Chek Jawa Walk - Ubin Volunteer

Joined the Ubin Volunteer over the weekend (26th & 27th April) for the Chek Jawa Public walk. Did my OJT and was assigned to Mr. Wong and Zaki. Learnt much from both of them whom had been guiding for many years.

Din manage to take much pix cos decided to concentrate on picking tips on guiding instead. Nevertheless, just to share some of the pix taken during this trip.

On the boat to Ubin....


Reaching the Jetty...


There are quite a few Hornbill in Ubin, can u spot it in this pix? Its way tiny cos nvr I still can;t afford a telephoto lens... :P


Mr. Wong giving his safetly briefing...hmm.... He sure look like playing tai chi in this pix...


Zaki sharing his wealth of information with visitors...


Some of the common fauna we always see in Ubin... hermit crap, Stonefish, Barnacles, Oysters, etc....















Last but not least, one of the group that came.




Till my next trip (hope my work allows me), lets all work hard together to preserve our precious nature more.

Cheers
JC

Sensory Trail on 24th Nov 2007

Was back in Ubin with Ubin Volunteers for the Sensory Walk on 24th Nov 07. This time round, I was assigned to do my OJT with one of the NParks personal. Basri has lots of stories and knowledge to share. U'll not be bored with him as ur guide for sure.

Something new that I learn from him;
1) This plant can be used to treat sore throat.
2) This raised platform is to prevent wild boar from disturb the crops with the bamboo stick help.
3) There are actually beavers in Ubin!

4) The best method to extract the sap from the Citronella plant due to its bladelike leaves.

And lots of smelling, tasting, touching, etc. Well, this is the sensory trail that suppose to enhance our 5 senses anyway.

Of course there are lots of fun too. :D

Oh ChinHuat Hydroponic Farms Tour

Last Sunday (28th Oct 2007), a small group of us from sengkang.com arranged and make a visit to the Oh ChinHuat Hydroponic Farms along Bah Soon Pah Road near Nee Soon. While there we done their guided Hydroponic & Herbs tour (by Ms Ai Ling).

This is my 1st time visiting a hydroponic farm athough I have seen before some hydroponic systems but all those are only in small scale. For those will like to find out more on hydroponic, check out these few webbies.
Wiki
Hydroponic Online
How to hydroponics
Jacks Hydroponics

Ai Ling is a very good guide (someone I definitely need to learn from on guiding). She has wealth of knowledge on Plants & Herbs and kept the whole tour interesting and engaging even though the whole tour lasted more than 2 hours.

We started off visiting their hydroponic systems. Right at their entrance, they have the "Drip System".

Next, she showed us the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) which they used for most of their crops.
The third and final system they are using in the farm is the Ebb and Flow system. And man! They can sure grow nice fruit bearing plants!
Ai Ling also shows us the various essential preparations in their farm like the nutrients preparation center, the seed germination center & Etc.

Second half of the tour, we proceeded to their Herbs Garden. The whole place reminded me of the "Secret Garden" we have in Pulau Ubin's Sensory Trail. However, there are some differences in the type of herbs that is available in Oh's Farm and "Secret Garden".


A nice Sunday morning outing we had. Thanks to Rummi for arranging it and I'm sure all of us (Gangjiong Spider & Wife, Dakoniel, Myself & Wife) had a fun and enriching session.
Till next time, a nice random pix I took of the farm. For more pix of the trip, drop by @ my gallery.

Pulau Semakau - 29th & 30th Sept 2007

During the year end in Singapore, the low tide are occurring during the evening time instead of early morning during the early half of the year.

This weekend, I was at Pulau Semakau for both consecutive days for the walk (my OJT). Was assigned to Samson's (Sat) & Ron's (Sun) group.

For those who are wondering how do we get to Pulau Semakau since it is the furthest south of Singapore where general public can visit. We boarded on a fast boat like the one shown below at Marina South Jetty and it take ~30mins to reach. Doesn't it look like those Police fast craft? :P
As per normal, part of the trip to Pulau Semakau always includes the Landfill tour. No exception this time.































Can you spot the Central Business District? :D

After the Landfill tour, we proceed to the intertidal wetland for the guided walk. While reaching the mud/mangrove area, we saw lots of small hermit crabs gathering together. Most likely they have gathered to change out their shell. I wonder if these hermit crabs still perform the ‘shell fights’ during such mass gathering.
While still at the mangrove area, nearby there is a mangrove tree. Under the shade of this tree, there are yet anther mass gathering of crabs. This time round, its the Fidders Crabs (most likely the Orange fiddler, Uca vocans. Many of the males (with large claws) are actively waving their claws in an attempt to attract the female crabs.

































Our hunter seeker for Saturday had a great find, A Moon Crab. Moon Crab normally burrow just below the surface during the day and will only forage for small shellfish, worms and other animals at night. Thus the reason why we hardly see them during morning low tide walk. Even the evening walk are rare.

During this weekend, we will able to spot 3 different species of Sea Cucumber. Below is the sandfish Sea Cucumber. Sea cucumbers are echinoderms—like starfish and sea urchins. They feed on tiny particles like algae, minute aquatic animals, or waste materials. When threatened, can discharge sticky threads to ensnare their enemies while some even go to the extend of mutilating their own bodies as a defense mechanism by jettison some of their internal organs out of their anus. Luckily the missing body parts are quickly regenerated.
Another interesting find on Saturday, a marine Fireworm. A fireworm is a type of bristleworm. It can grow up to 30cm in length. This worm has groups of white bristles along its side. The bristles are hollow, venom-filled setae which easily penetrate the flesh and break off if they are been handled. IT will result in intense irritation in the area of contact, hence the common name.
Marine Snails are very common in any marine habitat. They belong to the class gastropoda which includes the sea slugs. Below is a whelk snails with an Anemone on it shell. They reminded me of the "PomPom Crab"which has small anemone on its pincher. This relationship between 2 different species living together is known as Symbiosis. Symbiosis has 4 general kinds;
- Mutualism where both species benefits.
- Commensalism where only one species benefit while the other is unaffected.
- Parasitism where only one species benefit while the other is harmed.
- Neutralism where neither species benefit nor harmed.

For this case, it could be either Mutualism or Commensalism since the anemone might just be taking a free ride to food source (Commensalism). However, the anemone could also be helping to protect the snails from prey as it can sting (Mutualism).
We also spotted a few other species from the class gastropoda like the Volute and Sea slug (unfortuntely was not able to get a pix of it). This particular Volute is laying eggs. Can you see the 2.1.2.1 formation of its eggs?

There is also a spotting of flatworm. Flatworm are not related to sea slugs or other molluscs although it look very similar to a sea slug without the exposed gills. Flatworm are active carnivores and scavengers and are commonly found feeding on dead, injured animals, colonial animals and soft-coral.One of the highlight of the walk, the Octopus. Octopuses have eight arms (not tentacles) with suction cups. They also have a beak located in their mouth, similar to those found on birds, which they use to kill their prey and bite them into pieces. Octopuses are highly intelligent, probably more intelligent than any other order of invertebrates. It has been doucmented before that a Octopus is able to open a screwed bottle cap to hunt for its prey.
Whenever we are on the inter tidal area, we can always hear some clipping/clapping sounds around us. These sounds are actually made by the Snapping Shrimp. The snapping shrimp produces these loud snapping sound by an extremely rapid closure of its snapper claw. It previously commonly believed that the sound is generated when the two claw surfaces hit each other.

Pulau Semakau is one of the inter tidal area in Singapore where we can find lots of corals, both hard and soft. Below is one the Long Tentacle Mushroom Coral, most likely a Heliofungia.
Beside corals that have colony of animals living together. There are also Zoanthids which are commonly known as button polyps or colonial anemones. Zoanthids are radially symmetrical and are made up of two basic tissue layers and possess salient "stinging" cells. Their body cavity formed by the tissue layers bears series of tentacles around a single body/mouth/"anus" opening/mouth.
All in all, it has been a fruitful weekend. Saw a number of new things that I have not seen before. Sadly got to wait till year for the next trip. Just how lovely is the sunset there......

Lower Peirce Nature Trail Exploration - Aug 07

The day started badly for me on 4th Aug 07. Was suppose to wake up and join the Team Seagrass for the Pulau Semakau Transect but due to my own blunder (when to the wrong jetty), I missed the boat......

Since I'm already out of my bed, decided to join the Central Nature Reserve Volunteers at the monthly nature walk instead. Missed the previous month walk due to other commitment. This is also the 1st time I brought my macro lens to the reserve hoping to take some decent pix of insects. :P

It was Boon Cheong and Ruth that were guiding. I ended up tacking along with Ruth group. Not a big crowd for the day, could this be due to the various negative publicity due to fallen trees? I wonder.

Along the way, encountered quite a number of dragonflies which are abundant especially when there is water bodies nearby.




A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta. It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body.

Dragonflies do not normally bite or sting humans; in fact, they are valued as a predator that helps control the populations of harmful insects, such as mosquitoes.

Just like all reserve, we are bound to see butterflies & Moths.

Other critters like flies, worms, crickets, ants, spiders and etc were also spotted.


Anyone who have visited our CNR will be aware that we have a wide diversity of flora. Unfortuately, I did not bring my tripod with me thus most attempt on the flowers when to waste except for these few.


Our regular lizard friend (Sun Skink) are always around to welcome us when the sun is up and 4th Aug is no different.


It has been a fun morning taking morning walk and snapping macro pictures of all these wonderful mother nature. Can't wait for my new trip there. In fact, I went back to the lower pierce reservoir in the evening hoping to catch a nice sunset. Not exactly spectacular but nevertheless enjoy.


For more pictures that I took on this day, do visit my online gallery @ http://www.fruddy.com/gallery/

Chek Jawa Seagrass July 2007

Made another trip with the Team Seagrass to Chek Jawa this morning. We were a little late due to some transportation issue. Were able to complete our primary duties - Seagrass monitoring still.


However, as the tide is already coming in by the time most of us completed. We will all ushered out by Siti hastily. As myself and Marcus finished the monitoring slightly earlier than the others, was able to spot some animals in the seagrass lagoon.



(Above: Sea Cucumber & Mantis Shrimp)

As we were moving back to the starting point (Information Kiosk), I can't help but to snap a few pic of the newly opened boardwalk which we are going to visit shortly.



After all of us have gathered at the information kiosk, we proceeded to the new visitor center for some cleaning up and breakfast (tks to Ria) before Ria is going to lead us into the coastal & boardwalk.





After breakfast (which I manage to take a few pix of CJ), we proceeded with the walk. Before entering to the coastal walk, there were lots of termites on the sand and everyone were so amazed by it.



After everyone happy with their shoot, we moved into the coastal walk. Along the way there are quite a few lovely flora.



The starting point of the boardwalk is only ~10mins walk from the coastal walk which was pleasant walk cos most part are under the canopy of the trees and plants.


We do get some spectacular view from the boardwalk. Since the tide is already in, we are not able to see any of the wetlands. No matters, the views there are still lovely.




Part of the boardwalk will bring us into the mangrove area. Just b4 we left the wetland area, someone spotted a monitor lizard along the shore. I reckon its the common water monitor lizard.




Just before we exit from the boardwalk is where the new tower is situated and this is my 1st up up on it. The view up there is definitely different from what we usually experience down on the wetlands. Up there, we can see the open stretch of forest. Cool!


As this weekend is the 1 weekend since the launch of the boardwalk where public are allow to visit on their own. Without doubts, people already are starting to stream into the area and since we have achieve what we planned, its time to head home.

Once again, another fulfilling trip to Chek Jawa. For more pix, do visit my gallery.

Sisters Island June 2007 - Pulau Subar Laut

30th June 2007 mark my 1st trip to the Sisters Island. Big Sister (Pulau Subar Laut) to be exact. When early in the morning with the fellows from Beach Fleas.




(The Intertidal Lagoon just before sun rise)




(The Sun is up!)

Had quite a fruitful trip. Although according to the "veteran", it has been "quiet" today. THe lagoon lost some colors. This is mainly due to the absent of many sponges and some corals. In actual facts, while exploring the area I do noticed that there are quite a few corals are not doing too well. Some look like breeching. Some diseased and some just simply dying. Wildfilm blog has some pix of the corals been infested by lots of flatworms. Flatworms are the simplest of the worm groups which has >20,000 species known. They are considered a parasitic that lives off of another living thing, typically some corals.


(Hard Coral)


(Green Anemone Hard coral, Goniopora sp.)


(Hard Coral)


(Probably Green Star Polyp, Pachyclavularia sp.)


(Plate/Disc or Mushroom Coral, Fungia sp.)

Beside seeing corals, I also managed to spot some anemones. 3 only in fact. I was hoping to see more or at least a large carpet anemone. Good thing, Ron, Helen and July did saw one with a False Clown hosting it. Check out Ron's blog.


(Branched-tentacle anemone, Phymanthus sp.)


(Star anemone, Condylactis sp.) - Pardon me on my lousy photo skill. :p)


(Probably a White Star Anemone?)

There is no lack of fishes in the lagoon. Even at its lowest tide, we can still see lots of fishes and inverts around. Due to my limited photography skill in dark environment, most of my pix cannot it make to press.


(Probably some Cardinal Fish)


(A FlatHead fish?)

The mantis shrimp is not, in fact, a shrimp. It belongs to the subphylum Crustacea which is the largest class of crustaceans, containing more than 20,000 species. The one we saw at Sisters is a smasher. Smasher has a very sharp, single point at the end of the last segment, which can be used like a knife to stab or slash at soft tissues while spearer have something like 3 to 17 upward/outward projecting spines on the last segment, but no heel at it's base.


(Green Mantis Shrimp

We had some interesting discovery after the sun rise and just in time before the tides came back in. There was the Decorator crab and Basket Star. Apprarently, a decorator crab camouflaged itself with tiny seaweeds and animals like anemones, sponges and bryozoans.


(Decorator Crab, Cyclocoeloma tuberculata?)

It seems like all the veteren are overjoyed with the discovery of the Basket star cos it is the 1st time they saw one in Sisters. Basket stars are a specialized type of brittle stars which have a series of complexly branched arms which are used to catch plankton.


(Basket Star, Gorgonocephalus eucnemis?)

All in all, a very nice trip. Saw some spectacular views of the southern inlands with yet another shore in Singapore that "wow" me with its lovely life!.


(At the Jetty)