 wetlandsa publication of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve |
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10 No 1 Feb 2004 A journey through 2003 Experience of a lifetime International Shorebirds Experts meet Bird RInging in the Reserve 2002 Birds in the Wetland Reserves An Uncensored Census at Sungei Buloh Kranji Nature Trail A green corridor Protected Area Wetland Management Course 6-15 Nov Sungei Buloh 10th Anniversary Celebration Nature and me |
 Having
had more than my fair share of excitement over the years, I was surprised
to find myself quite elated at the prospect of having a one-on-one conversation
with the Senior Minister and his wife. I had read both his books and really
look up to him as one of the “greats”. So, as I stood waiting at the base
of the Aerie, excitement mounted as three police bodyguards drove up to
check out the area. A quick glance at me and the surroundings and they seemed
to be satisfied. We all stood chatting till a buggy drew up with the SM
and party. I introduced myself as “Keith” and that was what he called me thereafter. I had just been told that he would be turning 80 years old, but both he and Mrs Lee looked very fit and ready to outpace me going up the 80 or so steps of the observation tower. So, I mentioned that I had asthma and would not be able to climb as fast as him, and would he mind going slow for me. Fortunately, he agreed, and I had just enough breath to be able to talk on the way up. Arriving at the top, I promptly set up my scope and trained it on the few egrets and golden plovers still on the mud flats down below. A short while earlier I had counted 82 little egrets, one great egret and 54 plovers, now most had gone. Both SM and his wife looked at them with interest and asked if there were any raptors around. I checked out the bare tree to the west where they often are, but none today. To my surprise, Mrs Lee then started to discuss differences between eagles, kites and falcons and in particular she was acquainted with the brahminy kites.  I then
set the scope on the Straits of Johore. The sun was just setting and there
was that last glow of the evening shining on the waters. SM commented that
about 60 years ago, there was a certain Japanese general with a scope standing
across the Straits and looking straight to where we now stood. The general’s
mind was fixed on best ways and whereabouts to land an invasion army, and
he finally decided to do so through the mangroves right in front of us.
This encounter had taken only about 20 minutes and it was now time to go, but that was a 20 minutes I will not forget. by Keith Hillier, a volunteer of the wetland reserve |
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