Ball-cutter fish

(Photo from The Sun)

Over the past week, you may have read about the discovery of a fish with a rather unsavory taste for a particularly vulnerable part of the human anatomy.

This park connector does not connect to anywhere

STOMPer Jogger wonders why the Jurong Park Connector does not connect to anywhere and ends at different locations.

Said the STOMPer:

"The Jurong PCN is a haven for joggers and cyclists.

"Recently, PUB, JTC and NParks have embarked on developing the surrounding areas and the vicinity of Jurong Lake.

"Part of the Jurong Park connector abruptly ends at Boon Lay Way without connecting Jurong Town Hall Rd and Yuan Ching Rd.

"The PCN can be continuous if a bridge was built to link point A to point B (in diagram), that is the area where the canal empties into Jurong Lake

"Why a disjointed park connector?"

As far as I know, based on the map for Jurong Park Connector, the 2 sides are indeed connected, so this person is just talking nonsense.

Take a nice stroll down Jurong Lake Park

STOMPer Johnny Walker would like to share these beautiful pictures he took at Jurong Lake Park with fellow STOMPers.

In an email to STOMP today (Jan 12), the STOMPer says:

"These pictures were taken at the Lake View Promenade adjoining Jurong Lake. This picture was taken just before sunrise at 6.30 am and you can see the silhouettes of tall buildings and trees.

"The Jurong Lake teems with fish and when the water is still, you can see the reflection of trees in the water.

"The notice put up by JTC says, 'PLEASE KEEP AWAY FROM THIS UNUSED STRUCTURE.'

"The old jetty has been partially dismantled leaving the concrete pillars standing in the water. Instead of totally removing the old jetty, these pillars are now an eyesore. JTC should have removed the whole jetty.

"Some stray dogs are a menace to early morning joggers. As I was jogging in the park, these dogs snarled at me and kept baring their teeth. I had to use a stick to protect myself from these ferocious dogs.

"A motorboat was cruising across the lake in the morning."

"Overgrown creepers at Penjuru bus stop gives me sense that living things lurk behind"

STOMPer Bus commuter doesn't feel safe when he waits for a bus at the Pandan Reservoir bus stop along Penjuru Road. The overgrown creepers make him feel as if there are hornets and snakes lurking in them.

Says this STOMPer:

"This picture was taken at a bus stop opposite the Pandan Reservoir at Penjuru Road.

"The creepers are overgrown and covering the railings beside the drains.

"Whenever I wait here for the bus to arrive, I have a sense of trepidation that there might be hornets and snakes lurking in the bushes.

"I hope the creepers could be removed for public safety."

Seriously, some people really have nothing better to do.

Penjuru Road canal polluted with oil and other liquids

Look at how white the water is, says STOMPer chemical engineer, who is concerned about the polluted water in Penjuru Road canal.

The STOMPer hopes relevant action will be taken to stop this pollution.

He says:

"These pictures were taken at a canal at Penjuru Road.

"Some of the factories have been discharging a white liquid and oil into the canal.

"All these pollutants will flow into the rivers and the open sea and kill marine life.

"I hope NEA will conduct more stringent checks on these sources of pollution of our waterways."

The nearest major bodies of water in the vicinity include Pandan Reservoir, Sungei Bajau Kanan, as well as Jurong Lake.

Eagle-like bird spotted at Serangoon North Ave 2

STOMPer John Patrick's wife and son spotted this huge eagle-like bird perched on a tree top at Serangoon North Ave 2.

In email sent to STOMP today (Oct 31), the 49-year-old civil servant wrote:

"My wife and son spotted this bird which looks like the eagles we see in Jurong Bird Park from our eighth floor flat at Serangoon North Ave 2.

"This was in the afternoon of Oct 29 and it appeared to be a very large bird."

Do check out the video posted on STOMP.

The video quality is horribly poor, but if I had to make an educated guess, I wouldn't be surprised if it was an Oriental honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus).


Bidadari Cemetery;
(Photo by NatureInYourBackyard)


(Photo by hiker1974)


Bukit Panjang;
(Photo by kampang)

As the name suggests, the Oriental honey buzzard actually has quite a unique diet; it specialises on raiding the nests of wasps and bees for their larvae, although it also feeds on other insects, and will take small vertebrates.


Oriental honey buzzard feeding on wasp nest, Japanese Garden;
(Photo by NatureInYourBackyard)

Compared to other raptors, the Oriental honey buzzard appears to have a long neck with a small head. Its nostrils are slits, and it has special scale-like feathers around its face, nostrils and forehead. These are adaptations to protect the bird from the stings of wasps and bees.


(Photo by NatureInYourBackyard)


(Photo by cedphotos)

This is a species that is more commonly seen in forested and wooded habitats, although it is becoming quite frequently encountered in urban areas in recent years. Even your jaded Singaporeans, more used to mynas (Acridotheres spp.), feral pigeons (Columba livia), tree sparrows (Passer montanus) and house crows (Corvus splendens), would find it very hard to miss the large raptor perched right outside their homes.


Bukit Panjang;
(Photo by kampang)

The Oriental honey buzzard is not known to breed in Singapore; instead, most sightings are believed to be of migrants from further north. There are 2 main populations; the northern population, belonging to the subspecies orientalis, breeds from Siberia east to China and Japan, and migrates to India and Southeast Asia during the winter. The bulk of sightings of Oriental honey buzzards in Singapore are of birds belonging to this population, and it is considered to be a common winter visitor and passage migrant. Birds belonging to this subspecies have little or no crest.


Khatib Bongsu;
(Photo by kampang)


(Photo by cedphotos)

The southern population consists of 5 subspecies resident in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia; the most distinctive feature that sets these subspecies apart from the northern population is the presence of a crest.


The nominate subspecies (ptilorhyncus) is endemic to Java;
(Photo by dimar_bioui05)

The subspecies torquatus is an uncommon resident breeder in Peninsular Malaysia. It is likely that the occasional records of this subspecies in Singapore are of newly fledged birds dispersing after the breeding season, in search of new territory. Such birds account for most records of Oriental honey buzzards here in the summer months.


(Photo by Laurence Poh)

The torquatus subspecies is considered to be an uncommon non-breeding visitor in Singapore; however, there is always the possibility that eventually, some of these might establish themselves and start breeding locally.


Here is a very interesting photo taken in Malaysia; the bird on the left is a male Oriental honey buzzard belonging to the resident race torquatus, while the bird on the right is a male of the same species, except that it belongs to the migratory race orientalis. You can see how different they are in terms of coloration of plumage, and by the presence of a crest in the resident form.

One very interesting fact about the Oriental honey buzzard is that it apparently mimics other raptor species. In terms of plumage, the Oriental honey buzzard is said to bear a close resemblance to several species of hawk-eagle (Nisaetus spp.) of Southeast Asia.

For example, the subspecies torquatus, resident in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo, closely resembles Wallace's hawk-eagle (Nisaetus nanus).


This is an Oriental honey buzzard belonging to the race torquatus, photographed somewhere in Malaysia;
(Photo by Laurence Poh)


This is a Wallace's hawk-eagle, Kinabatangan;
(Photo by Leif Gabrielsen)

There is also a much less common morph of torquatus, known as the 'Tweeddale morph', that bears great similarity to Blyth's hawk-eagle (Nisaetus alboniger).


Here is an example of the 'Tweeddale morph' of the Oriental honey buzzard, taken at the Mandai Orchid Garden;
(Photo by Micky Lim)


And here is Blyth's hawk-eagle, Panti Forest;
(Photo by Micky Lim)

The 'Tweeddale morph' bird spotted at the Mandai Orchid Garden proved to be the source of some confusion earlier this year.

What makes the Oriental honey buzzard so interesting is that here in tropical South and Southeast Asia, all the different variations in colour and pattern of plumage seen in this species correspond to those of various species and age-classes of hawk-eagle. Besides Wallace's hawk-eagle and Blyth's hawk-eagle mentioned above, other candidates for mimicry include the changeable hawk-eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus) (itself a highly variable species), Javan hawk-eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi), mountain hawk-eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis) and Philippine hawk-eagle (Nisaetus philippensis).

What is the purpose of this mimicry? It is not often known that larger raptors and owls can be significant predators of other species of raptor and owl; in what is called intraguild predation, smaller predatory species often fall prey to larger predators. However, a large raptor or owl would probably think twice about attacking a well-armed hawk-eagle, especially since it would increase the risk of injury. By mimicking the heavier, more powerful hawk-eagles, the relatively weak and defenceless Oriental honey buzzard probably gains some immunity against predation by other raptors.

The Oriental honey buzzard is just 1 of several raptor species that visit Singapore during the winter months, although it is among the most common. In spring, when it is time for these migrants to head back north to their breeding grounds, these birds may form large flocks, creating an amazing natural spectacle. Tanjung Tuan in Port Dickson is highly popular with birdwatchers each spring, as large numbers of Oriental honey buzzards and other raptors reach the Malay Peninsula, after crossing the Straits of Malacca from Sumatra.

Strange insect with face on its back

STOMPer Jason saw this strange insect at his home in Tampines Street 71 yesterday (October 21).

The insect, which is mostly yellow on the body, with black and white parts on it, seems to have a 'face' on its back, with a pair of eyes, a nose and a mouth.

Jason said:

"Found this strange looking insect with a 'face' in my house yesterday.

"My wife found it at our service balcony. She was shocked and she covered it with a plastic container. Not sure if it could fly."

The STOMPer said the insect was already dead when he found it.

It's a shield bug that goes by the name of Catacanthus incarnatus, and is apparently native to much of Southeast Asia.


Selangor;
(Photo by Casperonian!)


Chinese Garden;
(Photo by andrewtansj)

This species seems to be relatively popular among insect collectors, due to its distinctive and unique appearance.

Trees at Jurong Park connector healthy, so why chop them down?

STOMPer Arborist was saddened to see healthy trees at Jurong Park Connector cut down for no apparent reason. The trees there provide shade for park users, he says, and serve to beautify the park.

In an email today (Aug 23) the STOMPer wrote:

"The tall trees on the edge of the lake at Jurong Park look beautiful and provide much shade for joggers and cyclists.

"It saddens me to see some of these tall trees chopped down.

"These trees look healthy. Unless there are good reasons to cut them down, they should be left alone."

Similar stories:
F-minus rating to Hong Kah Town Council for chopping down these trees
Weather so hot, yet why healthy trees at Yew Tee Point cut down?
Truth out about chopping of Yew Tee trees: It was to make way for pasar malam

Could this be a Komodo Dragon at Jurong Lake?

Anglers break rules and go fishing at Lake View Promenade

No fishing is allowed at Lake View Promenade, but nobody seems to care, says STOMPer Fisherman.

In an email to STOMP today (Jul 5), the STOMPer says:

"These pictures were taken at Lake View Promenade beside the Jurong Lake, just opposite the Jurong Country Club.

"The notice says 'SWIMMING, FISHING AND ANY WATER RELATED ACTIVITIES ARE NOT ALLOWED'.

"Last Sunday, when I visited the park I was surprised to see a big crowd of anglers fishing at the pier beside the lake.

"This causes pollution of our waters as these anglers use live baits.

"Perhaps PUB should send its wardens to visit this place on weekends."

Related posts: Stop fishing illegally at MacRitchie Reservoir! (12th June 2009)
Man fishing illegally at Labrador beach (10th May 2009)
Inconsiderate people disobey rules and fish at Upper Peirce reservoir (9th March 2009)
No fishing at West Coast Park: Nobody gives a damn (7th March 2009)

Lake View Promenade... isn't that close to where a person drowned in May?

Destruction in Jurong, after rainstorm

A STOMPer sent in these photos taken in the Jurong area to show the aftermath of the rainstorm last week.

In his email to STOMP today (April 8), he said:

"Last week there was a violent rainstorm in Jurong and some big trees at Jurong Town Hall Road were uprooted.

"The trees had been removed but the broken railings at the side of the canal remained in a forlorn state.

"You can see the Chinese Garden MRT track in the background.

"The green railings put up by NParks were also damaged by the fallen trees and now they pose a threat to joggers and park users.

"The residents hope NParks will act fast before someone is injured.

"The last two pictures were taken at the Jurong Park Connector between Jurong Town Hall Road and the rear gate of the Chinese Garden.

"A large tree had fallen in the rainstorm and part of the tree now lies in the Jurong Lake. The pagoda of the Chinese Garden can be seen in the background."

All is not well at Chinese Garden

Chinese Garden may look like a paradise, but take a closer look and you'll find all is not well, says a STOMPer. A polluted Jurong Lake and poorly maintained toilets are some of the iconic park's woes.

Here's what the STOMPer observed on a recent trip to the park:

"The twin pagodas of the Chinese garden can be seen from the Chinese Garden MRT station and they are a major landmark for tourists.

"But if you go near the twin pagodas you will be in for a rude shock as the water there is heavily polluted.

"If this pollution is not controlled the whole Jurong Lake will soon be contaminated and this will a dire threat to aquatic life.

"Also when I visited the male toilet in the Chinese Garden I was greeted with a stench of ammonia which made me feel nauseous.

"Out of 4 urinals , three were out of order and they were covered with a sheet of black plastic and taped over on the top and sides.

"There was a big notice that says 'WATERLESS URINAL SYSTEM' and if by saving water the end result was a repugnant odour then the management should do away with this system.

"This toilet is a far cry from the clean toilets which I had seen at the Gold Coast in Australia."

I'm sure that much of the floating debris was washed into the lake during the heavy rains that have been falling over the past few days. Of course, it should clear up after a while, although I am a little more concerned about the possible impact of the planned redevelopment that is going to take place in the area. Let's hope that the powers to be do adhere to their assurances that the new Jurong Lake District will be developed in a sensitive manner with minimal negative impacts on the aquatic ecosystem.