A Tiring Walk at Pulau Ubin (29 August 2009)

Arranged with some friends to go Chek Jawa at Pulau Ubin on 29 August (Sat), but found out that the tide was high at Chek Jawa and we were not able to access the inter-tidal area. We therefore joined Ron and Luan Keng to explore the mangrove walk but it was indeed a very long walk.

Captured the morning dew on a leaf and was surprised to see that the photo turned out quite nice. On another leave, I found a colourful caterpillar crawling slowly and it's about 1.5 inch long.


My friend Martina always says I like to take insect/animal mating photo, and this time I spotted two flies mating on a leaf. I think they were too engrossed and never noticed me capturing their indecent 'R-rated' act.


Ron spotted a praying mantis on a big leaf, and its colour blended very well with the leaf. This is my first time to see such a big praying mantis, and it stayed very calm and still even though many of us were pointing our camera at it. While some of us were busy viewing the Grey Heron, a hugh grasshopper were also found among the branches.


While everyone was busy looking at the big leaf fig, a small insect hop on the leaf. At first I thought it was a spider as it moved and hop like one, but after checking with Ming, he told me that it's some kind of unknown hopper. At the other end of the bushes, I saw a lizard moving and hopping from one tree to another. It actually playing hide and seek with me as it sensed me trying to take photo.


After a long walk, we took a water break at a shelter. I walked around and spotted an orange insect, and Ron highlighted that it was a Wasp. I never see such a big Wasp before, and it kept moving and flying around, giving us a hard time to capture a good photo shot. Luckily, it started burrowing and that's the best time for us to take photo. Ron later confirmed in his blog that it is a Spider Wasp.


Spotted a few young Cotton Stinger Bugs on a dried-up seed of the Sea Hibiscus and never expect the photo to turn out so amazing when the orange-red mixed with the brown. I always find it difficult to capture a good photo of butterfly as it never stays still. The Orange Common Awl was a bit different from the normal butterfly didn't fly away even if I went quite near it.


Towards the mangrove area, Ron found a big spider with its spiderlings on a leaf. By the time I tried to take its photo, it hided under the leaves and probably felt that it already had enough photos for the day, taken by Ron and Peiting. Nevertheless, I still managed to capture it under the leaves, though the photo is not that good.


After all these months of nature walk at Sungei Buloh, I like taking photo of Dragonfly as I find that it's very beautiful and comes in different colour. I am in the process of compiling my Dragonfly album. I am glad to find 2 different colours Dragonflies in this trip :-)


The only regret for this trip was not able to go to Chek Jawa, but nevertheless, it was still a fruitful experience for me.

Semakau : Hunting Seeking (22 August 2009)

After almost one month since my last visit to Semakau, we went for another Hunting Seeking on 22 August. This round was quite tough as a few of us needed to do the Hunting Seeking alone due to shortage of volunteers. Though it was tough, but we still managed to complete the assigned task on time.

While walking towards our assigned zones, we spotted a Dog-Faced Water Snake wandering around at the Sandy Shores, just next to the Mangroves. It moved very swiftfully and then burrowed itself in the mud and water. This Snake is not poisonous, but I don't think I dare to catch it.

The zones we were hunting were full of Carpet Anemones. Haddon's, Gigantic, Magnificent Anemones all could be found, and there were many of them.

Carpet Anemones can emit toxic substances to sting its prey, example fishes. It will then use its tentacles to move its prey towards its mouth which is at the centre of the Anemone. Its Mouth is also its Anus, which seems to be a bit inhygenic, Yeeeeeee... Though this toxic substances may not be harmful to us, but it may cause irritation to those who have sensitive skin. Therefore, it's still best not to touch it with your bare hand.

 

There were also many Common Seastars found in this area, and saw 2 Seastars moved apart from its mating position. Maybe they were too shy when saw me looking at them, haha!

While at the Coral Rubble, spotted 2 different colour Knobby Seastars.

 

 

 

One coral that looks scarely is the 'Dead Man Fingers' as its 'Fingers' will start to wave at you when they are under water, calling '来吧, 不要怕!'

 

 

 

 

Almost towards the end of the Hunting Seeking, spotted a dead squid with its Green eyes, Ron spotted White-Spotted Reef Hermit Crab. It has an orange body with white spots, that's how its name comes about. When sensed danger, it immediately hided itself, therefore can only see its legs sticking out from the shell.

While walking back to the assembly point, spotted 2 Flatworm (Pseudoceros) almost dried up on a rock. Once I put them back into the water, they started swimming gracefully.

Flatworm gets its name because it's really Flat. It has both Male and Female reproductive organs, and one of the well-known feature is its 'Penis' Spinning. During the mating process, both Flatworms will try to dominate each other and want to take the Father's role. They will spin around and try to use their male organ to touch each other and also to avoid being touched. The one that being touched will have to play the Mother's role until it gives birth. Really amazing!

BulBul Hatching

When I was at Sungei Buloh for a Green Volunteer event in May, I saw a BulBul bird hatching in its nest on a fan palm outside the main toilet. When I tried to move close to take a better picture, it flew off but was hiding nearby watching its nest.

 

 

 

 

When I looked into the nest, I saw 2 eggs in it. Once I moved away, the mother BulBul flew back to its nest.

 

 

 

 

I went back about 3 weeks later in June for a guiding event, I visited the nest again. I was happy to see a baby BulBul in the nest, but its mother wasn't there. I heard from my friend that one of the egg didn't hatch successfully.

 

 

 

 

When I tried to take a close-up photo of the baby BulBul, it opened its mouth and thinking that its mother is back with food. If I can hear bird's voice, it must be calling 'I am Hungry, please give me some food!'

I guessed it must have starved for hours and I hoped that the mother BulBul could come back soon.

Strange Insect spotted at Night Safari

Saw a strange insect crawling its way across a walkway at the Night Safari last Thursday. Wonder what is this insect. I immediately blocked the way and waited until it crossed the walkway so as to prevent people from stepping onto it. It's really a long wait as it really crawled very slow.

After confirmed by Ming and Luan Keng, and also my friend Peiting, it's a Pill Millipede. Pill millipedes are short compared to other millipedes, with only eleven to thirteen body segments, and are capable of rolling into a ball when disturbed. This ability may however have evolved separately in each of the two orders, making it a case of parallel evolution, rather than homology. Pill millipedes are herbivorous, feeding on decomposing plant matter.

Snake Eating Skink

I was at Sungei Buloh last Thursday and so fortunate to see a specticular 'Snake-Eating-Skink' scene.

The Green Forest Weed Snake is about 1.5m long, which is the longest I have seen so far. It is usually very difficult to be spotted as it camouflages itself very well among the green leaves. I spotted it along Route 1 and wondered why it stayed so still and looking at the ground.

 

 

When I took a closer look on the snake, following its head to its tail, I was surprised by its length.

 

 

 

Out of a sudden, it dashed downwards to the ground and pulled back with a Skink in its mouth. Its action was so fast and swift, and a quick bite on the baby Skink and immediately killed it.

The Snake then slowly pulled itself back and disappeared behind the trees.

A GrassHoppers Re-Union

Spotted a group of Grasshoppers gathering on a plant eating, just like a 'Re-Union' meal. Although Grasshopper is quite common in plants, but so many of them together is so amazing!