Alexandra Hospital Butterfly Trail again

So far, this is my BEST ever trip to the AHBT.

I have been waiting so long, and finally, my exams

are over, so I could visit this trail again. When I got

there, as usual, there was a birdwing and a few

common palmflies and chocolate pansies. This

trail, probably has all the species of bush browns.

I found this long branded bush brown, fluttering

around, unfortunately, its hindwing had been

badly chipped. ( below )

There were also roses ( the butterflies ), mormons,

yellows and blues. Here's the exciting part. I

finally entered the trail and headed strait to the

blue and dark glassy tiger's favourite flowering

bush. this is a close up of the blue glassy tiger

( below and not cropped, and my sister took it )

The tiger was clearly not bothered, as when a

tiger or a crow is disturbed, it would extrude a

pair of scent hairs that gives off a strong pungent

odour. While this one, did not. ( below: the tiger

with its wings open, showing a wingspan of 7cm )

the tiger was sure having a nice meal. Maybe it

was already drunk, as it did not feel me stroking

its hind leg !

Just then, a leopard came into view. It was feeding

on lantana. Isn't the leopard beautiful?

Now, butterflies love rotting fruit, especially

mango. It happened that a little bit further,

there were rotting mangoes covering the ground.

On each mango, there were at least three

butterflies. Too bad I scared them off before I

could get their photo. However, this dark branded

bush brown stayed on the mango. I thought that

was a good choice, as I would be happy getting its

photo, and it would be happy too as it could

enjoy some mango. ( below )

I saw many more butterflies, but that's the end of

my post......

Pink necked green pigeons

After the incident of the extraordinary

large tailed nightjar, I thought that I had to go

to the SBG again. This time, there was nothing

to see. Walking in and along the forest trails,

nothing at all. Well, only a chocolate grass

yellow, and a pair of gloves; that is. So, there's

basically just foliage. The day went on, just walking

chasing lesser grass blues. It got late, yes,

so quickly. I could already see the sunset.

Just then, ( okay, all the action is here ) a

pink necked green pigeon male flew into a tree.

I wanted to end the day with some nice bird

pictures, so I went to investigate. There were

many pigeons in the tree. Image. ( below )

The birds were high up in the tree, so I zoomed

in; the reason for the images not being super sharp.

The male birds were displaying their tails to the

female ones. The display was even impressive to

me, as I did not know that they had so many tail

feathers.

Well, it got dark so I left SBG, and headed home.

Common urban butterflies of S'pore( part 1 )

Even if you are not very observant, you'll
still have seen some butterflies. Here are
some of the more common urban butterflies
in Singapore.
1 Chocolate Pansy
The chocolate pansy is very abundant here
in S'pore, and is unmistakable. Its flight has
typical gliding flaps. This pansy is dark
brown below, and orange brown on the


upperside. Eye spots can be seen from both
top and below.
2 Lesser grass Blue
If you look carefully, you'll realise that
there are tiny things fluttering above the grass
at roadsides. They are lesser grass blues.

They are very small, so many people, even the
butterfly watchers just walk by them when they
have landed. These butterflies are extremely
common in S'pore, and also very widespread,
found in forest edge, wastelands, grasslands,
roadsides, gardens......................................................
3 Dark branded bush Brown
Although not many non-watchers, but this is
the butterfly that is always straying into car parks
and houses. It is the most common bush brown
in S'pore.


4 common palmfly

In flight this butterfly appears all black
except for the corners of the forewing
( upperside ), which is blue with white spots.
Another common one, found in urban as well
as forested areas.

( p.s. : the lengths of forewings of the
butterflies: (1):29mm,(2):11mm, (3):23mm,
(4):35mm )

Large tailed Nightjar and Cycad blue

Yes, another visit to the SBG. Just walking around

a forested area, a yellow fluttered right in front of me.

Yellows? they are too common, and they rarely

land, so what? Well, this one looked like a chocolate

grass yellow, and the last time I came across one

of these I did not get a very nice image. So, I was

willing to follow it. The butterfly led to a tiny

clearing in the forest. Then the butterfly flew

deeper into the forest. I was so disappointed.

Okay when a butterfly does this, I know it is

leading me to something. So I looked everywhere,

but all I saw was soil and plants. Then I felt something

like an ant biting my foot so I looked down......

A large tailed Nightjar was sitting on the ground

rather close to my feet! ( below )

Yes, it was very close to me. The nightjar was just so

cute. The nightjar from a distance. ( below )

Now, I did not want to disturb it too much so I

moved on. I walked, and walked, and an emigrant,

yes, an emigrant ( butterfly ) bobbed by me. Again,

leading me to something. Just at the spot that it

disappeared, a blue zoomed pass me. It was a

cycad blue, rather common in S'pore. Yes, they

are common, but then why do I call it a highlight?

That's coz' of my photos. At that time, it was rather hot,

so the blue was sunbathing, and I got this shot.( below )

I took many more images, but this was probably my

best. Well, Maybe not. Here's another one ( below )

Okay, this might be a little abrupt, but that's the

end of my post......

Maybe the SBG is a better place

Okay, just another trip to the Singapore

Botanic Gardens ( SBG ). So what? I

often go there, and there's the same things,

but always, a surprise. I seemed to love going

there after the incident of the blue winged pitta.

This time, the treat is about butterflies. I was

chasing a chocolate pansy, one of S'pore's most

common butterflies, and got this lovely image

of the pansy. ( sunbathing, below )

The butterfly did come to puddle on my foot,

it felt kind of ticklish. Then not long after, this

skink came into view. ( below )

Okay, all the action starts now. Drawn by a male

common birdwing, the rare and elusive common

rose caught my eye. I looked again, could it just

be the very common common mormon? No! Its

body was orange. I did not manage to get its picture

taken but at least I saw it. Then a common palmfly

fluttered beside me. Well, palmflies are common, but

I have never gotten so close to one. Snap! ( below )

Then, a butterfly distracted me. As I was rather

sweaty it landed near me probably thinking if it

should come and puddle on my head. ( below perching )

The photo was taken from below, and now, again,

a butterfly distracted me. No. It was not only one, it

was a pair of mating grass yellows. I couldn't

identify them as they were quite far away. My

image ( below ) is not sharp coz' of the distance.

Now, time to go. As my sister was evaporating,

yes, she was parched. So, we went home.

If only everyday was like this.......