Sungei Buloh Over Several Days in Apr 2011

We had to conduct a series of mangrove workshops last week, and hence I was at Sungei Buloh most of the time. The most exciting thing we saw was probably the black spitting cobra, which unfortunately I didn't take any photo. But apart from that, there were plenty of other sightings too!


Here's a bronzeback we saw near the freshwater pond. Caused quite a bit of commotion when it started slithering towards Wai Kit, then Tammy!


We had 2 sightings of the paradise tree snake. This one was right on the nipah palm along the mangrove boardwalk.


And there was this shore pit-viper which was among some sea holly near the first shelter of the mangrove boardwalk for a few days.


We saw quite a few fights between Malayan water monitors at the pond near the Visitor Centre. Somehow I thought they looked like they were dancing tango...


We saw quite a few green crested lizard too. This one was near the mangrove fern at the visitor centre.


Indeed, right around the Visitor Centre there were plenty to see, including the fruit bat hanging off the roof.


The smooth otters visited the freshwater pond almost everyday when we were there.


It's already early April, but many waders were still around! There was this huge flock of whimbrels that were always feeding near the main hide.


Are these greenshanks? Not too good with wader identification.


As usual, there were quite a few yellow-vented bulbuls in the reserve.


A pair had built a nest among the mangrove fern at the Visitor Centre, and there were 2 chicks inside! But one afternoon, they were suddenly gone! Heard from the NParks staff that they had seen snakes and rats trying to reach the nest, but were all chased away by the parent birds. Not sure if they were eaten or were strong enough to fly away.


On the next day, I found a pair of fledglings near the toilet area. Wonder if they were the same ones from the nest at the Visitor Centre, or from another nest. Did not see them previously though, so it's possible that they were the same pair.


My first time getting a photo of a male copper-throated sunbird, although it was somewhat out of focus... :P


Here's a female.


There were quite a few populations of jewel bugs among the mangrove trees.


The variable wisp is a rather common damselfly in Singapore. The above is a female.


And here's an immature male variable wisp.


On one of the mornings, I noticed that the mangrove trumpet tree is flowering! The flowers usually fall off by late morning.


I managed to find time to check out the naturally occurring tumu putih


One of the orchids planted by NParks was also flowering. According to WF, it should be a Cymbidium bicolor.

Guess there are always plenty of things to see at Sungei Buloh! :)