A Fruitful Day at SBWR (12 Sept 2009)

Last Saturday was a fruitful day for me at SBWR. Beside spending an eventful day with a group of kids at the Young Naturalist Programmme (YNP), I also managed to see an amazing sight at the main bridge.

There was a group of more than 30 giant Catfish crowded near the water surface under the main bridge. Each Catfish is about 1 metre long, and I can assure you that you will be amazed also by this spectacular moment.

 

This day was also a See-Snake (not Eat-Snake) day for me. Saw 3 different types of Snakes in one SBWR trip which never occured to me before.
Just a few steps from the main hide, a Green Vine Snake (Oxybelis fulgidus) [later advised by Ron and Peiting that it's an Oriental Whip Snake] was hanging itself on a branch with its head looking at the ground. The last time I saw this snake was also in such position, as it probably looking out for its prey on the ground.

At the mangrove boardwalk, saw a Dog-Faced Water Snake swimming in a pool of water. This snake is quite commonly spotted at the mangrove mudflat.

The most beautiful but dangerous snake I saw was the Pit Viper, resting itself on a branch along Route 1. Viper is one of the most poisonous snake and one bite can kill you if the poison is not purged out immediately.


The Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis) was seen standing at its usual spot, on a tree next to the main bridge. Just after the bridge at the little pond next to the main toilet, spotted a nice dragonfly. This Dragonfly which looks quite similar to Ictinogomphus decoratus, has a thin zebra-design body lines.


Actually I was there around 7.15am that morning, hoping to see the Smooth Otters before the YNP commenced. But I still have no luck seeing them, instead I saw a group of wild dogs wandering and swimming near the area along Route 1.

Spectacular Sight of Giant Catfish @ SBWR

During my guiding of a group of kids for the Young Naturalist Programme (YNP), I saw this spectacular moment of a school of Giant Catfish swimming under the main bridge. I think there were more than 30 of them, and each about 1 metre long.

A China tourist was throwing fish food into the water, and therefore these Catfish crowded near the water surface, and formed this amazing scene.

A special thank to my friend Peiting who told me about this school of Catfish, else I would have missed them.

A morning walk at Sungei Buloh (6 Sep 2009)

Went to Sungei Buloh (SBWR) on a Sunday morning around 7:20am and hoping to see the Smooth Otters. Although I went there so many times, I only managed to see the Otters once when I was conducting a guided walk there last year.

My hope was spoilt by a heavy downpour which lasted for almost an hour. By the time I started my walk around 8.20am, I could not even smell the shit of the Otter.

What I saw was a Water Monitor Lizard crawling its way onto the boardwalk, and posed calmly for me to take a close-up shot.

 

While walking along Route 1, spotted a pair of very unique Dragonfly (Rhyothemis phyllis) with a Bee-Coloured design on its wings. Being a Dragonfly lover, how could I miss such opportunity to capture it in my photo album.


Probably the heavy rain has destroyed the Ant Nest, and could see the Red Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina)were busy building up their Nest again. It's a great teamwork as you could see some Ants were stretching themselves to hold on to the Leaf while the others were trying their very best to join the Leaves together. While watching the Ants constructing their nest, I noticed a nice Caterpillar crawling on a leaf a few steps away. Guess it might sense that there were a group of Ants nearby and trying to crawl away from them.


Crabs were seen crawling their way out from the hole of the Mud Lobster Mound. The Singapore Vinegar Crabs (Episersarma singaporense)have a 'Special Skill', which is Tree-Climbing. Also spotted a hugh Snail, the Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica) on the Tree, one of the biggest I have ever seen.


At the Observation Hide along Route 2, saw a playful little Heron, the Striated Heron (Butroides striata) watching closely on a Dog-Faced Water Snake at about 50m away. Too bad my camera does not have a high optical zoom, didn't manage to capture a clear photo of this Bird-Watching-Snake.


When I almost completing my walk along Route 1, I saw a Mangrove St Andrew’s Spider (Argiope mangal) with its beautiful web near the signboard of the observatory hide. This Spider is commonly found at SBWR, and it has a smiling face on its body.

Though the heavy rain chased the Otters away, but it's still a good morning exercise for me. I have a strong feeling that I will be able to see the Otters soon at SBWR.

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.

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.