hanappa

Happy Monday(ish). I haven't had much of a chance to get out with the camera to catch spring here, but did pop by a zoo the other day. No hand of man in the shot, but yes, it is captive.

Good morning. I do miss the morning stories and inspiration, though I still enjoy the photos. I will add a Peninsular Rock Gecko (Cnemaspis peninsularis) today. This fellow was hanging out just outside a cave on Bukit Timah, but each time I approached, he would scurry up and behind the rocks. While hiking back down the hill, I thought I'd give it another shot and see if he was still there. I had to use the on-camera flash, and only had time for one picture before he was gone again. From the literature, these lizards are now restricted in Singapore to the central part of the island, in the hills and remaining rainforests.

Here are three that may not be the most aesthetic of images, but highlight the potential "dangers" of hiking to Bukit Timah summit. I never did see a monkey, despite the warnings, but saw a Malayan Colugo, a few Common Goldenbacks, several Straw-Headed Bulbuls, the Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo, the Little Spiderhunter, and a Peninsular Rock Gecko, among others. Still working on those images, though they may be for MiN...

Here is a Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) from Singapore last week. Nearby I also saw a Water Monitor running along, but unfortunately it crossed a manicured lawn and sidewalk, so was out of bounds for MIN.

I'll jump in from Monday in New Zealand nature. Here is a Tui, who sports a white cravat and blue smoking jacket when he goes out.

<p>And a final</p><div></div>

<p>Another</p><div></div>

<p>Here are some from "way" back in 2005. Taken with a CoolPix 7900, my first purpose-bought little digital (my film camera at the time was my trusty Pentax K1000). </p><div></div>

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<p>Didn't have my macro with me this weekend, so not the cleanest shot, but after all the rain we had here last week, looks like its time for a little love among the lower plants.</p><div></div>

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<p>An American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) flew up and posed for a few seconds during a recent hike along a less-traveled section of Bull Creek in Austin.</p> <div></div>

<p>We had around 30 inches of sun down here this weekend, but it was rainy and cloudy last weekend, and just after clearing saw this fellow flying overhead down near Port Lavaca. I thought they looked odd on the ground, but in the air there is something a bit prehistoric about the canard-like bill, a little pterosaur-ish... </p><div></div>