Autumn Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.
I saw hundreds of these alien looking warriors today massing at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec).

David's Images of the Day Photoblog
I saw hundreds of these alien looking warriors today massing at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/11, 1/320 sec).
Why are nine large birds flying north past the Grand Tetons in late September? At this distance I can’t tell if they are geese, cranes, or swans. My guess is Sandhill Cranes. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 200-400 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 200 mm, f/8,, 1/180 sec).
A Black Iridescent Blue Butterfly Sunning at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V3 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). Raw image processed with Photoshop CC 2014 and Focus Magic.
Female Snowy Owl at the Antwerp Zoo. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec). Additional Processing with Capture One Pro 6 and Photoshop CS6.
I finally tracked down a Monarch Butterfly today. Since I returned from the Semester at Sea voyage, it has been hot in New Jersey and the butterflies have been sparse. It was cloudy and windy today so wasn’t that hopeful. Lots of the yellow wild flowers, a very few thistle blooms – but did see several milkweed pods. Finally, I did see one Monarch Butterfly fly by. I had to pass through a lot of raspberry bushes to get close enough to get some good images.
Monarch Butterfly at the Sourland Mountain Preserve, Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/8, 1/400 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014.