Exploring Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Two years ago we once went exploring Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, 200 hectares of mangroves, mudflats, ponds and forests at the edge of Singapore.
The weather was beautiful that day!
It looks like drowned land, doesn’t it?
Pond.
The reserve has all sorts of flora….
…and fauna…
Home to lots of animals like (migratory) birds, mudskippers, crabs, otters, monitor lizards, golden web spiders and the occasional croc.
As I said: it was low tide.
Personally I find the amphibious Giant Mudskipper a bit of a weird, creepy creature.
The Golden Web Spider ain’t no friend of mine either!
We only walked around in a small part of the reserve, AND we did not spot The Croc (I believe that there is just one, lost croc swimming around in the area, but maybe I’m wrong) , nor any otters, so we definitely have to head back there!
Birdie, check. Croc, no.
Tip 1: check out the tides before you go
Also, we were there during low tide.
Although that exposes the unusual roots of the mangroves, the area DOES look different during high tide. So we’ll have to do a bit of research about the tides before we go back to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. I definitely would like to see the reserve during high tide.
Funny roots indeed!
It all looks very swampy and muddy, I have to say.
The new pods are beautiful!
We loved the relatively new observation pods as well as the boardwalks with beautiful views.
Fantastic design of the new observation pods!
You can see Malaysia from there!
Taken with a tele-lens.
Tip 2: walk slowly, be quiet and try to spot the wildlife
We enjoyed spying for a while on a snacking-on-berries oriental pied hornbill.
Poor thing; getting the berries (or seeds) in his beak, one by one, was quite the task.
He had to pick it up with that oversized beak of his, throw it in the air, catch it mid air, swallow it and repeat.
That’s what I call working for your food!
Secretly observing this oriental pied hornbill eating snacks.
One berry down, many more to go. Next!
Have you visited Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve? Were you lucky enough to spot The Croc or any otters?
Looks I was there 2.
I know you were, silly!
You do find some very interesting places to visit.
That mud hopper is gross! Reminds me of the salamanders we have on the prairies.
For that bird to get full he must work non-stop. I guess that is one way to avoid gaining weight!
Suzanne