Wednesday, October 13, 2021

4029. Oriental Common Mime Butterfly in Yio Chu Kang forest

13 Oct 2021. Yio Chu Kang Crescent forest. 

Oriental Common Mime (Papilio clytia clytia Linnaeus)


This butterfly was patiently posing for me. No breeze shaking the flower and butterfly. Good morning sunlight. Took 9 images at one continuous mode. This was the 7th image. Image is judged by how sharp the eyes are. In this image eyes are sharp.




Oriental Common Mime (Papilio clytia clytia Linnaeus)


The above photo is for sale at:
www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets


ORIENTAL COMMON MIME
As at 20 Oct 2021, 19 images are available for sale at www.shutterstock.com  

In my assessment, m
y image is the most useful for printing on mugs, T-shirts, project work
(Personal prints, cards and gifts, or reference for artists)
for the following reasons:

1. Sharp image
2. Good contrast of butterfly 
3. Uncluttered background - no blurry flowers 
4. Action: Sipping nectar from a commonly seen wild flower, Bidens pilosa.


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ORIENTAL COMMON MIME
As at 20 Oct 2021, 1 image (with left wing clipped) is available for sale at www.alamy.com  

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HOW I TOOK THIS IMAGE AS AN AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER

Canon DSLR EOS 90D, EFS 18-200mm lens,  P Mode*, single point focus, continuous mode.
Handheld. I focused on the eye. Shot 9 images continuously. The 7th image was sharp.
The butterfly was sipping nectar for several seconds. No breeze. 10 AM. 
* Professional photographers use Manual M Mode and settings. 

CONCLUSION

It is very difficult to take sharp images of butterflies without a better lens. The use of a tripod is advised. Handheld movements, shutter clicking movements, breezes, butterfly movements result in poor quality images. Continuous shots more than 9 will be better to get more chances of capturing one sharp image.

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LINKED IN ARTICLE 



IMAGE FOR LINKED IN POST IS 2000 X 600 PIXELS



Post 1. 20 Oct 2021: Advices for young people - create, not consume


Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at Glasgow University United Kingdom

I am Dr Sing Kong Yuen, 71 years old semi-retired veterinarian from Singapore. The Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affect job security and has caused business failures and losses. In this uncertain future, I write this post in LinkedIn to advise YOUNG people to create things rather than consume by spending hours watching soap operas online during their free time.

One way is to earn PASSIVE INCOME ONLINE - making and then selling stock photos.

Rather than preaching, I show what I did during the past 12 months of Covid-19 lockdowns and curbs. I submit photographs to www.shutterstock.com. I am amateur photographer, hence more than 80% of my photos have had been rejected as they were not up to standard! I am still doing more research on how to create best quality stock photos.

The above Oriental Common Mime butterfly image was accepted by Shutterstock. That is the FIRST step to display my creations to a global market, without me having to pay shutterstock any money via subscription or membership fee. How I took this image is shared on my blog: https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2021/10/4024-butterfly-in-yio-chu-kang-crescent.html

Presently, I sold 486 images for US$131.00. I get US$0.27 per image. Many readers, esp. accountants and high fliers will say this is not worth their time. I agree, but I am trying to motivate the average young person who does not earn high income or who cannot network a lot.

The low revenue is due to a start-up business. I have to stock good quality photos that the world, not just Singaporeans want. This will take time. I am acquiring useful digital imaging skills through being hands-on. These skills are useful for my veterinary case studies and family photography too.

In conclusion, there are different ways to earn passive income online. It will be hard work and very competitive - Shutterstock has more than 380 million images as of June 30, 2021. However, you will acquire skills like good writing and creating good graphic designs.

I hope this post will motivate one of the young people to create, not consume. Please email me if you wish to know more about Shutterstock. Good luck.


Tuesday, October 12, 2021

4028. PHOTOS FOR SALE - Singapore flora and fauna and images


12 Oct 2021.

PHOTOS FOR SALE - Singapore flora and fauna and images for project work and print on demand things.

  

Some photos are rare sightings of Singapore fauna. Deforestation, habitat loss and climate change have had reduced their numbers in the past 3 years and they may be extinct in Singapore soon.

Go to:  https://www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets



SOME EXAMPLES ARE SHOWN BELOW:

























4027. Keep our parks clean

 11 OCT 2021: SUNDAY. KEEP OUR PARKS CLEAN.


Singapore environment cleanliness is policed by the NEA (National Environmental Agency) which contracts cleaning on tender basis. In this case, SembCorp Waste Management is contracted to keep the Teachers' Housing Estate Children's Playground clean of fallen leaves and litter 7 days a week.


The NEA officer may check the garbage bins. On Sundays, the colour of the garbage bag to contain the fallen leaves which had been hoovered to a pile and then swept into the grey garbage bag as shown in the videos will be put inside the bin. If the NEA officer sees a different colour on Sunday, he knows that there was no area cleaning. For each bin with a non-grey garbage bag, the fine to SembCorp is S$50. 


An area may have a hundred garbage bins which should contain grey garbage bags with leaves on Sundays. The fine could be very high if the cleaner does not bother.


In my opinion, three times a week of area cleaning of the leaves will do, to save on the usage of plastic bags and to save the environment. 7 days a week is good for the residents, but bad on the environment as too many plastic garbage bags are used and not all will be 100% full. 


UPDATES AT:




TO BUY PHOTOS: 

www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets


Sunday, October 10, 2021

4026. The Husky had fits after eating the apartment potted plants.

WHATSAPP dated 30 DEC 2020

hi doctor :) i got a husky now and she seems to keep having very bad tick issue..will u be free tmr or next monday? i can bring her down for deticking :)

Monday 4 Jan 2021  10 am deticking   Husky name: Waffles done. 


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WHATSAPP dated 18 JUL 2021

Doctor, sorry for texting you so late. My husky turning 4 this year, suddenly had a seizure yst, and today it happened 3 times. Before this she had a few seizures but were at least weeks apart. We saw that it’s common in husky and started to give her fish oil and it has been better and did not happen for more than a month before she suddenly fell and had a seizure yst. Will you be in the clinic tmr? Can I bring her down?

Her first seizure happened after a few days from the deticking in January and we were not sure if it’s because suddenly she felt very cold so we tried to keep her warm and calm.

(Dr Sing prescribe anti-fits medication for one month. Blood test showed no abnormalities. Normal liver and kidneys)



WHATSAPP dated 20 SEP 2021

Doc.. Waffles have been well with no seizures the past 2 months.. even after we stop her meds.. but yet she suddenly had seizures at 6pm, 8.30pm. We gave her half a tablet again after the 2nd seizure. But she had another seizure at 2.30am and we gave her another half tablet at 10.20am this morning and she just had another seizure 5mins ago.

Scientific name for the plant is called Dracaena trifasciata

Looks like she did bite off the plants when we were not ard.

REPLY FROM DR SING KONG YUEN.
Thank you. Please remove plants. The owner came for a repeat prescription.

WHATSAPP dated 10 NOV 2021: Feedback from owner.
Hi doc, the seizures have stopped after 2.5 days from the first seizure. Same as the previous time when shot got a series of seizures. She is on 1/4 tablet Phenomav 100 mg two x/day.  Previously we lowerered to 1/4 once a day but seizures recurred. 

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Is saponin toxic to humans?
Saponins are toxic chemicals that protect healthy plants from insect, fungal, and bacterial pathogens. For this reason, ingesting foods that contain saponins can cause toxicity in the human body. However, severe poisoning is rare.





Is a dracaena plant poisonous to dogs?
Corn plant (also known as cornstalk plant, dracaena, dragon tree, and ribbon plant) is toxic to dogs and cats. Saponin is the toxic chemical compound in this plant. If this plant is ingested, vomiting (with or without blood), appetite loss, depression, and/or increased salivation can occur.































VIDEO dated 18 JUL 2021



WHATSAPP dated 18 SEP 2021





VIDEOS FROM OWNER. No seizures seen during videoing








4025. A dwarf hamster has a large backside wart.

10 Oct 2021

A lady WhatsApp to me the wart on her dwarf hamster. 


Best advice is to get a hamster vet to remove the wart as it causes itchiness. It is irritating to the hamster and will continue to grow bigger.  Excision is under anaesthesia at Toa Payoh Vets. 


There is no need to come for stitch removal as it will dissolve within a month.



One month after surgery. Stitch will drop off soon. No need to come for stitch removal.



Video a few days after excision of the wart



 

The hamster is OK now. 

KINDLE STORIES - The Dot-Dash Sergeant butterfly posed for me for video and photography 10 OCT 2021



 Sun 10 Oct 2021. 9 am

Overcast sky I went to walk along the open forest path of Yio Chu Kang Crescent opposite the Seletar Bus Depot. Saw 6 species of butterflies, but only this Dot-Dash Sergeant posed for me for over 2 minutes from 6 feet away, to photograph and take this video. The other 5 species flutter away after landing on the leaf for less than a few seconds.  

  Note the broken hind wings or was it born with this defect almost symmetrically torn off on the back part of both hind wings? I was able to take a sharp photograph as the butterfly was very patient and not afraid of me.










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Description
The underside of the species is greyish brown. The upperside cell streak is entire and separated from the triangular spot beyond.
The butterfly is rare, and can sometimes be seen around flowering trees. The caterpillar of the butterfly is known to feed on Uncaria species.

Habitat & Habits
This butterfly is one of 5 species of the genus Athyma found in Singapore. It can be found in forested areas within the nature reserves. Like the other members of its genus, it is a strong flyer and difficult to identify on the wing. It is usually confused with several other species in the genus, particularly Athyma reta moorei and the Lance Sergeant, Athyma pravara helma.

Saturday, October 2, 2021

4023. PHOTOGRAPHY - The skunkvine on the roadside garden, Lentor Loop, Singapore

 PHOTOGRAPHY - The skunkvine on the roadside garden, Lentor Loop, Singapore. There is a slight breeze. Use TV Mode AT 1/500sec

13 Nov 2023, 8.55am, sunny morning, Lentor Loop

Canon R5, ISO 1600, 93MM, F/4.5, 1/500sec

The skunkvine, stinkvine, Chinese fever vine (Paederia foetida) flower has a small short funnel with a deep purple centre to attract bees for pollination. It is a weed and vine.

UPDATE:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2021/10/4023-leaf-beetles-or-stink-bug-seen-on.html






 

 

 

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1.  Leaf beetles
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/51146-Chrysomelidae/browse_photos


Skunkvine Facts
Skunkvine is twining vine that belongs to the coffee family. It originates from eastern and southeastern Asia, but it can be found in the warm areas around the world today. Skunkvine grows in disturbed areas, on the sandhills, along the roads, in the mixed forests, floodplains, marshes and even under the water. It is rarely cultivated in ornamental purposes because of its unpleasant smell. Skunkvine easily occupies new areas and prevents growth of native plant species. It is classified as weed in most countries outside Asia.

Interesting Skunkvine Facts:
Skunkvine is woody vine with green, purplish or reddish-brown stem that can reach 30 feet in length.
Skunkvine grows by crawling on the ground, or by climbing over the trees and shrubs. It produces mechanical damage on the host plants and leaves understory plants in semi-darkness.
Skunkvine has oval to lance-shaped leaves with pointed tips. Leaves are oppositely arranged on the stem or rarely gathered in whorls of three. They are green colored, either smooth or hairy.
Skunkvine produces small, grayish-pink or lilac flowers arranged in long, curved clusters. Flowers contain both types of reproductive organs (perfect flowers).
Skunkvine blooms all year round in tropical areas, or during the late summer and fall in areas with colder climate. Flowers attract different types of bees, which are responsible for the pollination of this plant.
Fruit of skunkvine is shiny, yellowish-brown, round drupe. Each drupe is filled with two black seeds covered with white, needle-like crystals.
Skunkvine is valuable source of food for birds which facilitate dispersal of seed in the wild.
Skunkvine propagates via seeds and division of the root.
Chrysomelid leaf beetles, which consume leaves, and flea beetles, which consume root and root hairs of skunkvine, are used to eradicate this plant from occupied areas.
Scientific name of the skunkvine is "Paederia foetida". Name literally means "stinking opals" and it refers to the foul smell that leaves and stem emit and translucent, opal-like fruit that this plant produces.
High concentration of sulfur compounds in the leaves of skunkvine is responsible for the fetid smell of this plant, which is also known as "human gas vine" in Japan.
Leaves of skunkvine are rich source of beta carotene and vitamin C. They have slightly bitter taste, but they can be safely consumed in human diet (both fresh and thermally processed). Skunkvine is often used for the preparation of soups and dishes made of rice.
Leaves of skunkvine were used as a source of fibers in the past.
Leaves of skunkvine can be used to relieve pain and symptoms of dysentery and diarrhea. Leaf juice mixed with garlic can be used in treatment of arthritis, while juice from the root can improve digestion.
Skunkvine is perennial plant (life span: more than 2 year