Nature Walk Series
Tree Top Walk Trail
11 May 2012

Highlight:

photoThe last time I came by the tree-top walk bridge was more than 2 years ago in February 2010. Not much has changed in the surrounding since my last visit, which was actually a good thing. Except for a few monkeys that were rather hostile at the entrance of the bridge, the scenery on the bridge was as spectacular as before.

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A tree new to me that I managed to identify (Drepananthus ridleyi) was located by the side of the bridge. The flowers lining along the branches have long, greenish-yellow petals. It was the characteristic of the flowers that lead to its identification.

The most easily recognised tree along the bridge was the towering Terentang tree (Campnosperma auriculatum) with their long and broad leaves. One can often see its flowering stalks as well as the berry fruits clearly on the bridge.

photo photoAfter getting off the bridge and moving further down the slope along the boardwalk, I spotted a juvenile Wagler's Pit Viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri). This snake is supposed to be rather common in our forest though this is the first time that I had a chance to look at a real one. It seemed to be asleep as it did not make any movement while I was snapping its picture at reasonably close range with my camera. Of course, I was careful not to get too close as the creature did look threatening enough.

photo photoAs I move along the more levelled part of the boardwalk, an interesting dragonfly resting on the leaf caught my attention. Its features were somewhere between a dragonfly and a damselfly --- the wings folded up vertically while a rest and they are much larger than that of a damselfly. It did take off a few times while I tried to get some photo shots. Luckily, it always returned to some spots nearby, thus allowing me to take quite a few shots. It is likely to be Vestalis amethystina.

photo photoThere were quite a number of dragonflies near a stream area. However, only one of them came close enough for me to take some photos. It happened to be one that I had not seen previously, with alternating dark and light brown colouration along its tail. It should be a female Treehugger (Tyriobapta torrida).

It was a good harvest for butterfly pictures mainly because today was a weekday where human traffic was very light. The following were the butterflies that I managed to snap some pictures and I was glad that I could identify all of them.

From left to right: Branded Imperial Butterfly (Eooxylides tharis distanti), Common Four Ring (Ypthima huebneri), Dark Brand Bush Brown (Mycalesis mineus macromalayana), The Knight (Lebadea martha parkeri), and Common Faun (Faunis canens arcesilas).

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photoThe only caterpillar that I managed to find was a small nettle caterpillar discovered on the underside of a leaf from an unknown plant.

photoFinally, on the way out toward the Ranger Station after completing the boardwalk trail, I chanced upon a climber that has Singapore as part of the name, Adenia macrophylla var. singaporeana. The most exciting part was that this liana was fruiting, with the bright red fruits hanging along the stem. It belongs to the Passion Flower family.

There were a number of unknown plants seen but most did not have flowers or fruits on them, making identification a challenge. As usual, insects and spiders were spotted and some pictures were displayed in the photo gallery below.

It was wonderful to be back on the tree-top bridge after 2 years!

Photo Gallery:

Below are selected photos from this trip arranged according to the sequence that they were taken. There is a text link under the photo that will direct you to more photos of the same species if they are available in my website.

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Neocollyris sp.
(Tiger Beetle)
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Young Toad
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Jumping spider with a prey
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Seed Bug
(Family: Lygaeoidea)
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Coprinus sp.
(Mushroom)
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Marasmius siccus
(Orange Pinwheel Marasmius)
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Castianeira sp.
(Ant-Mimicking Sac Spider)
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Yellow mushroom

Statistics:

First shot: 7:22 am
Last shot: 1:10 pm
Total number of shots: 543

To use any of the image(s), please read the conditions carefully. To correct any error, please contact me.