Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve
North, Singapore
January 2015
Spiders Galore!
It seems to be the spider season now. At the new portion of Sungei Buloh, hundreds of Araneidae spiders (orb-weavers) were spotted. It was almost as plentiful as at least one web every 2-5 steps!
The mangroves provide an abundant supply of food, as many of the occupants are being having their breakfasts/brunches/lunches...
Argiope versicolor (Multi-Coloured St Andrew's Cross Spider) with their "cross" legs (4 pairs of 2 legs each)...
Criss-cross webs (see the squares within the web) of these spiders...
Nephila pilipes (Golden Web Spider) Female on its radial web with some gold strands...
The Lizard Meal
The most gastronomical experience Merlion Wayfarer spotted today was a hungry Fishing Spider (genus Dolomedes, family Pisauridae) well-hidden among the multiple layers of a fern. If not for a sharp-eyed fellow photographer who spotted the contrast of the light tan of the wiggling lizard tail, it will have remain hidden.
Almost all Dolomedes species are semi-aquatic, and hunt by waiting at the edge of a pool or stream. Upon subduing their prey, they inject venom with their hollow jaws to kill and digest the prey.
One hour after the initial spotting of the spider, when Merlion Wayfarer came back to the same spot, only about 1.5 cm of the lizard had been consumed.
The Birds
Dollarbirds (Eurystomus orientalis) got their name from the two silvery white circular patches on each underwing, that flash as they fly. These look like shining American silver dollar coins. Feeding alone or in pairs, they are frequently seen perching on high vantage points like dead trees or telephone wires, keeping a lookout for a passing meal...
The Mudflats
Waders or shorebirds are so-called because they wade in the shallow water in search of food. Plovers and sandpipers are common waders found in the reserve. With their different bill length and feeding habits, they are able to tap on different food sources found in the mudflats. This enables them to co-exist in the same habitat.
Egrets at the reserve are white and more slender than herons in appearance. They are frequent visitors during the migratory season. The Little Egret is often seen dashing about, chasing after its prey in the shallows.
An Egret keeping a lookout at the edge of a shallow pool created by a mudskipper...
The Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Free-ranging from the Jurong Bird Park, the pair here can often be spotted in the mudflats feeding on fish and amphibians.
Others
Arhopala athada (Vinous Oakblue) resting on a leaf. The "blue" in its name refers to a shimmering blue patch at the bottom of its wings.
Weaver Ants' nests are among the most complex ants' nests. The ants choose living leaves to build nests. These provide well camouflaged protection from predators and the elements. To create their neat nest, chains of worker ants form along the edge and pull the edges together by shortening the chain by one ant at a time. Once the edges are in place, an ant holds one of their larvae in its mandibles and gently squeezes it so the larvae produces silk. The silk is used to glue the leaf edges together. The larvae have special glands to produce lots of strong silk.
Grasshoppers have antennae that are generally shorter than their body and short ovipositors. They also have pinchers or mandibles that cut and tear off food. Known as long-horned grasshoppers, many katydids exhibit mimicry and camouflage, commonly with shapes and colors similar to leaves...
The crab looks at the really HUGE mudskippers basking in the shade. Many crabs here in the mangroves are burrowers, digging holes at the base of mangrove trees and in mud lobster mounds. At high tide during the day, tree-climbing varieties are often seen clinging to tree trunks just above the water line. They remain motionless to avoid both aquatic predators in the water, and airborne predators such as birds.
The Callosciurus notatus (Plantain Squirrel) is extremely adaptable, occurring in a wide range of habitats including secondary and coastal forest, mangrove, plantations, parklands and semi-urban areas. It is easily identified by the two cream and black stripes on the sides, and the orange belly.
Like all members of the reptile class, lizards are cold-blooded. That means their bodies do not generate stable internal temperatures like those of birds and mammals, warm-blooded animals. Cold-blooded creatures depend on the environment around them to control their body temperature. Lizards bask in the morning sun to raise their internal body temperature and stimulate their metabolism. They position their body to soak up maximum sunlight, spreading themselves to create more surface area. As their internal temperature warms up, their muscles become limber, which is crucial for hunting and escaping predators. If a lizard becomes too warm, it will move into a shady spot or burrow into cool soil.
The Varanus salvator (Malayan Water Monitor) can be found in many parts of South East Asia. Often found near water, it is known for its good swimming abilities and agile speed when moving along land.
Both males and females of the Calotes versicolor (Crested Tree Lizard) have a crest from the head to nearly the tail. Usually a dull brown, grey or olive with speckles or bands, but these lizards can can be seen in other colours such as bright green. These colour changes reflect readiness to mate and defend their territories.
