Seed with wings from a tree

While walking home from breakfast after today's shore trip, I noticed some funny looking seeds scattered along a short section of the walkway. The seeds look like

The seeds have wings, which helps them in dispersion by wind. However I could not recognise nor identify the tree that disperse such seed.

The seeds are formed on a twig and falls off individually, waiting for the wind to sweep them to other locations. I have kept these seeds I've collected in a plastic container. Hope that they will come in useful someday.

If anyone knows the I.D. of this seed, do let me know.

First shore trip: Pulau Subar Laut

Today I had my first taste of shore visit at Pulau Subar Laut, a.k.a. Big Sister Island.
Sisters Island is one of the many southern islands in Singapore. It is next to St. John's Island.
Knowing the tides is very important to shore visit to avoid being stranded in deep waters when the tide comes in. Today's trip had to start as early as 3.30 am.

I was worried that the trip might not be able to take place as it was pouring heavily at that time and lightnings were threatening. Thank goodness, the rain stopped when we boarded the boat but small drizzle came on and off during the trip.

Ria gave me a quick orienteering of Big Sister Island and soon after, we were off to the big lagoon. Upon reaching the shore, the first comment was "Watch out for stonefish." *glup*
I have read about the dangers of stonefish and their sightings on our shores. Throughout the visit, I keep thinking and looking carefully on the shore bed to avoid Mr Stonefish. As a newbie to shore visit, I walked very slowly. (Remember, stonefish!)

My first marine creature encounter is a small octopus. Its width is slightly smaller than the length of my compact camera. The image is quite blur as I was still adjusting to the dark environment and handling lights and camera at the same time.

Octopus

Free guided walk at Pasir Ris Mangroves with the Naked Hermit Crabs

Today is the last session of the Naked Hermit Crabs' April Pasir Ris Mangrove guided walk.
We had about 30 visitors with us today. Many exciting things were seen, including a dead water monitor lizard.

Just before the trip started, Ley Kun found the kapok tree. (Sorry, no pictures from me) When the fruit of the kapok tree explodes, it releases fluffy materials that feels like cotton wool. If I am not wrong, my parents used to buy these fluffy materials from shops to make pillows.

Right at the first bend of the mangrove boardwalk, there were a cluster of garbage bags placed at one corner.

Cluster of garbage bag

The case of the missing and reappearing bird nest

Last week (21 April), Ria noticed that the sunbird's nest outside the female toilet at Pasir Ris Park carpark C was gone/removed/destroyed (?). We were rather sad about it and we didn't took photos of it that day.

Today, we noticed the nest back at the same spot. Weird....

A sunbird's nest outside the female toilet

Visit Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research on 19th May

What's so special about 19th May?
The Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR) is having an open house as part of the Children's Season 2012.

RMBR Children's Season Open House poster