Sea Turtle @ Semakau

Just as we were finished with our dive @ Semakau and I was preparing to climb up the boat, Diana excitingly called out 'turtle'! Just in front of me, was a small turtle floating beside the boat.

Thats how small it look

All of us were very excited, since all sea turtles are threatened or endangered, so its not very common to see one. But it looked pretty much dead to us as it didnt move at all despite all the commotion. I was suggesting to bring back to RMBR but release it after seeing it move a little. Maybe its very tired or sick. Lets just hope it survive.

Tried googling to ID the picture. It pretty much look like a hawksbill turtle but later found out the green turtle also have a similar appearance. Shun Deng suggested it as a hawksbill as it has 2 claws on its fins (picture below) and its tapering upper hawk-like bill.

The hawksbill turtle is a critically endangered species. More about these beautiful creatures link.

And hatchings of hawksbill rescued last year link

A ship with a "colorful" history

Had a superb dive today! Why? Becos this is the first time that everything went smoothly without much cockup. We left on time, settle my measurements underwater quickly at Raffles and Semakau in record time!

Anyway thats not the crux of this entry ;p Today when me and lionel took the golf cart down to Mr Lee's boat at the republic of singapore yacht club, we saw an extremely big and tall ship, the tallest among all here. And interestingly, the boat is from Greenpeace. I pointed to lionel that such a big ship still use sails, maybe I'm a novice but thought that most use engine powered now.

The rainbow warrior at RSYC

The rainbow warrior was used often as a support vessel for protests against whaling, nuclear tests etc.

The most interesting part about this ship (called the rainbow warrior) is of its history. A similar ship by the same name was sunk some 20 years back by so called "terrorists". Apparently, these guys are actually secret agents from the French government in an attempt to stop them from protesting against a nuclear testing program. It was rumoured that even the French president was involved. Two landmines were planted on the ship and the explosion killed a photographer on board. The agents were ultimately prosecuted and Greenpeace was compensated 8m by the government.

And now it is here in Singapore after being denied entry to all ports in India. Its next stop is in Bali if memory serves me correctly.

Read more about this event in Greenpeace website.

Recycled nests @ NUS

Animals can also be environmentally friendly too! Now I know that some birds actually recycled their nests. Lets see some of them in NUS...

I had covered about this nesting last year but well, its gone when I accidentally deleted my blog last time. This belongs to a Javan Myna which build its nest in an air vent. Today when me, diana, lionel and wendy passed by it, we saw the Myna carrying some twigs on its beak and flew into the vent. Look all all the twigs in there! We clearly heard the chirping sounds of its chicks but they well hidden inside from view.

Remember the pacific swallow's nesting last time? The chicks were long grown up and off but yet, yesterday evening I spotted two birds inside it. This morning when I when to see it, they were gone but back again in the evening once more. Interestingly they are two seemingly adult pacific swallows. Perhaps there are eggs there? Or perhaps just a convienent roosting spot? Questions to be answered~

Updates on the dove fledgings. They are pretty grown up now and from the looks of it, the nest is getting too small for the both of them. Think can expect them to take off anytime soon.

And their parent back later in the day.