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Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Sunday, Sept 24th!

Posted: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 7:50 am
by Giselle
We're off to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve!

Date: Sunday, 24th September
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Meet at: Ticket Booth at the entrance
of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve


Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve to entice:
http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
http://www.wildsingapore.com/places/sbwr.htm
http://www.ecologyasia.com/html-loc/sungei-buloh.htm

If you're wondering which bird's which:
http://www.pbase.com/dbehrens/sungei_buloh&page=1
Perhaps the monitor lizard thinks it's a bird..
http://www.naturestops.com/gallery/
http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/Artuso/index.html
http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/birds/birds.htm

...and what's peering at you:
http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/inverts/animals.htm

...or which flora flourishes:
http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/plants.htm
http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/index.htm

Map to get there:

Image
Image

Sundays and Public Holidays
SMRT Bus 925 stops at Park's Entrance.
And our walk's on Sunday!! :)
(Mondays to Saturdays
Board SMRT Bus 925 from Kranji MRT Station. Alight at Kranji Reservoir
Carpark for 15-min walk to the Reserve.)

Map of the Wetland Reserve itself:
Image

Boardwalk @ visitor centre
Approx. 500m
Walk on wooden stilt structures weaving through the mangroves.
Listen to the calls of the cicadas.
At high tide, observe crabs and shellfish on tree trunks.
At low tide, look out for the unusual roots of the mangroves.
Spot mussels and mangrove oysters in the mud.
Look out for water snakes and horseshoe crabs in shallow streams.
Watch mudskippers manoeuvre across the mudflats.

Route 1
Approx. 3km
Circles two main ponds where resident herons and migratory waders feed.
Look out for sluice gates that control the flow of water in and out of the ponds.
Observation hides with murals depict various habitats of the reserve.
Passes the aquatic plant pond with a good collection of aquatic plants.
Spot the Common Monitor Lizard, Golden web Spider, Common Tailorbird and White-bellied

Fish Eagle.

Route 2
Approx. 5km
From outdoor classroom, the longest boardwalk brings you into the mangrove arboretum.
Look out for breeding herons at the end of the boardwalk.
Leads to the tower hide and traditional prawn pond.

Route 3
Approx. 7km
Leads to the freshwater ponds at the western end of the reserve.
Look out for the nesting Baya Weaver.
Spot common water birds like the Bittern & the White-Breasted Waterhen.

Be friendly to the reserve
Please :
Take nothing but photographs
Leave nothing but footprints
Do not litter or damage the environment
Be as quiet as possible
Take care of reserve property
Do not bring pets, radio or bicycles into the reserve
Do not smoke
Keep to walking trails

Friendly Tips
Wear long-sleeves and long-trousers
Use a good pair of comfortable walking shoes.
Apply the insect repellent on the shoes and socks
if going into the jungle to prevent leeches from
climbing up onto your legs.
Do not wear white or bright colours.
Dress in comfortable clothes in neutral colour
Wear a hat in non-bright colour
Bring binoculars, drinking water, notebook and pen
Do not forget water (and food if necessary)
During thunderstorm stay in the observation hides

Under no circumstances should visitors approach a crocodile,
Unless, of course, you know how to wrestle a crocodile, like Steve Irwin.
He was a great conservationist, and will sadly be missed by all...

As with all wild animals, crocodiles should be treated with caution.
Animals do not usually attack unless they are threatened.

Birdwatcher's code:
Do not frighten the birds
Leave nesting birds alone

Birdwatching at the reserve requires:
1.Patience
2.An eye for details
3.A good pair of binoculars
(8x or 10x magnication) - invest in a good a pair of binoculars
if you want to take up bird-watching as a hobby

Admission:
Free entry except on Saturdays, Sundays,
Public Holidays and School Holidays.
$1.00 per adult
$0.50 per child

Book guides on Sungei Buloh, etc
Bring along a good bird guide (there are many available)
You can get them from:
Popular Bookshop at the Orchard MRT Station,
Kinokuniya Bookshop at Takashimaya
or at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
http://www.wildsingapore.com/events/gifts/5.htm
http://www.science.edu.sg/ssc/prog.jsp? ... 87&cat=102

BINOCULARS
Please bring along a pair of binoculars - a reasonably good pair can be bought at Mustafa Centre, which is open 24hrs. Price range - S$25 upwards.

http://www.mustafa.com.sg/location.htm


Our lady, L, has to observe a month of fasting, thus my post on her behalf.

Posted: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 8:20 am
by greenrover
Excellent news!

Need to be finished by 5pm so I hope this will fit into my timetable :-)))

Looking forward to hearing moe about this tomorrow..

Posted: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 10:18 am
by marj_kee
Remember to bring insect repellent.

Posted: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 9:35 pm
by CK35
This is something I wanted to try out but didn't know how to start.

Great.. count me in.. where to meet as I am totally unfamiliar with the area.

Help help... can someone take me there?

:???: CK35

Posted: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 9:00 am
by greenrover
I was half hoping you'd take ME there!!

I am sure we will be issued with step-by-step instructions and meeting times 'ere the day is out...

:D

Visit times

Posted: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 9:15 am
by Lilu
Hiya!

Thanks Giselle for posting on my behalf!

There are 3 trails to follow; the longest 7km route takes 4-5 hours. You get to see the most birds near closing time (7pm) but you'd be in a rush to get out before then or lost in the dark!

So I suggest starting morning, 10 a.m. (I personally think this is late but let's not be cruel on Sundays) so you can take your time.

Repellent + plenty of water.

To get there:

From Kranji MRT take SMRT Bus 925 which stops at Park's Entrance.

L

Posted: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 3:24 pm
by Giselle
Lilu dear, you're most welcome! Thank you for your help! It is very much appreciated!

I'm glad you suggested 10am!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you, all...welcome! Thank you for your patience!
Have been very busy lately...

The lady, L, has spoken! So 10am it is!

My students await...have to run!

Posted: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 3:26 pm
by Giselle
Oh...I often walk home from classes...

It takes me less than an hour of leisurely walk to cover 4km, so 7km would be very much less, at perhaps 2hrs or less?

My original post's been updated - your questions answered...

Have an exceptionally brilliant day, folks!

Posted: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 11:04 pm
by RonyRuslan
Hi lady Lilu,

welcome on board, well done, u really did it ayy =D>
i am in for sure, can't miss this!! thanks.
i salute to ur fasting commitment n endurance :wink:
hmm i will bring after bite balm :D



Date: Sunday, 24th September
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Meet at: Ticket Booth at the entrance
of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

1. Gisselle
2. Lilu
3. Greenrover
4. CK35
5. Rony
6. Marj_kee ??
7. calling for the rest ~~

Posted: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 3:41 pm
by Giselle
Greenrover, CK35, Rony - looking forward to Sunday morning!

Rony, thank you...there are more elsewhere, not listed here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All,

Every detail you'd like to know is up above, so see you on Sunday!

*Please contact: 91002368 only if you cannot find us, after 10a.m. on Sunday.

Have to run!

Giselle

Posted: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 5:58 pm
by Lilu
I wont be coming :cry: though would love to! Hope you have all fun!

Posted: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 4:24 am
by Giselle
Lilu, I'm sure we'll be off to Sungei Buloh again soon - there are three trails and I'd like to check out all of them - so we would love to see you the next time!

Posted: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 1:24 pm
by CK35
What a pleasant day I had at Sungei Buloh.

Highlight of the trip: saw a crocodile, red and green shanks, water monitor lizards, erget, shorebirds, squirrels and mudskipper. All these are very interesting to me as I normally would not be able to differentiate the different kinds of birds but then Giselle is very knowledgeable and explained them to me very well.

Good weather, great company.. good walk.. Thanks for organising this trip.

Ck35 :wink:

Posted: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 1:29 pm
by marj_kee
RonyRuslan wrote: Date: Sunday, 24th September
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Meet at: Ticket Booth at the entrance
of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

1. Gisselle
2. Lilu
3. Greenrover
4. CK35
5. Rony
6. Marj_kee ??
7. calling for the rest ~~
Hey Rony, thank you for putting my name down. Unfortunately didn't get to see this post till now, and thus, didn't RSVP.

Hope you guys had a great time at Sungei Buloh !

Posted: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 2:24 pm
by greenrover
Shame all could not make it

I doubt I'd make the next one as I am heading back to Sydney soon but recommend if enough people decide to go that you all get a taxi as the 55 min wait to get back to Kranji is not really on! :-)))

There was lots to see and binoculars were a must or a very powerful camera....