house finch - David Mathre Photography

Saturday (09-May-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Today was “Global Big Day” for observing and counting birds. Starting at first light in the morning I kept watch on the bird feeders and backyard. The outdoor temperatures dropped below freezing overnight, and the bird bath was frozen over. The bird feeder was stocked with a mixed feed (I was out of the high oil sunflower seeds) and an apple. By the end of the day I observed and took pictures of 15 bird species. Mourning Dove, Turkey Vulture, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Gray Catbird, American Robin, House Finch, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is new, and I only observed the female. Looking forward to seeing the male. The female is larger than the local sparrows and finches and does not have the rose coloration of the male. The large beak helps with the identification. The bird images from the day are presented based on observation time.

Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak (?). Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec) (DAVID J MATHRE)

Birds 06:45 to 07:30. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Birds 12:20 to 13:00. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Birds 16:50 to 17:10. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Birds 17:50 to 18:00. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

19:50 to 20:00. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (54.0 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (74.2 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Sunny in the morning with some clouds in the afternoon. A surplus of 20.2 kWh.

powered by Ambient Weather

Monday (04-May-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Afternoon Birds: House Finch, Brown-headed Cowbird, Gray Catbird, and Chipping Sparrow. Afternoon Early May Flowers: Daffodil, Johnny-Jump-Up, Blue Forget me Not, Plum Tree, Dogwood Tree, Siberian Wallflower, Five-Spots, Prunella Vulgaris (also known as Self-Heal, Heal-All, and Woundwort), wild Violet (Viola), Jack in the Pulpit, Lilac (two varieties), California Poppy, Allium, Yellow Tulip, and Italian (red) Clover.

Afternoon Birds. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Early May Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (49.3 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (72.6 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A surplus of 23.3 kWh.

powered by Ambient Weather

Sunday (03-May-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Morning birds: Blue Jay, Chipping Sparrow, and Turkey Vulture. Afternoon birds: Chipping Sparrow, Mourning Dove, House Finch, and Eastern Phoebe. I believe that it is the Eastern Phoebe that has built a nest above my front door. During my afternoon walkabout I continued to document the early May flowers: Daffodil, Johnny-Jump-Up, Blue Forget me Not, Plum Tree, Siberian Wallflower, Five-Spots, Prunella Vulgaris (also known as Self-Heal, Heal-All, and Woundwort), wild Violet (Viola), Jack in the Pulpit, Lilac (two varieties), California Poppy, Allium bud, Yellow Tulip, and Italian (red) Clover.

Morning Birds. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Afternoon Birds. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Early May Flowers (pt 1). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Early May Flowers (pt 2). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (42.5 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (57.1 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A surplus of 14.6 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (348 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (336 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. A small deficit of 12 kWh.

powered by Ambient Weather

Tuesday (28-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Not many birds at the feeder today: House Finch and Tufted Titmouse.

House Finch at a birdfeeder. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Tufted Titmouse. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (54.9 kWh) from meter readings the Sense Home Energy Monitor. The daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (87.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun. A surplus of 32.9 kWh.

powered by Ambient Weather

Thursday (16-April-2020) — New Jersey

Backyard Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Daily bird images. Early morning Female Northern Cardinal and Female Brown-headed Cowbird at the bird feeder, Mid-morning American Goldfinch, Male House Finch, and Male Northern Cardinal at the bird feeder, and Turkey Vulture soaring in the late afternoon.

Female Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1000, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Female Brown-headed Cowbird. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1250, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1000, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

American Goldfinch fighting. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 360, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

American Goldfinch. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 250, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Male Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 280, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Male Northern Cardinal. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 400, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Turkey Vulture in flight. Image taken with a Nikon D5 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 600 mm, f/5, 1/1250 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (53.7 kWh) from Sense Home Energy Monitor and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (71.3 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Lots of sun (some clouds). A surplus of 20.5 kWh.

powered by Ambient Weather