Hello, Goodbye, Little Mickey Mouse!

Two weeks ago early one wet morning, our human woke up to the neighbour's cat hovering around the porch.

That cat angrily hissed at our human when it was told nicely to go home. Our human soon found out the reason for that behaviour.

Hidden between the small space of two flower pots was this totally soaked, trembling little injured mouse. Its injuries did not look good and our human decided that it had to stay the night.

It was quickly put inside a plastic container with some melon seeds and walnuts. For water container, a small bottle cap was used. Later it was given broccoli and cabbage.

The next morning, seeing that its injuries were better, our human decided to set it free.

A nearby food court car park was the perfect spot. There was an abandoned vehicle with overgrown plants on the left (which will provide shelter)  and rubbish bins on the right (which will provide food). 'Mickey' will also have friends; a cockerel, mother hen and their brood of little chicks live here too.

Can you see the cockerel in the middle of the picture on the green near the bin?

Though couldn't go for morning walk, our human was happy!

Perfect Camouflage!

Our human noticed some movement in front and stopped walking immediately.

Not knowing what creature it was, our human cautiously scanned the area. It took a few minutes of absolute concentration and finally saw it.

It was just in front and hidden in plain sight!

PS: Our human do not blog during heavy thunderstorms and do not want to take any chances when the house electricity trip several times. As a safety measure, all electrical appliances will be switched off and unplugged.

Meeting Up with Old Friends By Chance

It was a happy and pleasant surprise to meet old friends by chance few days ago.

We met often on our morning walks before the covid pandemic hit us.

They are the off-leash, well-behave, gorgeous 9-year-old brother and sister Huskies, Winter and Aki.

These two are so loved and well taken care of by their owner. Just look at their well-maintained fur.

Here they are heading home after their walk in the forest reserve and each day on a different route.

Female Aki

Male Winter (obvious why he is named so)

Discarded Box

Walking downhill, our human saw a cardboard box discarded a few feet away from the path.

It had numerous punctured holes on all four sides.

The first thought that came to our human's mind was that it probably had a small animal in it.

Our human sent the picture to brother and niece; both love hiking and had walked here before during their vacation.

Brother said it probably had a bird to be set free while niece said it could be a cat.

Let use hope it was a bird and not a cat. It would be disastrous if it was a cat as the den of a large pack of stray dogs is nearby.

Brown Beetle

Few days ago, a hiker pointed at an old tree stump stool.

Our human's eyes followed and quickly snapped its photo with a finger for comparison.

It is the first time our human saw this brown beetle and later google searched the image.

The name that cropped up in bug guide was 'Genus Anomala'.

Scorpion Sighting

Last week on one of the morning walks, our human came across a rather depressing sight, a dead scorpion.

With one of its claws detached, you could not help wondering what could have possibly happened. Was it attacked by a wild animal or human?

It brought back memories of the first encounter a few years back.

Scorpions are sensitive creatures.

Sensing human, it raised its tail and claws in defence. Our human stood absolutely still, took out the cellphone with utter slow movements to snap this picture.

After a short while, that scorpion turned and scurried down the gulley.

Few weeks later, that area was bulldozed and our human did not know whether the scorpion survived or not.

Hanging Out on the Branches

It was raining. Our human could not go for morning walk and kept gazing at the hill.

Something interesting nearby caught our human's eyes and realised that those on the branches were not leaves but birds resting on the branches so exposed to the rain.

Dog Treats for Turtle?

There are times when our human carry vegetables during morning walks for turtles just in case and always a small pouch of dog treats for strays.

Each time our human carried vegetables, the turtles never appeared.

Last week our human happened to meet this dirt-covered hungry turtle devouring what looked like either a dead slug or dead body of a snail and figured that it could possibly eat dog treats too.

A cube of soft dog treat was taken out and carefully placed near its mouth.

Our human was surprised that it ate with such gusto that a few more was given.

Confirmed with the vet that turtles can eat dog treats but not too much.

Our human still carry vegetables but no luck in meeting turtles since.

Oh well, they can eat dog treats then.

Lunar New Year of the Snake

At the start of 2025, our human procrastinated but still go and enjoy daily morning walks...

...and frequently met snakes somehow.

Our human was walking behind two male hikers who were so engrossed in their conversation that they did not see a snake in front of them. One of them accidently stepped on it. On seeing the snake writhing in pain, our human told them that the snake was stepped on. One of them flicked it to the side using his hiking pole. This is a Malayan Banded Coral snake which is slightly poisonous not enough to kill. As you can see, its tail end was possibly broken and will probably live. Our human continued walking and faster trying to keep the distance from those two men.

Feeling some sudden movement in front, our human immediately stopped. This beautiful non-poisonous 8-foot long Keeled Rat snake suddenly darted across in front. It was only a step away. It lives around the area and often cross the path.

This was a few years back when our human saw and wondered why the big tree trunk had an artistic crack. On inspecting nearer, it lifted its head, our human slowly backed off and continued the journey.

These snakes were not the biggest our human had seen.

A few years back, there was a snake lying across the path. Its thickness was bigger than our human's upper arm. Its length could not be estimated as its head and tail end was hidden in the thick undergrowth beside the path. Our human spoke to it softly, waited to allow it to cross first and at the same time trying to see its body breathing movement. There was absolutely no movement.

Thinking it was safe enough, our human stepped over it and said its photo will be taken on the way back. That snake was not seen later and our human promised not to ever do that again. It was a big snake, probably a python.

To those who celebrate the Lunar New Year, Year of the Snake, Happy Chinese New Year!

Crawler

The morning was cool and quiet, too quiet for comfort without any sounds from birds or insects.

The air was still as there was no breeze with gloomy skies.

After walking three-quarter way up, our human decided to turn back since no human was sighted as well.

It felt spooky!

Walking down shortly, our human met this chap that immediately brightened up everything!

Our human squatted, had a chat while stroking it. Looking around with no one in sight, our human quickly placed it at the side well camouflaged with its surroundings.

Can you see it?

Happy, our human continued downhill with much lighter steps and finally met some human almost nearing the entrance carpark.