R Seed Starter (Day 4). Nine different Basil varieties. Row A: Dark Opal Basil. Row B: Cinnamon Basil. Row C: Genovese Basil. Row D: Holy Basil. Row E: Italian Large Leaf Basil. Row F: Lemon Basil. Row G: Lime Basil. Row H. Sweet Basil. Row I: Thai Basil.

Farm-08L, Farm-08R, Farm-09L, Farm-09R. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Farm-10L (Day 22). Transplanted from seed starter Farm-09R. Row A (1-3): Calendula; Row B (1-3): Osteospermum; Row C (1-3): Sweet William; Row D (1-3): Snapdragon. AeroGarden Farm-10R (Day 22). Transplanted from seed starter Farm-09R. A (1-3): Calendula; Row B (1-3): Osteospermum; Row C (1-3): Sweet William; Row D (1-3): Snapdragon. AeroGarden Farm-11 (Day 22). Transplanted from seed starter Farm-09R. A (1-3): Chrysanthemum; Row B (1-3): Iceland Poppy; Row C (1-3): Chrysanthemum; Row D (1-3): Iceland Poppy.

Farm-10L, Farm-10R, Farm-11. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (96.1 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (16.2kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cloudy but warmer. Deficit of 69.2 kWh.

Monday (21-February-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Fourth and final day of the Annual Backyard Bird Count. Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Mourning Dove, Red-tailed Hawk, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, European Starling, American Robin, House Sparrow, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, Northern Cardinal. The birds were skittish until a band of Blue Jays harassed and chased away a Red-tailed Hawk.

Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (91.4 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (48.6kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny but colder. Deficit of 42.8 kWh.

Saturday (19-February-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Second day of the Annual Backyard Bird Count. Birds of the day viewed in the backyard, at the birdfeeder and on the patio: Canada Geese, Mourning Dove, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, European Starling, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal.

Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

At one point an American Crow showed up with a mouse? for lunch.

Crow with a mouse. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (107.5 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (27.7 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny in the morning then snow squall and colder in the afternoon. Deficit of 79.8 kWh.