My Back yard

I am so blessed to have this spot just 15 minutes drive from my house. I can be there everyday and anytime of the day. Having said that there are also constraints. First I learnt the amount of brightness is important in encouraging the Butterfly to be active. Second I could not stay that long outdoor, even I need not walk. Of course a now factor, the hot sun.

I have overcome the lat constraint, Got Myself a Pasar Malam stand and a broken umbrella that I could erect and have it beside my car. This page was started as mentioned some where below. As a norm any spot chosen would have its limits to the different type of butterfly patronizing each locality. Here I am lucky that being persist and frequent I could get the odd passer-by to increase the number of Butterfly recorded on my confined list.

Paradise pix #2

 Cut off more details, the story sttarts!

The new set of toys worked well.  Tried and practiced with the new camera set up. The amount of Honey Bees whirling around was unbelievable. It jived right into my wish to do up with my long overdue assignment on writing about Bees

Paradise pix #3

Remembrance day for me - 22nd September,  2022, Yes! got the flying bee shot but together with an oversized orange butterfly.  An accident! A bee flew into the frame. I was bitten Curiosity bugged me to know this new orange subject. Upon checking it up, I learnt that it is a  "Julia Heliconian" [not Julia but Iullia}

Then I noticed there was an incessant of orange Butterflies, sometimes as much as 3 of them appearing at the same time. A close up shot of the butterfly frontal view at eye level and getting the perfect flying shot must be good challenges.

From that time onwards I started to be conscious that I do get occasionally a butterfly flying in my garden. But back to my story - in contrast, the two spots along the river bank here in the Park, I get an endless stream of different types of Butterfly.

Part 2 - The Park

Paradise pix #4

Butterfly! By the 2nd October 2022 - This one spot after a couple of weeks of stalking, I noticed that I did get my daily lifers. So this place so unnaturally productive. I shared this news and the location with Teh, my birding partner.  Now in hindsight, I suspect my buddy cum partner could have fertilized those few flowering patches, as he hinted. The locality without fail would be filled with those few permanent resident butterfly plus continuously luring me with new visitors. It is a god sent paradise to sustain my interest.

 While the going gets better and better, a dark thought looms in my mind  There is a bitter sad truth. This wonderful "backyard" that is serving me so well, will be cleared within the next 12 months. Vanished! That explain why I have gone a long way to have this lengthy introduction

Before the place and the scene vanishes I have to put up this page. For starter, this perimeters barricade was up for over a year now to mark the coverage of the the work area.

Paradise pix #1

Paradise pix #5

 Inside the current public car park area, in the left corner 2 containers are already strategically deposited.

Paradise pix #6

A good last look at the access way from the car park leading into the park. That's the Guard House at the end. Turning right would be the Park proper.

Paradise pix #7

From the scene in the park, I move on to the backyard which incidentally is an area of auxiliary car parking to handle spill over. Along the edges of the paved car parking area would be the wooded enclave of the park. As under growth, those flowering weeds in the foreground which are providing me with the daily pleasure.

Part 3 - The Fauna

Paradise pix #8

This locality with low human traffic had confirmed a few permanent residents. Fauna that felt safe enough to roam and wander about. The chameleon was making frequent presence among the tall grasses. I got the opportunity of recoding it to be among the flowers.

Paradise pix #9

The White-breasted Waterhen emerges from its hideout almost daily and foraging on the open area. It was getting very accustomed with my presence.

Paradise pix #10

And finally this gargantuan monitor lizard got caught in the picture by Teh when he patrolled its territory

Paradise pix #11

The many clumps of yam plants do flower often and ending up producing seeds. A sample of food for the Yellow-vented Bulbul.

Part 4 - The Flora

Paradise pix #12  Giant Taro - Alocasia macrorrhizos

I learnt that while in the topic of "Butterfly", we should not overlook to highlight the associated plants which these species of butterfly are attached to. What draws them and attracted to this location.

For plant flowers, I must mentioned that the special feature of the park in this vicinity is a dense forest of Giant Taro or Alocasia macrorrhizos. No butterfly interested in the flowers or the rotting fruits but the Yellow-vented Bulbul. The leaves were a sanctuaries for resting butterfly

Paradise pix #13  Jungle Asystasia gangetica

Here are a few shots to should how prolific these wild plants are flowering. Not all flowers present here are exciting lures That is why I have selected a few species of flowers. The Jungle Chinese violet - Asystasia gangetica is one of them

Paradise pix #14 The Spanish Needle - Herbe zuedruite

The "star" of these flowering patches was really the Spanish Needle which were preferred by most aerial visitors

Paradise pix #15 Praxels clematidea  - comon name simply praxelis

This is the other herb with minute flowers. I would rate this flower to be third in level of patronage  - usually by the small butterfly such Cabbage White - the flowers hidden from sight by the taller ferns

Paradise pix #16 Wild Cockscomb - Celosia Argentea flower

Quote a few clumps of this flowering herbs seen around the edges but the flowers appeals to very selected species. Least preferred I must say

Paradise pix #17 Climbing hempvine Mikania scandens

Often gone unoticed and the not-so-popular among Butterfly, the Climbing Hempvine - Mikania scandens shown here receiving an admirer and patron

Part 4 - Then Me!

Paradise pix #18 Stalker

Having summarized the scene, I must not miss out the scenes of myself on my daily chores. Courtesy of my buddy - Miss Rose who made this series of pictures about my vigil. 

Paradise pix #19 Man-At-Work

Beside accumulating the names and number of species , I also take note about the the timing of their showing up and the effects of the weather on their visit.

I suppose that round up the story behind me getting involved with Butterfly. Now I can move on and to follow through showing the results of my efforts through daily stalking

Here at the end of my page, I do a tracking of my progress and consolidation of numbers. Actually a very slow way as taken over a long period which is meaningless, I got my "Moss" accumulated.

As at mid-December , the number is