A short trip to Botanic Garden

Passed by Botanic Garden 2 days ago, and have a feeling that I might see the Pink Dragonfly that I saw during my last visit.

Though I only have less than 1 hour before my appointment, I decided to pop-in to search for the lovely Dragonfly. My effort finally paid off as I saw the lovely Pink Dragonfly and managed to have a good photo shot.

 

 

While walking towards the big pond, spotted a plant with very unique brown flower which is different from the other flowers in this garden.


Saw two White Swans swimming gracefully at the pond, and when I lifted my hand, they thought I was trying to feed them. Suspected they are twins as their action almost similar, swam in pairs and even dipped head into water also almost at the same time.


Along the side of the pond, found a golden insect on the leave, and never see such insect before. After looking through the photo, my friend Martina spotted a small openning at the back of the insect, and therefore we concluded that it's the insect's moult. After checking with my expert friends Ming and Luan Keng, they confirmed that it's the moult of a Cicada.


Looking at my watch, realised that it's almost time for my appointment. While walking back to the main entrance, spotted a golden dragonfly outside a small pond of a French restuarant. Being a Dragonfly lover, how can I miss such opportunity to add this into my photo collection. This Golden Dragonfly is different from the one I saw at Sungei Buloh.


Almost reaching the main entrance, I heard a loud sound on the tree. It was a big Plaintain Squirrel (Callosciurus notatus) hopping on the tree and finally rested on a branch.

Though it was just an hour spent in Botanic Garden, but it's still a good trip for me as I was able to find two nice dragonflies.

My lovely insect : Dragonfly

Before I involved in Green Volunteer activities, I never paid a serious attention at Dragonfly. After I have been to Sungei Buloh (SBWR) many times, I began to find that this insect is so beautiful and colourful. There are many different coloured Dragonflies in SBWR, and the one I like most is the Golden Dragonfly, which I found at the end of Route 2.

Dragonflies are similar to damselflies, but the adults can be differentiated by the fact that the wings of most dragonflies are held away from, and perpendicular to, the body when at rest. Even though dragonflies possess 6 legs like any other insect, they are not capable of walking.

 

Dragonflies are valuable predators that eat mosquitoes, and other small insects like flies, bees, ants, and butterflies. They are usually found around lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic.

The Red Dragonfly can also be found at SBWR, usually at the pond next to the main toilet. This Red Dragonfly is quite common and you can easily see them there.


You can also find another type of Red Dragonfly at SBWR, but it has a pair of red wings. If you take a closer look at this red insect, especially on its wings, you will find that the design is very beautiful.


Beside the Golden and Red Dragonflies, you can also find other coloured Dragonflies at SBWR. The Black Dragonfly is also quite unique. If you are lucky, you may have chance to see two Dragonflies sticking onto each other, oops... mating again!


In my recent trip to Pulau Ubin, I found 2 special coloured Dragonflies. One is Purplish Blue and the other one is a very nice Silvery Blue.


The Pink Dragonfly is also very beautiful, which can be seen at Botanic Garden.

After seeing my Dragonfly photos, guess you also find it nice. When you go for a Nature walk next time and happen to see a Dragonfly, stop and take a closer look at it. You will be surprised and amazed to find that this insect is so BEAUTIFUL and LOVELY :-)

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.