Not many birds at the feeder today: Brown-headed Cowbird, Tufted Titmouse, and Chipping Sparrow.
Brown-headed Cowbird at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Tufted Titmouse at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Chipping Sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (48.1 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (8.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Cloudy and rainy all day. A deficit of 39.6 kWh.
Monthly Electric Energy Used (1683 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. Monthly Solar Electric Energy Produced (1474 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A deficit of 209 kWh. Last year, April was net positive with a surplus of 67 kWh [Used (1542 kWh) vs. Produced (1609 kWh)]. Last year I wasn’t running the indoor AeroGarden Hydroponic farms that use ~ 20 kWh/day.
Not many birds at the feeder today: House Finch and Tufted Titmouse.
House Finch at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (54.9 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (87.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun. A surplus of 32.9 kWh.
Daily bird images. Early morning: Chipping Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco at and under the bird feeder; Mid-morning: Brown-headed Cowbird and Tufted Titmouse at the bird feeder; Noon: Mourning Dove, pair of Northern Cardinals, Chipping Sparrow, pair of American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, and Red-bellied Woodpecker at and around the bird feeder.
Chipping Sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/50 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)Dark-eyed Junco. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)Female Brown-headed Cowbird. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1400, 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 800, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)Mourning Dove. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1400, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)Male Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1400, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)Female Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)Chipping Sparrowl. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)Female American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)Male American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)Black-capped Chickadee. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)Red-bellied Woodpecker. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1400, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Daily Electric Energy Used (57.7 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (45.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of clouds. A deficit of 12.2 kWh.
Over the last year, my Solar Panels have generated over 16 kWh of electricity, and the Geothermal HVAC system eliminated the use of 3000 gallons of heating oil while providing heating, cooling, and hot water. Including the SREC (solar energy credits) I saved over $14K, and significantly reduced my carbon footprint.
Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.
Not as many birds around today. Just a Tufted Titmouse and a pair of Northern Cardinals. There are more flowers on the Plum Tree, I also noticed a perennial Siberian Wallflower blooming. The first returning flowers from one of last years Wildflower Meadows. On the patio several Tulips are still blooming. The Kale plants left on the Grow Towers over the winter survived and are now bolting. I am also starting to see Lilac flowers from the shrubs planted last fall. At least some survived the ravenous deer.
Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 900, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)Female Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 900, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)Male Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 900, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)
Backyard Spring Flowers. Images taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Daily Electric Energy Used (63.1 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (87.7 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun. A surplus of 24.6 kWh. This is the most solar power generated in one day since last August. There is a chance I will be net positive for the month of April — although several days of rain are forecasted for the next week.
Tufted Titmouse and American Goldfinch at the bird feeders. I was amazed at how fast the American Goldfinch emptied the sunflower seed bird feeder. An American Robin was looking for worms. Although some robins stay for the winter, I think this one is a spring migrant after spending the winter in Florida. Lots of spring flowers are out. Grape Hyacinth, Tulip, and Daffodils. The Japanese Maple tree now has red leaves. Another of the local Raccoon pack wandered into the Havahart trap on my patio. This one didn’t figure out the Houdini trick to escape and had to spend the night in jail. After being processed, it will need to find a new home away from my patio and Victory vegetable garden.
Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/4. 1/1250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)Pair of American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/16, 1/250 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)American Robin. Image taken with a Fuji X-T2 camera and 100-400 mm OIS lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/6.4, 1/80 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)Purple Grape Hyacinth flowers. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Spring tulips that survived the winter and deer. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Fancy Daffodils. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Backlit spring red Maple leaves. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 100, 60 mm, f/4, 1/200 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Not Houdini. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.
Daily Electric Energy Used (60.0 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (46.4 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of clouds. A deficit of 13.6 kWh.
