14/10 - Jurong Woods (22 May 10)

Jurong Woods remains as a good macro playground. We saw many Lynx spiders in actions (with preys such as ant, fly & caterpillar). Other subjects found are crab spiders, hoppers, dragonflies, moths, caterpillars, robberflies, etc. This time round we took the left turn at the Y-junction but did not explore too deep in as the outing was cut-off early before 10 am due to the approaching rain. Some of us had coffee at the nearby coffeeshop located at the other end of Jurong Road before we called it a day.

(Lynx spider maternal care by Allan Lee)

Participants (6) : Allan Lee (Team Leader), Lee Yan Leong, Chan CP, Syn CP, Joshua Fong & John Wong

13/10 - Chestnut Avenue (08 May 2010)

Our records show that the first and only outing to Chestnut Avenue by our Informal Macro Outing Group (IMOG) was conducted on 30 August 2008, led by Michael Ee. Chestnut Avenue was very famous two years ago in the macro shooting community, but getting less attractive recently as results of less subjects provided perhaps due to the negative impacts of the surrounding development projects to its natural environment. However, a recent recce shooting by some of our members show that the site is recovering in term of natural habitats and macro subjects. So we chose to visit the site again.

(Spiny Spider by Cai Yixiong)

We started shooting at about 7.50 am when most of the photographers were in the place. The weather condition was fine and the shooting ground remained under shadow condition even on the time that we left at 11.20 am. Water dew covered most of the vegetation, and many of the shooting subjects.

(Dewy Dragonfly by Lee Yan Leong)

Macro subjects found there were Spiny spider, St Andrew's Cross Spider, Laglaise's Garden Spider, Dewy Dragonfly, caterpillars, and if your eyes are sharp, a simple leaf like what have been presented by Hazel Han could also be very nice and interesting. There are many more subjects which will be posted on the NPSS forum later I believe.

Participants (11): Cai Yixiong (Team Leader), Ong Wee Shien, Stephen Lim, Sharon S. Lim, Joshua Fong, Michael Ooi, Eugene Hu, Shereen Ng, Hazel Han, Lee Yan Leong and John Wong.

12/10 - Pulau Ubin (1 May 10)

The star of the day was the Tawny Coaster butterfly with a cluster of eggs on the leaf of passion fruit. Other subjects spotted include lynx spiders, praying mantis, caterpillars, butterflies, hoppers & lacewing insect.

(Wild apples by Allan Lee)

It was probably due to the hot weather, or for whatever reasons, we found that the two usual places (Butterfly Hill & Secret Garden) which we visited, were not as good as before. The long lalangs that we often see along the track next to the Secret Garden were cleared making it too clean for macro shooting. It is time that we explore new hunting grounds for future outings in Pulau Ubin.

In short, the best thing to do that day was to sit in the coffee shop chit-chatting with some refreshing cold drinks.

Participants (11) : Allan Lee (Team Leader), Sharon S. Lim, Yeo TL, Joshua Fong, Teo Ngee Chye, Vincent See, Hazel Han, Catherine Wong,Vivien Wee, Syn CP and Richard Ho