Seven-Years Ago (09-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 7: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Midday drive through Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Just showing one image for each bird species. More can be seen in the slideshow at the end of the post. Birds observed (with images) include: American Coot, Anhinga, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, and Roseate Spoonbill.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
American Coots. Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Anhinga spreading its wings to dry off. Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200mm f/2.8 lens with a 2.0 TC-E III teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Great Egret. Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Snowy Egret in Flight. Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200mm f/2.8 lens with a 2.0 TC-E III teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Little Blue Heron feeding. Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Tricolored Heron. Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/4, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Roseate Spoonbill feeding. Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 400 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/2.8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)


You can access any of the images from the slideshow in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Seven-Years Ago (09-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 7: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Afternoon drive through Biolab road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Birds observed (with images) include: Gulls (unidentified), Caspian Tern (winter plumage?), Black Skimmer, Wood Stork, Double-crested Cormorant, Roseate Spoonbill, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, and Osprey. Just showing one image for each bird species. More can be seen in the slideshow at the end of the post.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Collection of Gulls (not identified), Black Skimmer, and Caspian Tern (winter plumage?). Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/2.8, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Caspian Tern (winter plumage?). Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8G VRII lens and TC-E 2.0 III teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Wood Stork in flight. Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Double-crested Cormorant. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8G VRII lens and TC-E 2.0 III teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Roseate Spoonbill and Wood Stork. Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and 600mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 600 mm, f/4, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Black Vulture on a dead palm tree. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8G VRII lens and TC-E 2.0 III teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture with a dead fish. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 70-200 mm f/2.8G VRII lens and TC-E 2.0 III teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/7.1, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Osprey with fish for lunch. Biolab Road in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f/3.2, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)


You can access any of the images from the slideshow in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Wednesday (08-January-2020) — New Jersey

Wintertime Indoor Hydroponic Gardening

More macro flower images from the Indoor Hydroponic Farms. Also a small zucchini.


Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the individual images in the following slideshow.


AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Small Zucchini Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Small Zucchini Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Small Zucchini Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Small Zucchini Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 80 mm f/2.8 macro lens (ISO 160, 80 mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (67.2 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (32.5 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. More Sun. A deficit of 34.7 kWh. Some of the hydroponic gardens are still off.

Current Weather Conditions

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Seven-Years Ago (08-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 6: Merritt Island National Wildlife Preserve.

I drove across the state arriving in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge before the sun went down. The first stop was Black Point Wildlife Drive. Observed the following birds: Roseate Spoonbill, Greater Yellowlegs, White Ibis, American Coot, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, and Snowy Egret. I then proceeded to Biolab Road. On the way I spotted a Red-shouldered Hawk. On Biolab Road I observed a Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, and Wood Stork.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Roseate Spoonbill. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Greater Yellowlegs. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
White Ibis. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
American Coot. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Northern Pintail and Blue-winged Teal. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Snowy Egret. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Red-shouldered Hawk. Courtenay Highway, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 800, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Red-shouldered Hawk. Courtenay Highway, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 800, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 720, 300 mm, f’2.8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Great Egret. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 720, 300 mm, f’2.8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Wood Storkd. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (07-January-2019) — New Jersey

Backyard Wintertime Nature in New Jersey.

Only two different birds at the bird feeder — Northern Cardinal, and Tufted Titmouse.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Northern Cardinal at a bird feeder. Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 320, 280 mm, f/3.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Tufted Titmouse at a bird feeder Image taken with a Fuji X-T3 camera and 200 mm f/2 lens and 1.4x teleconverter (ISO 320, 280 mm, f/4.5, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)