22/10 - Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West (18 Sep 2010)

Every Saturday is a special day for all NPSS IMOG members.  Early in the week, the trip leader will broadcast the venue to explore, announce the time to meet and how to get to the location.  By Thursday, all enthusiastic members will RSVP their attendance and a final headcount will be taken. Our much anticipated Saturday lies in the hands of the weather God.  


It was a great day to begin with and the weather was cool in the early morning.  I think it rained in the wee hours of the morning. The big pond was filled with a large number of lotus leaves but not many flowers were in bloom.  The garden keeper told us that June would be a better time to visit.   By the way, the fisherman had gone fishing elsewhere because fishing is not allowed in the pond.  




While the rest were busy setting up their equipment, I took a walk to the pergola and it was pretty in pink with Antigonon leptopus (common name Coral Vine, Honolulu Creeper, Chain of Love, Hearts on a Chain or Love Vine) in bloom.  Compared to Ang Mo Kio Town Garden East, this park is bigger and built on a hillock. A 120-step staircase will take you to a public square where many elderly uncles and aunties were swatting themselves to the rhythm of some frumpy music.  One of them told another that it could get rid of aches and pain. Hmmm ... I seriously doubt so!


We did not just forage for subjects around the pond this time, but we ventured across the garden.  Shereen found a Chrysalis with very colourful thorny spikes. I actually counted and there were at least about 20 spikes!  For the record,  a Chrysalis is the pupal stage of a butterfly.   The term is derived from the metallic gold-colouration found in the pupae of many butterflies.  I have never seen anything like it and I wonder what species of butterfly would emerge from it.

(Chrysalis taken by Allan Lee, spotted by Shereen Ng)

While I was intrigued by the Chrysalis and trying to figure out which was the best composition I should take, Peck Kheng, Shereen, Freddie, Rosemary and Choon Phiow moved on to another site near the playground. There, they found Shield Bugs both the adult and juvenile. They are commonly known as Stink Bugs because they have glands in their thorax between the first and second pair of legs which produce a foul smelling liquid. This liquid is used defensively to deter potential predators and is sometimes released when the bugs are handled carelessly.  

(Mating Stink bugs taken by Peck Kheng)

(An adult & two juvenile stink bugs by Chan Choon Phiow)

People were seen walking along the footpaths that meander through the forest.  After an hour of walking, foraging and clicking, the sun came shining down on us including the droplets of water and little bugs.  

(Shadows by Anthony Quek)

We gathered around the butterfly nectar plants and there were at least 3 species of butterflies hovering around the Lantana camara bush (common name Shrub Verbena, Spanish Flag or Tick Berry / in  Chinese 五色梅).  Not too far away, I chanced upon a Batik golden web-spider, known for the impressive webs they weave.  I stood about 3 feet away and the web spanned 2 feet across me.  

(Batik golden web-spider taken by Sharon)

Acisoma panorpoides (common name Asian pintail, grizzled pintail or trumpet tail) was found perched on a log.  It flew away a few times but each time it returns, it landed on the same log.  It was very shy but cooperative so I took the opportunity to move in closer.

(Dragonfly taken by Sharon)

We gathered around to chit-chat and waited for Ong L S to have a go at the Stink bugs.  Hopefully he is happy with his shots otherwise there will always be another opportunity for improvement.

Participants (14) : Sharon S. Lim (Trip Leader), Anthony Quek, Endy Tan, Allan Lee, Joshua Fong, Tan Peck Kheng, Shereen & Freddie, Yeo T L, Kyaw Htay, Rosemary and Chan Choon Phiow, Simon Ow and Ong L S.