Thursday (26-May-2016) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Last fall my contractor cleared a section of my backyard and started digging a depression for a small pond. We didn’t finish the pond before winter and my round the world Spring Semester at Sea Voyage. With all of the rain this spring the hole filled up with water. I now have a pond in progress. I was pleased to see that frogs (and turtles) have already discovered the pond. I managed to get a picture of this frog before it jumped into the water this morning. When you look closely you can see two mosquitoes on the back of the frog. I had hoped that the frogs (or tadpoles) would take care of the mosquito larva in the pond. I may need to get some goldfish to add to the pond.

Kermit the Bullfrog Near a Pond in My Backyard. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). [FOV Equivalent to ~ 810 mm on a 35 mm image sensor].

Kermit the Bullfrog Near a Pond in My Backyard. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). [FOV Equivalent to ~ 810 mm on a 35 mm image sensor]. (David J Mathre)
Kermit the Bullfrog Near a Pond in My Backyard. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)

Monday (23-May-2016) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Afternoon stretch following the thunderstorms. Image taken with a Nikon D810A camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 250, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/800 sec). This rabbit is pushing the minimum focus distance for this lens…

Afternoon Stretch Following the Thunderstorm. Image taken with a Nikon D810A camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 250, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
Afternoon stretch following the thunderstorm. Image taken with a Nikon D810A camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 250, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thursday (19-May-2016) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

A Tiny Chipping Sparrow Walked into My Field of View. Thom Hogan calls little birds like this LBJ’s (little brown jobs). I think it is eating the wildflower seeds I put out in my garden yesterday. Since I was on the Semester at Sea Spring 2016 voyage I didn’t get home until it was late for planting wildflower seeds. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 280, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec).

Chipping sparrow. Backyard spring nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 lens (ISO 280, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Chipping sparrow.  Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 lens (ISO 280, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (18-May-2014) — Texas

South Texas Birding Photo Safari with Jason Odell Day 3.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Texas Bird of Paradise) about to take flight in southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec).

Sissor-tailed Flycatcher (Texas Bird of Paradise) About to Take Flight in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Texas Bird of Paradise) About to Take Flight in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (18-May-2014) — Texas

South Texas Birding Photo Safari with Jason Odell Day 3.

Male Northern Cardinal feeding dinnert to a young Cardinal at a Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec.

Male Northern Cardinal Feeding Breakfast to a Young Cardinal at Dos Vandas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec. (David J Mathre)
Male Northern Cardinal Feeding Dinner to a Young Cardinal at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec. (David J Mathre)