Sarimbun - The Next Episode

As promised, this is the next episode of The Invasion of The Red Army. This is also my first trip that need to break up my posting to few episode....

This is a good sign - that means Sarimbun is very much a live that I got so much things to write and tell.

While I happily counting the number of species of fiddler crab, here's come the invasion from the sky!!!

Target locked on...

Fire!!

Mission accomplished

Return to base

This looks like a Brahminy Kite that normally scavenging on waste and food thrown from boats. The bird also hunts for small mammals and fish for food.

Grey Heron waiting for fish to swim within his range






Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) using it's bill to probe the sand for molluscs and worms



Another sign of the rich biodiversity

Can even find dragonfly on the sandy beach

Another beautiful bug

A beautiful Batik Golden Web Spider

Sarimbun indeed is another good place to explore.... there are few ecosystem that awaiting for you to slowly explore. Sandy beach, mud flat, mangroves and many more. In fact, my earlier post on Sunbird building nest are taken here too. If you not sure where is Sarimbun, just look for Jalan Bahtera from street directory. There are one whole stretch of adventure camp, JBAC of MOE, Scout Camp, Serene Camp....

I have more photo taken at Sarimbun here.

Sarimbun - Invasion of the red army

65 years ago, the Japanese army invaded Singapore by crossing the Johore Strait in a fleet of small boats and successfully landed at Sarimbun around midnight on 8 February 1942.65 years later, I was swamped by the red army at the same site. The fiddler crab was every where when I pay the site a visit on Sunday.

Look at this oversized pincer of the Orange fiddler crab (Uca vocans)!!!

Beautiful Porcelain fiddler crab (Uca annulipes)

Female fiddler crab of the same species without the oversized pincer. Surprisingly, the enlarged pincer are not use for feeding. In fact is not effective at all. Instead, the oversized pincer is used only to attract females and to intimidate rival males.

Sand bubbler crab got their name as they leaves behind balls of sand after sifting it for organic derital matter.

A tiny Crevice crab (smaller then 1cm)

Hermit crab

Not sure the specias of this tiny crab. Smaller than 1cm too. Anyone know the id?

This reminds me of the fashion coloured contact lenses. The unique green eyes of Stone Crab or Thunder Crab. Just look at the large pincer! Most people just tear off their large pincer for food. Ouch! that's sound so cruel!!! Please don't do that. The name Thunder Crab is from the false belief that they do not release their pincer grip on fingers unless a clap of thunder is heard. Read about Ron's encounter with thunder crab at the Frog Island.

Barnacles taking free ride on the Olive whelk

Mussel

Shore clam

Banded Bead Anemone




Periwinkles

Unidentify anemone

Tripod fish

So far the invasion are from sea, there are more at Sarimbum. I'll come back with more of my experience there soon....

Olive-backed Sunbird building nest

I received a call from my old friend saying that sunbirds are building nests in his compound. I pay a visit this morning to have some photograph.

The first nest was found outdoor but for whatever reason, the bird did not continue and abandoned the nest after the 3rd day. Hopefully the bird have found some where more condusive and not because something happened to her.

The top part of the nest collapsed after the sunbird abandoned this nest.

The 2nd nest was found under the roof and the sunbird has choosen to build their nest on a wind chime. However, I'm not so pleased as the wind chime are made from sea shells. I told my friends not to buy any souveniours made of sea shells as this is not eco-friendly. Sea shells although empty are highly sought-after by hermit crabs looking for bigger shells to grow. Knowing my friends another nature lover will not buy this kind of products. It was left behind by the ex-tenants.

The sun bird will come back every 4 to 5 minutes with the building materials, attached it to the nest and use her body to expand/compact the nest and will fly away to get another building materials.

The sunbird back with straw
Entering the half completed nest
The bird expanding/compacting the nest from inside using her body.
Back with more material

The bird securing the nest from outside.

This is the 3rd day since the bird start to build her nest on the wind chime. Hope to hear good news from my friend on the new born. :-)

Semakau Inter-tidal Walk - 24 March 07

Is my 4th visit to Semakau of the month and we are all set to depart at 7am in order to 'catch' the low tide for the ever interesting inter-tidal walk. We have Zhenghua Sec joinning today's walk and I have 7 students in my group - The Sea Slug Group. Yeah!

The Magnificient 7 of the Sea Slug Group in action...

Cute little female fiddler crab (the male crab will have one enlarged pincer used for courtship and fighting)
A few step into the sea grass area, we saw this Synaptid sea cucumber about 1.5m long. The photo showing the feeding tentacles.

The Sandfish sea cucumber

The thorny sea cumber

We also saw this Scallop

The colourful Ceratosoma nudibranch

Yeah.... a Jelly fish

How can we not see this iconic Knobbly Sea Star

Hello Mr Hairy - Hairy Crab

The Sunflower Mushroom Coral

Another beautiful Discodoris nudibranch

One more Phyllid nudibranch

I nearly step on this uncommon Frog fish

Someone was asking for sea snake..... No sea snake but we managed to spot this reef eel
oh! Look at this Filefish

Group photo before heading back.

Clean up after the walk at the washing station

Another fruitful trip...... Bye Semakau!