Changi Surprises

The tide was at its lowest at 3 am today, and was up and arrived on the eastern part of Singapore at about 2:30 am to meet with the Semakau Guides for a field trip.

First time for me and indeed this place was full of surprises, one of our richest shore and also one of the most poached. In this early morning, we have seen people walking around collecting specimen with net and "changkul" (a mix of shovel and pickaxe). What were they harvesting, this we do not know as it was dark, and this guy had a changkul, we were only armed with flashlight and camera.

Still there were plenty of surprises. Today being a new moon, I was told by my father that crabs (crustacean) tends to shed their old shells (moulting). This was true today, for there were a lot of discarded shells from the Flower Crabs (Portunus pelagicus), and we witnessed one in the process of "undressing". Upon shedding their old casing, the new casing is very soft (the edible soft shell crab) - the crab will quickly gulped in water to expand before the new casing hardened.

First and foremost, this place was filled with sea grasses of the Spoon seagrass (Halophila Ovalis) and Fern Seagrass (Halophia Spinulosa), then among these sea grasses were brittle star, pipefish, flatfish. Well the list goes on, look below for just some specimen.

There were alot of Sand Stars (Astropecten sp), managed to take closed up of the body and legs. From the upper surface, the pattern on the skin is rather unusual.

Moon Crab (Matula Lunaris) - Tonight there were many of them swimming in the water, with 4 pairs of paddle like legs, they are very good swimmers. Not only good swimmers, but also good burrowers. With those legs, they disappeared into the sand very fast.

Pipefish (Family Syngnathidae) - a closed relative of the sea-horse. Looks at the mouth and its side fins, if only the head was shown - it will be difficult to differentiate them. (Seahorse or pipefish).
Flatfish started their fry stage like most fishes, eyes on both side of their bodies. Soon as it grows, one eye will start to migrate to the other side, and soon it becomes a bottom dweller. See the pair of eyes.

Geographical Sea Hare (Syphonota geographica) is a nocturnal creature, and we were fortunate to see them on this shore. Hardly you will chance upon them in daylight, as they will have burrowed into the sand. A very shy creature, but tonight they seems to be out in force. This Striped Hermit Crab (Clibanarius sp) seems to be loaded with passenger. Empty shells on the shore may eventually become homes to another organism, thus the policy "take pictures only". This hermit has make its home out of the Noble Volute shell.
Sanddollar - a relative of the sea star. Burrowing in the sand, but leaving behind round impression giving away their hiding place. We saw plenty of this Sand dollars. Observe the next pictures, and you will understand how they can burrow themselves into the sand.
(the legs of the sand dollar)
The next 3 pictures is an animal, we suspect to be a Sea Anemone with its body outside its shelter (hole). We don't know, maybe you can shed some idea.

(the business end)
(Is this the burrowed and the same one?)
The Moon Snail (Family Naticidae) is a fierce predator. This shot was taken with the snail scavenging for buried snails and clams as it bulldozed through the field of sea grass. We saw a lot of sand collar, which is the sand + egg capsules mixed of this snail.
This Ghost Crab a very shy animal, but for tonight it chose to stay for us to finish taking pictures, and only to demonstrate how quickly it can run, we touched it, and did we witnessed a sprint that even surprised us. Sprint about 5 m and quickly burrowed into the sand.

There are many more happy memory of this morning "foraging"in this eastern shore, unfortunatly time and blog space is limited, till another time. Thanks for reading.

Semakau Landfill Intertidal Walk

RMBR plays host to the Singapore Shanghai International School (school set up by Singapore in Shanghai for expatriates working there). The students are here for 5 days and in their itinerary, Semakau Landfill Intertidal Walk was one of the attraction.

There were 18 of them, children from Asian countries (Japan, Korea, India, Malaysia, China and of course Singapore)

As you can see, they were a curious lot! This was the beginning of the walk and theirs eyes were everywhere.

We came across this baby Mangrove Horseshoe Crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda), it was a juvenile. The Mangrove Horseshoe Crab has a tail that is round in cross section, vs the Coastal Horseshoe Crab (Tachypleus gigas) which is triangular.

In single file, they crossed the Sea Grass meadow, and pulling their shorts and pants along the way. Afraid of getting wet, it will be a vain attempt - for coming back the tide would have raised the level! Surely their pants will be wet.
Demonstrating to the students that Sea Cucumber (Holothuria scabra) will right itself when placed upside down, the picture below shows just that.
We found a bigger than usual Heart Cockle (Corculum cardissa), a bi-valve but open its shell sideway, just like the pincer of the crustacean.
Another view of the Heart Cockle, but the side that lies on the sea floor. Here the parting-line is very obvious.
Trodding along, the Fiddler (that is the name of my group) made it to the Coral Rubble area. Soft and Hard Corals abound, but today the weather was hot and most sea creatures preferred to take their siesta than to come out and display, except for those that are still covered with water.

Below is a hard coral that is easily mistaken for anemone. Even the name gives you that hint - Anemone Coral (Goniopora spp)

Below is a mushroom coral (Heliofungia actiniformis) with its long tentacles.

It must have been the heat, for most creatures just "disappeared". We managed to locate one Knobbly Sea Star which normally should be a couple. Still, a memento we must have, and here you can see the Fiddlers with it.

On our way back, we came across this Noble Volute still in the process of laying eggs (Cymbiola nobilis). The egg capsules is translucent and somehow "mathematically"it does add up. How did those mass of egg capsules come from that shell?

Today seems to be a very odd day - the tide at its lowest should be 0.3m but it seems to be lowered than that, and the tide seems to be in this stage for a long time. We arrive at 8 am, and left at about 10:30 am, and there seems to be no change to the tide. At least the Fiddlers did not get more wet than I have predicted!!!

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Semakau Public Walk (16th June 2007)

While waiting at the West Coast Pier, the wind was blowing from the South, we were hoping that the storm cloud that threatened the sky will quickly come to pass. Well it will be a wet experience for all of us!

Today walk, we were priviledged to lead the girls from St Nicholas, our team was the Turtle Team.

Reaching Semakau, we quickly make a dash to the entrance as the tide was already rising.

Well certainly we were not walking like turtle from the landing point tothe entrance.

Across the meadow, we chanced upon this Spider Conch (Lambis lambis) with its two protruding

A Spider Crab (Schizophrys aspera), looks at the size of this beauty. This was the first time I am seeing such a crab in Semakau. A close relative is the Snow Crab or the cold water Spider Crab which are delicacy in Japan.
The highlight of Semakau trip will be the Knobbly Sea Star (Protoreaster nodosus), not ONE but Three. Being cradled gently by the "Turtles"of St Nicholas.
Semakau Landfill has only ONE shelter which is at the entrance, and being on a mud flat is simply too dangerous for we became the highest point in the whole area. Not wise, if you received any Lightning Warning.

Alas, the coordinator received lightning warning, and the storm cloud that we saw earlier has shed its contents towards the East, hastily we beat a retreat, with some wiser ones donning poncho and retrieving their brollies. For the unprepared, a drenching experience it will be.


In the haste, some of the "Turtles" trod on untested land, and found themselves knee high in mud. Save for the pride, some shoes were stuck in the quagmire of Mangrove Swamp.


Shelter we reached, but simply too small for this crowd.


Guides will have to sacrifice and outside the shelter we have to stand, but honestly it is definitely cooler, and if not more pleasant!

Looks at their smile, and I believe they agree so.

Finally the rain cleared, and the land is once again refreshed!

Kranji Trail and SBWR (9th June 2007)

Sungei Buloh - I have been to this place numerous time, but each time - it is always something new. This time we accessed Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve via the Kranji Trail, a new walk for me as I have no notion that this trail exists.

As we entered the Kranji Trail, the pathway was still covered with dew, a renewal of day. A new beginning, creatures go about with their never ending tasks - and we started this day learning more and appreciating these beautiful creations.
As we entered the trail, our journey was welcomed by this White Bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), as it circled whether looking for food or taking advantage of the hot rising air, we will never know. But its flight is one of majestic and graceful motion.

Flowers - they are all around.

Picture 1 - Yellow Creeping Daisy (Wedelia trilobata)

Picture 2 - Unknown thing (flower, fruit ???). I simply have no clue.


Picture 3 - Rotan tikus (Flagellaria indica) growing toward the sun.


Picture 4 - Rattlebox Pea (Crotalaria sp.) When the fruit ripened and started to dry, shake the pod and it is akin to the baby rattle.

Picture 5 - Singapore Rhododendron or Straits Rhododendron (they are not true Rhododendron) (Melastoma malabathricum)

Sometimes it is good to let your "friend"walk ahead of you, well there are many spider webs that strewn the path, and with your friend"ahead, it means that the path will be cleared!

Picture 6 - Nephilia maculata - look at the beautiful web.


Picture 7 - Unknown Spider (probably a type of Lynx Spider)


Picture 8 - Another Unknown Spider

Picture 9 - Spider (Probably a Nephila)

Picture 10 - Unknown Spider

With the presence of the Arachnid, there are also a lot of insects.
Picture 11 - Leafhopper

Picture 12 - Unknown Insect (Possibly Juvenile Cricket)

Picture 13 - Shield Bug (Pycanum rubens)

Picture 14 - Unknown Wasp

Picture 15 - Juvenile Grasshopper

Picture 16 - This is a foamy nest of the Spittle Bug.

Picture 17 - Golden Back Ant

We finally reached the shore and this part face Johore (Malaysia).

In the tranquil of the morning, two herons were busied looking for their breakfast amidst the mangrove swamp. As can be seen - it was a hazy morning (not because of inadequate depth of field).

But look closely, and you will find rubbish abound in this area! Plastic, glass, wooden board - you named it, you can find it here.
Picture 18 - Onch - Shell-less slug.

Picture 19 - Fern (Stenochlaena palustris) The young leaf is edible but once the leaves become old, it becomes poisonous.

Picture 20 - A Climber (Cissia hastata)

Once we were out of the Kranji Trail, we entered the SBWR. Just outside the entrance, the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was flourishing. The flowers are most spectacular, with a violet, blue and yellow spotted on one of its petal. BUT this plant is extremely hardy and flourished in most places. Now it is considered a pest as it clogged up most waterway and drive out the native water plants.

The Water Hyacinth is an introduced alien to our land, introduced to our soil in 1893, and eventually grown as pigs feed by the farmers. Soon this flourishing aquatic plant became a pest and covered the Kranji Reservoir in 1975. Problem was solved when these were physically removed, and pig farming stopped. (Source The Natural Heritage of Singapore 2nd Edition)

On the bridge, there is an unseen sentinel, ever watchful. The Stork Billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis) hidden a distant away, perched on its favourite tree. It is called the stork billed kingfisher as its beak looks like that of a stork (refer to picture below of a stork)

We were at the blind, when the storks started to make their descent. Suspect that they may be escapists from the Jurong Bird Park or Mandai Zoo, but there were no leg tags!

As we were watching this pair, another one swooped down from above.

It was looking for a place to land.
Spotted and coming in to land.

Legs extended.
and chow time on the mud flat.

Picture 21 - Egretta gazetta. This one was busied running about catching its meals.

Spotted this Little Heron (Butorides striatus) on the mud flat. Suddenly it made a dash when it spotted a mudskipper, which became its meal. As the bird has to swallow the fish whole, it will first align the head to be swallow first, this will ensure no damage to the bird bullet from the fish fins and scales.

The Sea Hibiscus flowers (Hibiscus tiliaceus) last one day, and in the picture below, we can see the fresh flower in yellow and the one that blooms the day before and has already turned and will soon drop. Somehow, this has to do with our lives - the shortness of lives, and that we have to make proper and full use of our time, for soon it will pass away!