LPR

In reverse order... i spotted this tiny tiny branch like camouflage resting on the wooden railing of Lower Pierce Reservoir.

Too bad the symmetrical antennae structure didn't fool me

I give it a push and the 'thing'  moves!!

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

 Bring umbrella (beats hats anytime)  and insect repellant ( mosquitoes aplenty). Take bus 925 from Woodlands interchange or Kranji MRT. You will need to walk a short distance to the SBWRservice on Sat as the bus will only drop off to the main entrance on Sunday.  Suggest you started the trails on the west instead of the east. Towers are interesting ( for me) so try them ( two in this reserve). Entrance fee is a cheap cheap $1.00!!  We took about 4 1/2 hours slow walking under a heavily overcast sky.  If you are after the plants, see my earlier visit in 2006 starting from the right hand side of the trails ( east-ward).

Signs a plenty near the entrance.

 A ripe nutmeg by the roadside.

 

There are plenty of monitor lizard in this reserve. Was watching this one drinking up the rain water from leaves. The fork tongue tip is too fast for me to capture.

Mother tells me to freeze ...This one is only 2 feets from me.

Mud-skipper

 

Tower Hide 2C partially clipped by my umbrella! Pretty steep angle steps.

 Sea hibiscus flowers sweeping  by the current. [ think floating candle on lotus flower]

Aerie tower #7 on the map..

A spacious tower -Aerie tower. Dont miss this one.

Insect perching on Sea Hibiscus's bud.

Peeping through openings in the observation hide.

 

Where is my fish?

Aerie tower viewed from below.

 Ficus lyrata - Fiddle leaf fig ( toa payoh central) A common indoor leafy decor pot plant.

 Torn open one to review the typical fig's interior. Adding to another fig collection in this blog.

The 255 steps- Dairy Farm loop - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

With the tight bunching of contour lines you expect a steeper slope in Dairy Farm loop circled in above map.

 

Tiny flower

 

Macaranga Triloba  ( three lobed leaf). Look closely you might see ants disappearing inside this ring stipule.

 

White bodies secreted by the Macaranga triloba feeds the ants who in turn protect the plant from other insects. You can just barely see an ant inside this stipulus ring above.

Bat lily flower  on the trail side lying inconspicuously on the ground. 

 closer look of the bat lily

big steps 

255 steps I was told. Didnt count how many.

A little browning on the top

Ficus religiosa, the sacred Bodhi figs. Have not seen the  fruits till today near the Malayan rail overpass.

Macritchie Nature Reserve to Venus Drive

 IF YOU ARE GOING FOR TREE TOP WALK FROM VENUS DRIVE and wanted to follow a nature trail instead of asphalt road. Do take the Terentang trail  instead of following the main road to  Bukit Kalang Service Reservior. ( see the map annotation above. )

Bright flower with tiny stem.

Mushroom festooned on a fallen trunk after a light shower.

A Caucasian lady alerted us the giant turtle lurking under the bridge over a small stream. We were amazed at the large size of this individual. According to her there are a total of x3 turtle and one of them looks different from the other two.

Under this bridge ( not far  from Jelutong tower) a giant Turtle was spotted

Accident do happen in nature. Two pitcher plants stack up together due to swagging branches and wind?

Familiar flower of Tetracera indica again.

I remembered gathering this in my secondary school to make a wreath..