Four-Years Ago (08-August-2012) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Bald-faced Hornet on a Holly Leaf. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec).

A couple of years earlier the bald-faced hornets built a basketball sized nest in my backyard [24-July-2010]. This time I couldn’t find the nest.

Bald-faced Hornet on a Holly Leaf. Backyard Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Bald-faced Hornet on a Holly Leaf. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years (08-August-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Devil Rabbit. Image taken with a Nikon 700 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec). Red-eye due to the flash being reflected.

Rabbit with Bloodshot Eyes. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec) using the pop-up flash. (David J Mathre)
Rabbit with Bloodshot Eyes. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec) using the pop-up flash. (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (08-August-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Young Fawn Resting in the Woods. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/25 sec).

Fawn Hiding in the Woods. Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/25 sec). (David J Mathre)
Fawn hiding in plain sight. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/25 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (07-August-2011) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature New Jersey.

Young Buck sticking its Tongue out. Note it has “mile-a-minute”  vine stuck to its side. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 280, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5.

How and when the mile-a-minute vine (invasive weeds) were transported into my yard. Within a few years the vines took over much of my backyard – killing many trees. The vines are more aggressive than the wild grape vines and poison ivy vines. It has taken significant effort to reclaim the yard.

Young Buck. Backyard Nature in my Backyard -- Summer in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 280, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Young Buck.  Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR II lens (ISO 280, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec).  (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (06-August-2012) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Squirrel Eating a Magic Mushroom. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec).

Squirrel Eating a Mushroom. Summer Backyard Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Squirrel Eating a Mushroom. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)