Kent Ridge Park/t II

Date : 18th Febuary 2008
Time : 7.30pm to 8.30 pm
Weather : Cooling
-Amelia, Nigel and i

We took 200 to Kent Ridge Park at around 7ish. The real killer was the sloppy walk up. We went to the similar spot we went the last time. It was right next to the pond, the smaller pond in the park. There, we heard the call of the Rana erythraea. It was this soft sounding chirpy croak. We searched for it/them in that vicinity. Then, Nigel spotted one. He asked me to give it a fast catch, but i guess i have grew too accustomed to the urban frogs/toads, their relatively slow motions. I missed again.

Then, in the midst of searching for the Rana erythraea, i saw this tiny frog. I grabbed the whole chunk of whatever( leaves, grass, soil) around that little frog. It was a Fejervarya limnocharis. It was a little froglet which had just metamorphosed form a tadpole. It had darkish black ridges on its back. Yeah, kinda exciting. Indeed a suprise catch, and maybe a happiness neutralizer and a good consolation for missing the Rana erythraea.I am really pathetic. I WILL catch a Rana erythraea ONE DAY.

Later on, we went to the edge of the pond. Nigel spotted more Fejervarya limnocharis. 3 of them. Amelia had her chance to handle a small frog. A juvenile Fejervarya limnocharis. I think she had fun. I mean i hope she did. Then, towards a narrower path, with lotsa plants growing along the way, i saw some movement. And i later saw a red eye shine. It was another Rana erythraea. We didnt manage to get our friend because we were intruding to the comfort zone of the frog. If only i had 5 feet long arms. And, i missed yet another Rana erythraea.

Then, as i was still trying to get a Rana erythraea, i saw some hopping amongst the leaf litter. It was as if it was some little frog playing on the pogo stick. It was another Fejervarya limnocharis.In total, we spotted 5 newly metamorphosed Fejervarya limnocharisand saw 2 Rana erythraea. We then decided to call it a day as it was not very saturated with frog calls, as compared to the last session. Plus, the weather was rather dry, not entirely but substantially. We then rolled down the hill into another 200 back to school.

Lessons i learnt today
1) Make sure all torches are functioning well.
2) Practice catching frogs before attempting to catch another Rana erythraea
3) Remembered the call of a Rana erythraea.
4) Look out for tiny frogs, those that might not win a grasshopper in a arm wrestle.


Thanks Encik Nigel and Cik Amelia =)

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