Informal Macro Outing Group: May 2009

Sunday, May 31, 2009

18/09 - Segar Road (30 May 09)

We started at about 7:45 am but was forced to call off at about 10:10 am due to heavy rain. Segar remains as one of the good shooting sites as there are still quite a number of shooting subjects to be found during this short period. A mating pair of Stinkbugs, a bird drop spider, crab spider with prey, a lot of lawn wolf spiders on the ground, mating darters, etc. We were glad to see our friend old Michael came to join us. Also, it was a pleasant surprise to see Ng Hwei Min, our ex-treasurer, appeared in our outing for the first time.

(Mating Stinkbugs by Cai Yixiong)

(Lawn wolf spider with prey by Chan CP)

Participant (11) : Cai Yixiong (Team Leader) , Ong Lim Sim, Pegi Lee, Shereen Ng, Endy Tan, Darren Chng, Joshua Fong, Rosemary Ong, Chan C P, Ng Hwei Min & Michael Ee

Monday, May 25, 2009

17/09 - Margaret Drive (23/5)

Margaret Drive macro site is an accessible and pleasant place to walk around and do some macro shoot. There were mating moths, grasshoppers, moths, lynx spiders, crab spiders, St Andrew spider, some dragonflies. Subjects-wise not as productive as places near nature reserves such as Chestnut Avenue, Kranji Nature Trail, etc. Hazel met Frank Starmer who frequents this macro site and his view was that much more careful scrutiny would unveil more subjects from this interesting place.

(Cicada exoskeleton by Darren Chng)

The condition of the terrain has improved as compared to a previous outing there when it was the rainy season and large areas were water-logged. Having a Macdonald at the nearby Ridout Garden was a good feature of this macro site! It was great that Hazel and Rose had introduced their friends to our macro group. Perhaps if the friends are interested, they can sign up with Endy as NPSS paid-up members. Another passing thought is that with a laptop, and with air con comfort, we can actually have a "part 2" for our outings which would include image viewing/sharing/critique and participants can also share some Photoshop tips. Strike while the iron is hot. Oh yes, great to see Chuan Kwee our long time pal and NPSS member!

(Mating Day Moth by Rosemary)

Margaret Drive recommendation level for future outings: Slightly above Medium, but not High.

Participants (14) : Darren Chng (Team Leader), Shereen Ng, Wong Loong Tat, Hazel Han with 2 friends, Endy Tan, Pegi Lee, Kyaw Htay, Joshua, Chan CP, Rosemary with 2 colleagues & Lim Chuan Kwee

Saturday, May 16, 2009

16/09 - Kranji Nature Trail (16 May 09)

Weather was good in the early morning. By 8 am, all participants arrived some as early as 7 am. There were many common subjects such as leaf hoppers, dragonflies, lynx spiders with prey, crab spiders with prey, butterflies, Shield bugs, Bee, etc., However, by 9.30 am, it started to become hot and humid. As expected, there were many mosquitoes especially as we proceeded further into the nature trail. A few of us were also attacked by ants which was quite a distraction! Nevertheless, most of us continued shooting until we called it a day at about 12 pm. We drove to the nearby canteen to have our lunch and chit chat.

Catches of the day were spiders with preys which Kranji Nature Trail is well known for.

(Lynx spider with prey by Allan Lee)

Participants (13) : Anthony Quek (Team Leader) , Pegi Lee, Ong Lim Sim, Kyaw Htay, Hazel Han, Wong Loong Tat, Shereen Ng, Ngee Chye, Richard Ho, Chan CP, Allan Lee, Darren Chng & Cai Yixiong

Friday, May 15, 2009

15/09 - Sungei Ulu Pandan (9 May 09)

This is a new macro site introduced by Endy Tan. Response was good with 12 participants. We saw cricket (see left photo by Yan Leong), katydids, centipede with prey (see bottom right photo by Allan), spiders with prey, bettles (shield bug, scarab caught in web & lady bug), butterflies, caterpillar & pupa, and moths (mating and camouflaging). Many species of birds were sited too.

Participants (12) : Endy Tan (Team Leader) , Lee Yan Leong, Tony Png, Pegi Lee, Ong Lim Sim, Wong Loong Tat, Kyaw Htay & son, Hazel Han, Allan Lee, Joshua Fong & Shereen Ng

14/09 - Bukit Timah Cycling Trail (25 Apr 09)

This is a new macro site introduced by Yixiong. We met at 7.30am. After parking, proceeded to the Bukit Timah Bicycle Track. We shot at a nearby stream. The weather was fine. There were spiders, rare damselflies, green crested lizard (see left photo by Kway Htay), praying mantis beside other subjects. We stopped at 11.am and lunched together.

We had to be especially careful to keep out of the way of the mountain bikes that came hurtling very fast downhill.

(Praying Mantis by Cai Yixiong)

(Stick Damsel, Pericnemis stictica by Kyaw Htay)

Participants (10) : Tony Png (Team Leader), Cai Yixiong, Hazel Han with 1 friend, Allan Lee, Kyaw Htay, Ong Lim Sim, Rosemary, Chan CP, Edwin & Shereen Ng

13/09 - Singapore Botanical Garden, Ecolake (18 Apr 09)

SBG Ecolake used to be a good macro site with variety of subjects but it didn't seem to be the case on this particular saturday. There were still many dragonflies and damselfies. Fortunately, we managed to spot a colourful red shield bug nymph (see right photo by Darren) which can be considered as the catch of the day for some of us.

Paricipants (7) : Darren Chng (Team Leader) , Pegi Lee, Wong Loong Tat, Richard Ho, Anthony Quek, Cai Yixiong & Endy Tan

12/09 - Night Shoot at Bukit Batok Nature Park (11 Apr 09)

The original plan was to shoot at the Hindhede Park next to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, but being changed at the last minute to Bukit Badok Nature Park as the car park of BTNR will be closed at 7:30pm, and no public is allowed to enter the Nature Reserve at night. (Most of the Singapore Island was raining except the BTNR area). BBNP seems to have a little drizzle shortly before we arrived. The vegetation is a bit wet, but did not affect our shooting activity very much.

(Spitting spider with babies by Chan Wei Luen)

Interesting subjects sited by by the group are Colugo (did not manage to shoot it as it moved quickly up to tree), Leafy Katydid (By Wei Luen & Ricjhard), False Scopion (by Allan), Garden Spider (Allan), Moth, Zodariidae spider (CYX), Malline sp (CYX), Spitting spider (by Richard; Destine), Forest Cockcroch (Yan Leong), Crab and toad, etc. It was another successful night macro conducted by our IMOG.

(Asiatic Toad by Richard Erh)

Participants (10) : Cai Yixiong (Team Leader) , Allan Lee, Endy Tan, Hazel Han, Ong Lim Sim, Destine Ang, Kelvin, Chan Wei Luen, Richard Erh & Lee Yan Leong

11/09 - Rifle Range Road (11 Apr 09)

There was a drizzle rain at early morning but fortunately, it stopped one hour later when we were moving to our gathering point. The results for the trip were very good. Shooting subjects may not be so abundance as in many other macro sites, but with a great deal of varieties, especially for some species that occurs only in forested area such as the blue wing damselfly Vestalis Amethystina (by Lester & Allan), rare butterflies - Five Bar Sword Tail Puddling (By lester), and Blue Jay Puddling (By Lester), unknown black-ringed yellow caterpillar (by Allan) and juvenile Red Bug (by CYX),Red Beetle (CYX) etc ..

(Five Bar Sword Tail Puddling by Sher Woei)

There were also a good number of spiders, few jumping spiders, lichen spider (CYX), Golden Web Spider(Tony, CYX), Twig-like feather-legged spiders (Hazel), lyn spiders (Teck Nam), etc. Wei Luen has even shot a snake. Some of us left early, and all were happy with the trip.

(Red-necked bronzeback by Wei Luen)

We ended our trip at about 12:30pm and went to have lunch together. It turned to a heavy downpour after we finished our lunch. Great timing for our trip!!! Rifle Range Trail appears to be a good macro site for further exploration of forest species.

Participants (14) : Cai Yixiong (Team Leader), Allan Lee, Endy Tan, Michael Ee, Tony Png, Lester Koh, Hazel Han, Ong Lim Sim, Destine Ang, Kelvin, Chan Wei Luen, Richard Erh, Kyaw Htay, Teck Nam, Fong Sher Woei , Ong Wee Sien & Lee Yan Leong

10/09 - Admiralty Park (4 Apr 09)

Admiralty Park is a good macro site with lots to offer. There were a wide variety of spiders and some were spotted with preys.

(Bee in flight by Allan Lee)

(Spider with prey by Ong Lim Sim)

Participants : Allan Lee (Team Leader) , Kyaw Htay, Tony Png, Ong Lim Sim, Chan CP, Roy Sim,

9/09 - Venus Drive (28 Mar 09)

(Planthopper by Darren Chng)

(Fungus by Hazel Han)

Participants : Tony Png (Team Leader) , Hazel Han, Darren Chng, Fang SC, Mike,

8/09 - Pasir Ris Park (21 Mar 09)

We were lucky to have good weather this morning at Pasir Ris Park. However, it was quite a weird morning as there were not many subjects spotted. Nevertheless, all of us enjoyed the company of each other. We called it a day early for tea break/lunch at around 11am.

(Weaver Ant by Allan Lee)

Participants (9) : Michael Ee (Team Leader) , Hazel Han, Shereen Ng, Endy Tan, Joyce Kan, Lester Koh, Allan Lee, Ong Lim Sim & Veron

7/09 - Holland Woods (14 Mar 09)

Holland Woods has come back to its more or less wild condition. There were quite a number of dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies (see right photo - common five-rings by Yixiong), darters, spiders, ladybirds, etc, The grasses have reached about one-metre high, and almost covered the path. Also, there is less human disturbance. During 4 hours outing there, no other people passing through as before. The dragonflies are now become very sensitive to human being, and not easy to get close to shoot them. We started at 7:40am and ended at about 11:30am and then moved to Bukit Timah for lunch and chit-chatting.

(Pinhead Midget - Agriocnemis femina by Anthony Quek)

Participants (14) : Cai Yixiong (Team Leader), Ong Lim Sim, Joe, Michael Ee, Destine Ang, Kelvin Ong, Lester Koh, Hazel Han, Shereen Ng, Pegi Lee, Anthony Quek, Endy Tan, Chan CP & Rosemary

6/09 - Woodland Street 13 (7 Mar 09)

This new macro site was introduced by Eddy Tan. It was another good site found and 7 photographers were quite happy there. We saw all three variants (green, yellow, red) of the nymph of Dillenia Shield Bug, many species of colourful fungus (white, brown, black, yellow, and pink), a gecko, 2 species of praying mantis, some little snails, butterflies, hoppers, etc.

(Shield Bug Nymph by Chan CP)

Participants (7) : Endy Tan (Team Leader) , Chan CP, Rosemary, Pegi Lee, Ong Lim Sim, Kyaw Htay & Hazel Han

5/09 - Chua Chu Kang Ave 5 (28 Feb 09)

CCK Avenue 5 used to be a very good macro site but it did not seem to be so during this outing. The weather was cool in the morning but turned hot and windy after 9 am. There were not many interesting subjects. We were about to call it a day about 10.30 am when Shereen spotted a praying mantis on a tree. It was certainly our catch of the day as we spent another hour taking turn to shoot this beautiful creature.

(Praying Mantis by Anthony Quek)

(Passion flower by Ong Wei Sien)

Participant (5) : Darren Chng (Team Leader), Ong Wei Sien, Shereen Ng, Joe & Anthony Quek

4/09 - Night Shoot at Venus Drive (14 Feb 09)

This was the first night shoot organised by the IMOG. It was so interesting and successful that a formal outing was organised a week later led by Wei Luen & Richard. There were many interesting subjects and nocturnal activities that we do not get to see during the day such as the moth depositing silk, mating beetles, Tarantula spider, Green Crested Lizard with a cricket, huntsman spider with prey, BBKF, etc.

(Green Crested Lizard with cricket by Cai Yixiong)

It was a eye opener for many of us as this was our first night shoot. Some was quite uncomfortable at first, but as the night got on, they started to enjoy themselves. Some commented that it was cooling and more exciting at night.

(Mating beetles by Richard Erh)

Participants : Allan Lee & Cai Yixiong (Team Leaders) , Wei Luen, Richard aka trident, Pegi Lee,

3/09 - Bedok Rise (17 Jan 09)

The outing was conducted successfully. The new site was quite good for nature macro photography. Although it was windy, we managed to take some photos of interesting subjects (see right photo - Lime Butterfly by Allan Lee), concentrated at the under foliage area. Four photographers were very happy there.

Allan suggested for further exploration and should reach the site before 7am. He also pointed out to check the wheather of the night before going there, his recommendation was no cloud (heat from ground won't be trapped in between) and less wind (new cool air stays longer). This way the heat absorbed by the earth in the day will be emitted and dispersed evenly into the air and the cooling new ground will produce dews in the next morning.

(Leafy holes abstract by Darren Chng)

Participant (6) : Endy Tan (Team Leader) , Hazel Han, Kyaw Htay, Allan lee

2/09 - Singapore Botanical Garden, Plant House (10 Jan 09)

The plant house pond at SBG is a good place to shoot the attractive bi-color damselfly. It did not disappoint as many participants have some good shots of it, be it wide angle or portrait. A pity there was no mating damselflies being spotted on this morning.

(Frog by Allan Lee)

(Bicolor Damselfly by Yixiong)

Participants (13) : Darren Chng (Team Leader), Cai Yixiong, Endy Tan, Hazel Han, Simon, Hilary, Joe, Joshua, Shephen Lim, James Lee, Mrs Lee (aka Foong), Allan Lee & Pegi Lee.

1/09 - Segar Road (3 Jan 09)

Our first outing for 2009 turned out quite successfully with 12 participants. We started at about 7:45am. The weather was cloudy, very nice for shooting. Probably the only factor that was not so well collaborative was the wind i.e. a bit windy at the first half of the shooting period.

9. Darter (http://npss.org.sg/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=612)

10. Day moth (http://npss.org.sg/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=642)

Participants (12) : Cai Yixiong (Team Leader) , Darren Chng, Anthony Quek, Rosemary, Choon Piow, Kyaw Htay, Shereen Ng, James, Allan Lee, Tony Png, Tan Chuan Yean, Peter Low