Tuesday, March 30, 2010

My 1st Fraser’s Hill trip in 2010

It seems like ages since I last step foot on Fraser’s Hill but my last trip there was actually in November, just 4 months ago. Gosh, I missed the place.

This time round I brought along the Sony DSC-TX7 to take panoramic shots of my favorite place. The TX7 is a joy to use and takes spectacular photos with its HDR, Sweep Panorama and 25mm wide angle lens.

Misty Morning MYFH_20100321_DS0100-800

Full view of our bungalow, straight from the camera. Brinchang_MYFH_20100320_DS0082-800

Inside our bungalow.
Brinchang_MYFH_20100320_DS0073-800
The Smoke House at Fraser’s Hill.SmokeHouse_MYFH_20100322_DS0195-800
I think this is my #13 trip to Fraser’s Hill and I am still seeing lifer every time I come here.

This trip I have a butterfly lifer - The Indian Yellow Nawab ( Polyura jalysus ), which I spotted along the road while we were looking at Cicada.Polyura jalysus-MYFHRaub_20100322_D5951-640
The Blue Admiral ( Kaniska canace ) is a resident at Fraser’s Hill and likes to perch on a leaf.Kaniska canace perakana-MYFH_20100321_D565-640

The Yellow Banded Awl ( Hasora schoenherr ), one of the most colorful Awls, is uncommon in Singapore but not uncommon at Fraser’s Hill.Hasora schoenherr chuza-MYFH_20100320_D5339-400

Feb-Apr at Fraser’s Hill has the perfect weather for moths – cool, misty with light drizzle in the late evening. Our moth screen was covered with thousands of moths every night !


All in all, we have 31 different species of Hawk moths, 16 Golden Emperor moths (Loepa sikkima and megacore ) and 8 Luna moths (Actias maenas and selene ) ! On top of that we added 3 new species of Hawkmoths to our already long list : Hippotion velox, Clanis orhanti and Meganoton nyctiphanes.

Mireille with an Actias maenasanother Diana 0690-800

And after so many trips here, I finally see the female Actias maenas diana ! Below is a photo with the male at the top and female at the bottom.

Actias maenas-MYFH_20100323_D6056-1024

Another Luna moth – Actias selene perching under the roof.Actial selene (m)-MYFH_20100323_D6030-400

Melanothrix nymphaliaria - I only spotted this moth when I made my last round around the bungalow just before we depart.EUP-Melanothrix nymphaliaria-MYFH_20100323_D6099-640 When I first spotted it I thought it was a butterfly. It reminds me of the Yellow Barred ( Xanthotaenia busiris ).

Ambulyx canescens, a rather common hawkmoth at Fraser’s Hill.Ambulyx canescens-MYFH_20100321_D5528-640

Cypa decolor decolor – An uncommon and tiny hawkmoth.Cypa decolor decolor-MYFH_20100322_D5884

Owen spotted this interesting Cicada. It looks somewhat like the Trengganau sibylla, with red eyes and green color forewings. However it has a picture of a skull on its thorex. Maybe it should be named the Death-head Cicida :-D.
We have no idea what is the id of this cicada. Post a note here if you know the name or know someone who can help to id this cicida. MYFHRaub_20100322_D5956-400

Along the ‘new’ road, we saw this large (4” long) turquoise color beetle sunning itself on the leaf of the Tree Fern.

MYFH_20100322_D5935-640

We also saw this interesting looking Praying Mantis.MYFH_20100322_D5810-640

Before I know it, it is time to pack and head back home. Times flies here !

Before we head off, Mr Lim took a group photo for us,

MYFH_20100323_DS0227-400

and Mrs Lim sending us off, knowing that she will be welcoming us back next moth !MYFH_20100323_DS0228-400

Friday, March 26, 2010

Chequered Lancer at my garden

On 9th of March, a Plastingia naga aka Chequered Lancer was spotted inside my trellis.

Plastingia naga_GanHome-20100309_D5300-320

This is butterfly #15 at my garden.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Butterflies inside trellis

I just added a trellis to my garden to keep Tillandsia and Hoya and I noticed butterflies are attracted to the trellis.

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Last week I found a Lemon Emigrant and a Painted Jezebel inside the trellis and a few days ago I saw a Common Palmfly inside.

LE and PJ-20100220_DSC_5227-320

If this continues I am going to have a high rise butterfly enclosure soon

I wonder what attracted them ?  Were they seeking shelter from the heat or were they after the butterfly plants I have in there ?