A Good and Bad Day @ USR

On a sunny Saturday (2 July) morning, I met up with fellow BC members, Cher Hern and Loke.

My first shot of the morning was this Malay Lacewing (Cethosia hypsea hypsina) - I was puzzled by the different colour tone of the forewings.

Quite a few Arhopala species were hopping around along a heavily-shaded trail but they were far from being cooperative. A quick and instinctive shot of a Arhopala major major I supposed.

In the early part of the morning, there were not many clear shooting opportunities. But activities picked up towards noon. I noticed one tiny critter zipping around. Not knowing what it was, I locked my sight on it and finally it perched in a shade. Yes, this skipper is Suastus everyx everyx,

While checking out some Singapore Rododendron plants behind the round-about, this Yamfly (Loxura atymnus fuconius) hopped across and landed a few meters in front of me. This skittish and alert fellow gave me no chance for a second shot.

This is a very tame and cooperative Quaker (Neopithecops zalmora zalmora) found near the reservoir edge - it was feeding on bird droppings on the ground.

This is a male Black Angle (Tapena thwaitesi bornea) a relatively uncommon skipper which I usually saw it puddling with wings fully open at Wallace Trail in Dairy Farm Park.

In fact this Tapena thwaitesi bornea had a "constant companion", a Common Hedge Blue (Acytolepis puspa lambi). They stayed at this position for a long period of time - surly the bird droppings were tasty and nutritious for them.

At another spot nearby, this Hieroglyphic Flat (Odina hieroglyphica ortina) also got addicted to some bird droppings.

At the reservoir edge, a skittish Suffused Flash came down to feed on the flowers of Singapore Rododendron.

This Malay Tailed Judy (Abisara savitri savitri) was spotted buy Chern Hern when we were on our way out from the reservoir edge. Again, a very skittish and alert fellow which never stayed still for us to take a proper shot. With patience and determined stalking, we finally managed to snap a few record shots off the trail.

I have not been able to take a proper close-up shot of the Little Maplet (Chersonesia peraka peraka). Usually skittish with rather erratic flights and perching underneath the leaves, Little Maplet is a rather small butterfly with unique vertical striped patterns on the wings as seen here.

This pristine Aberrant Oakblue (abseusArhopala abseus abseus) was my last shot of the morning before my camera's battery went flat (rather fast !) - yes, time to change a new camera. A shade-loving lycaenid, this shot was take at very low speed - 1/25 seconds.

I have never seen so many species of butterfly at Upper Seletar Reservoir (USR) Park for a very long time. A very good day for Loke and Cher Hern but a bad day for me as "butterfly fairies" brought along many uncommon species to visit us shortly after my camera was dead. These were the species I could have taken at least a shot : Arhopala myrzala lammas , Sinthusa nasaka amba (Narrow Spark) , Plastingia pellonia (Yellow Chequered Lancer) , Plastingia naga (Chequered Lancer), Poritia sumatrae sumatrae (Sumatran Gem) and Idea stolli logani (Common Tree Nymph).