Earth Hour

It was a huge success compare to last year event. If you couldn't make it there, here's the photo of the Blackout.

Before the Blackout, the Merlion is still visible from Esplanade.

8.30pm - Merlion is the first one to go blackoutFrom my position, Maybank is the next to go blackoutMaybank is completely blackoutfollow by the building with blue exterior light, not sure the name...
and Fullerton...

Congratulations to all the volunteers! Thank you for all their hard work in bringing the global warming awareness to the next level.

Visit to Sungei Buluh Wetland Reserve

I was at Sungei Buluh this morning for a walk and take the opportunity to try out my lightweight tripod to see if it can support my camera with the telephoto lens.

After the main bridge, I turn right on Route 1 to start with macro lens fitted on my camera. Just immediately after the main hide, saw a big orb-web spider.

I'm not sure what caterpillar is this, and is quite well protected from their predator.

This cicada is just right beside me, it really make lots of noise. The forest will be very quiet without their presence.

I was having persistent high fever 2 weeks ago and was first suspected to be dengue. Luckily the blood test show negative. Just when I was about to pass through the Fresh Water Pond, I was swarm by mosquitoes and decided to go back to the Main Hide area to try out my new tripod.

I met Ria, Brandon, Dr Chua with the spiders team while on my way to the Main Hide. Thanks Ria for the offer but I decided not to follow as I am now trying to avoid being kind blood donor for mosquitoes... :-) The HSBC volunteers were there too! I met them at the Main Hide area.

I didn't know mud-skippers also are annoyed by mosquitoes too. Just look at the photo above. Whenever the mud skipper surfaced, the mosquitoes will circle and stop on the exposed area.

This little heron (Butorides striatus) is such a good hunter. The series of photo showing the hunting process.A closer look at this little heron with its prey.
The little egrets (Egretta garzetta) are out for feeding too.Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)with their long and curved bill can easily probe deeply into the soft mud for food.

This good swimmer usually mistaken as crocodile. Well, there are also reptile but a water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator) but not crocodile.

Brown-throated Sunbird Bathing

I was at Mandai last Sunday after the early morning rains and got to see this beautiful Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) bathing.

This sunbird take advantage of the water droplets for bathing.
Back to the top and balance itselfNot just preening, the sunbird uses their leg to spread the water onto their wings too.Another well shakeand is done!

Brown-throated sunbird are bigger in size comparing with other sunbirds found in Singapore such as Olive-back and Crimson sunbirds.

Another Great Shooting Experience at Ubin

After getting my new lens on Tuesday, been waiting for Saturday to test the effect of my new lens. CH told me that she is going Ubin and since Ling & FK also wanted to familiar with their equipments before our coming Taiwan trip, I suggest to them that we go over to Ubin. Is overcast today and while on our way back to mainland, it rains very heavily!

But the gloomy weather didn't stop us from getting some nice shots. We started from Sensory Trail and later northward before turn back to the jetty in the afternoon.After setting up my equipments, this is my first bird photography using my new lens! Wow, a pair of loving Chestnut Munia.Common Iora has a nice musical whistle and trill and are more often heard than seen.

another lovely pair of Pacific Swallow
An Asian Glossy Starling peeping from its tree hole nest.
Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker

Grey Heron

Well, birds photography is definitely not the only things to do in Ubin. Not forgetting spiders!

such as this jumping spider
Wide-jawed Viciria (Viciria praemandibularis) spider
another Lynx spider
an ant mimic spider!

a real red weaver antsis just too many things to shoot in Ubin. I've been busy changing lens between macro and telephoto.

We will sure to come back for more...

Week End Fever at Malacca

After the shooting the nice Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher at Lower Pierce on Saturday, I went over to Malacca for another cheap week end get away. However, my body protest on me....was having a fever for the entire trip! Being a person that can not sit still, despite the fever, I go out and explore as usual.

It was 6 am and a very beautiful morning indeed!I 'bump' into a few groups from Singapore and this is one of the group that I met on top of the St Paul's Hill.This shot freshen up my day!... so Spring!The building at the background was about few km away. If this canon is still active, can the canon ball reach the building?Oh got a big and fat worm!

Wild flowersMy favourites White-bellied Sea Eagle... she flew pass me and give me a good opportunity to take another good shot of her.The crows are still as irritating! Keep harassing the sea eagle.I don't know why, this grasshopper seems to have a very bright florescent green lime colour.

After a short exploration...got to get back to sleep... and to take my paracetamol too!

A Casual Walk at Lower Peirce

I was at Lower Peirce with Ling this morning for some shooting to get familiar with our equipment in preparation for our coming Taiwan trip. Really looking forward for the Taiwan trip and our itinerary include Purple Milkweed Butterfly Migration, Grey-Faced Buzzard Migration, Cherry Blossoms,....etc.

We were there for about 2+ hours and is another fruitful trip. Below are some of the animals and insect that we came across.

A very common animal at Lower Pierce, a Plaintain squirrel (Calosciurus notatus).
Isn't this forest flatworm beautiful?Some of the insect that we saw...The gap is wider than the ants body length but the ant got no problem crossing over it.A colugo.and not forgetting this very beautiful Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx erithacus) thanks LK for the id and was told that this is one of the uncommon migrant.