Tuesday (01-December-2015) — New Jersey

Late-Fall Nature in New Jersey: A Wet Red Fox

While driving home from the grocery store I spotted a red fox at the side of the road helping itself to a venison meal (road killed deer). I was lucky to have a camera with a telephoto lens in the car with me to capture this shot. There were also several turkey vultures wait their turn.  It is good to see the foxes returning, as they were almost completely killed off by rabies twenty years ago (along with the raccoons, opossums, and skunks.

Red fox on the side of the road with a road-killed deer. Late Autumn Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1000, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
Red fox on the side of the road with a road-killed deer. Late Autumn Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 1000, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (28-November-2014) — Florida

Gone to See Florida Fall 2014 Road Trip. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Turkey Vulture Eating What Appears to be a Heron chick on Biolab Road at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 500 mm, f/9, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014.

Turkey Vulture Having Brunch. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 500 mm, f/9, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture Having Brunch. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 500 mm, f/9, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (25-November-2014) — Florida

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: Common Gallinule.

While driving on the Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, I got a picture of a bird I had not seen before. It was as big as a chicken, and had yellow feet. I think it might be an immature Common Gallinule. The adult Common Gallinule has a red beak which this bird does not have.

Immature Common Gallinule (?). Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 4500, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Immature Common Gallinule (?). Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 4500, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Immature Common Gallinule (?). Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 1800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)
Immature Common Gallinule (?). Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR telephoto lens (ISO 1800, 500 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec) (David J Mathre)

Eight-Years Ago (22-November-2007) — Hawaii

Gone to See Hawaii. Big Island Photography Workshop with Thom Hogan. Day 5: Volcano National Park.

Nene – Hawaiian Goose, Volcanoes National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/180 sec).

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Nene – Hawaiian Goose, Volcanoes National Park Hawaii. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/8, 1/180 sec) (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (06-November-2010) — New Jersey

Backyard Autumn Nature in New Jersey.

Walkabout in my backyard with a new (at the time) lens. Actually, a 600 mm f/4 lens is a bit too heavy to be used handheld, so I didn’t get many images. A mushroom, a Robin that likes bitter-sweet berries, and a turkey vulture soaring.