Night Safari - Embark On Your Mystica Quest

Night Safari North, Singapore November 2014 For eons, humans and animals have lived in harmony sharing Mother Nature's bounties. With progress, mankind evolved to embrace wasteful and destructive ways of life that began to take their toll on Mother Earth. Habitats were destroyed, forcing animals to seek a new place to call home. Many perished, but a handful found refuge in a wondrous healing island of everlasting night, MYSTICA. Begin...

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Lorong Halus - Why Did The Hen Cross The Road?

Lorong Halus East, Singapore October 2014   The first sight while driving along the quiet roads here was the sight of several broods of Amaurornis phoenicurus (White-Breasted Waterhens) running about, hopping over drains and scuttling across the roads - Mother Hen will go first, looking out for any "predators" (Yeah, the big metal ones that make a lot of noise when they vrooom past), and cluck out loudly when the scene is clear. The little...

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Central Catchment Reserve - A Twig In Disguise

Central Catchment Reserve North-Central, Singapore October 2014 At first view, from afar, this does not appear to be an insect or arachnid. It appeared more like a brow twig growing on a green stem. On a closer look, you notice the more distinguishable features, including its huge jaws, the "bow-shaped" carapace "armour" and the eye arrangement typical of Tetragnathidae (Big-Jawed) Spiders. This is a Tylorida Ventralis (Big-Bellied Tylorida)...

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Pasir Ris Park - Decreasing Biodiversity Sightings

Pasir Ris Park East, Singapore June 2014 It's been some time since Merlion Wayfarer been to the Pasir Ris mangrove swamps. And it has been disappointing how the biodiversity sightings there decreases over the past few years. |   March 2010   |   January 2013   |   July 2013   | A male Epeus flavobilineatus (Yellow-Lined Epeus) spider, a bug, an ant, a wriggling caterpillar, and an Ardea...

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Sungei Buloh - The Dark Dangerous Branch

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve North, Singapore December 2013 A species of mangroves and coastal forests, the Cryptelytrops purpureomaculatus (Shore Pit Viper) has a reputation for being unpredictable and should be approached with caution. Giving no warning signs, this snake will strike readily and far at any threat, and its powerful haemotoxic venom can cause serious illness or even kill.  This shy snake looks just like another branch...

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Sentosa - A Billed Visitor

Sentosa South, Singapore March 2014 It was a normal hot weekend afternoon at Sentosa when Merlion Wayfarer was startled by a familiar but very unexpected cry from the trees. Looking among the trees above the KFC outlet at Imbiah Station, she spotted this very surprising sight - An Anthracoceros albirostris (Oriental Pied Hornbill) in the urban jungle next to the Resorts World Sentosa! The Oriental Pied Hornbill disappeared from Singapore...

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Sengkang Park - That Thing With The Wayang Feelers

Sengkang Park North East, Singapore September 2013 Sengkang Riverside Park is located at Anchorvale Street and is situated alongside Sungei Punggol. The park is home to a unique water feature, a constructed wetland that collects and filters rainwater naturally through its aquatic plants. Despite its man-made features, the park contains a variety of fauna among its aquatic and terrestrial plants. A well-camouflaged male Plexippus petersi (Common...

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