Adam J. Blake

Photo of the Week

by ajblake on March 5, 2014 { 0 comments }

Cabbage White – ♀

Pieris rapae, Pieridae
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
February 16, 2014

This week’s late post along with my previous posts on Colorado Potato Beetle and Cabbage Root Fly complete my series on the study organisms of my PhD project. It seemed an appropriate topic for the week of my candidacy exam.

This butterfly known as the Small White in Europe, the Imported Cabbage Worm to vegetable growers in North America, and the Cabbage Butterfly to North American butterfly fanciers. From its names it is not surprising that it is a introduced pest of brassicaceous crops in North America. The vision of the Cabbage White has been well studied and perhaps most relevant to my work the untwisted structure of this insect’s rhabdom suggests it should be sensitive to polarized light.

Photo of the Week

by ajblake on February 24, 2014 { 0 comments }

PB & J Truffle

Cameron, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6
February 20, 2014

This week I tried my hand at some food photography. Sara decided to make some PB & J truffles for my department’s 7th Annual Biology Baking Contest. The truffles disappeared quickly and tied for 2nd in the Etc. category.

Photo of the Week

by ajblake on February 17, 2014 { 0 comments }

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis, Laridae
White Rock Pier, White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
February 15, 2014

I got out to the White Rock Pier this Saturday to do a little birding before the rain set in. The birding was good and I did a little bit of gull photography. You can see here the “Seagull” of my landlocked youth in Alberta. Look closely at the face for the bright red orbital ring and gape. These somewhat subtle features are often important for gull ID.

Photo of the Week

by ajblake on February 8, 2014 { 1 comment }

Cabbage Root Fly – ♀

Delia radicum, Anthomyiidae
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
February 8, 2014

I took some time between bioassays to take some photos of another of my study organisms the Cabbage Root Fly. This fly is an important pest of cultivated brassicaceous crops in both Europe and North America. Females oviposit around the base of the plant and the larva develop in the soil feeding on the roots causing significant damage to their host. The vision of the Cabbage Root Maggot has been studied by the likes of S. Finch and R. J. Prokopy leading to a good understanding of how visual cues affect their host plant selection.

Photo of the Week

by ajblake on February 5, 2014 { 0 comments }

Prince’s Pine

Chimaphila umbellata, Ericaceae
Lost Lake Park, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 30, 2014

Sara and spent a night in Whistler for our second wedding anniversary. We did a little snowshoeing around Lost Lake Park. The forest was quiet but we did see a variety of evergreen plants like this Prince’s Pine.

Field Notes – Reifel Bird Sanctuary & Brunswick Point,
January 24, 2014

by ajblake on January 28, 2014 { 0 comments }

<p>Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

Stump

Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Cygnus buccinator</i>, Anserinae<br />
Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

Trumpeter Swan

Cygnus buccinator, Anserinae
Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

Fallow & Foggy Field

Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

Foggy Silhouette

Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Buteo jamaicensis</i>, Accipitridae<br />
Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

Red-tailed Hawk with Long-billed Hawk Syndrome

Buteo jamaicensis, Accipitridae
Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Grus canadensis</i>, Gruidae<br />
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

Sandhill Crane

Grus canadensis, Gruidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Anas platyrhynchus</i>, Anatidae<br />
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

Mallard Crowd v.2

Anas platyrhynchus, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p>George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

Feeding Frenzy

George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

Sandhill Crane

Grus canadensis, Gruidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Poecile atricapillus</i>, Paridae<br />
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

A Bold Black-capped Chickadee

Poecile atricapillus, Paridae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Picoides pubescens</i>, Picidae<br />
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

Downy Woodpecker - ♀

Picoides pubescens, Picidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Junco hyemalis</i>, Emberizidae<br />
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

Dark-eyed Junco

Junco hyemalis, Emberizidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Aix sponsa</i>, Anatidae<br />
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

Wood Duck - ♂

Aix sponsa, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

Mallard - ♂

Anas platyrhynchus, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

Waddling Mallards

Anas platyrhynchus, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

Foggy Pond

George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Haliaeetus leucocephalus</i>, Accipitridae<br />
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

Juvenile Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Accipitridae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Anas acuta</i>, Anatidae<br />
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

Northern Pintail - ♂

Anas acuta, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Anas american</i>, Anatidae<br />
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

American Wigeon - ♀

Anas american, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Columba livia</i>, Columbidae<br />
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

Rock Pigeon

Columba livia, Columbidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

A (Rock) Pigeon in Hand

Columba livia, Columbidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Agelaius phoeniceus</i>, Icteridae<br />
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

Red-winged Blackbird - ♂

Agelaius phoeniceus, Icteridae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

Northern Pintail - ♀

Anas acuta, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

<p><i>Fulica americana</i>, Rallidae<br />
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada<br />
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br />
January 24, 2014</p>

American Coot

Fulica americana, Rallidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

Mallard - ♀

Anas platyrhynchus, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

Mallard showing Drake Feathers

Anas platyrhynchus, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

Sara I headed out to Delta last Friday to enjoy the nice weather. Unfortunately the sun was obscured by dense fog patches near the Strait of Georgia. We heard the fog horn blasting all day. The fog did make for some interesting photo opportunities at Reifel & Brunswick Point. [click to continue…]

Photo of the Week

by ajblake on January 26, 2014 { 0 comments }

Mallard – ♀

Anas platyrhynchus, Anatidae
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

This week I got out to enjoy the fog, and did some duck portraits at Reifel Bird Sanctuary. This particular shot I find very reminiscent of the Duck Unlimited logo. Full field notes soon.

From the Field – Long-billed Hawk Syndrome

by ajblake on January 25, 2014 { 0 comments }

Red-tailed Hawk with Long-billed Hawk Syndrome

Buteo jamaicensis, Accipitridae
Brunswick Point, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
January 24, 2014

Sara and I were out today enjoying the fog down by the water out in Delta. On the way home from Brunswick Point, we spotted a Red-tailed Hawk with Long-billed Hawk Syndrome. This hawk has apparently been breeding successfully for several years, delivering lots of prey to her nestlings. Here hoping the hawk keeps thriving despite her disability.

Photo of the Week

by ajblake on January 19, 2014 { 0 comments }

Banded Peacock

Anartia fatima, Nymphalidae
Hotel Bougainvillea, Santo Domingo, Heredia, Costa Rica
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
February 1, 2012

This week we dive once more into the archive. Sara and I spent two weeks in Costa Rica for our Honeymoon in February of 2012. I took this shot of one of the more common butterflies in the extensive gardens of the Hotel Bougainvillea, near San José.

Photo of the Week

by ajblake on January 12, 2014 { 1 comment }

Common House Spider – ♀

Parasteatoda tepidariorum, Theridiidae
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
January 10, 2014

This week we return to the annex with another of its resident arachnids. I’m still hoping for an ID on this spider from BugGuide or maybe Catherine will help me out. This particular individual has been living behind one of my bug dorms feasting on Colorado Potato Beetles, Root Maggot Flies and Fungus Gnats.