The skyline just after sunset.
Right after the first community outreach program for the Congregating Firefly Zone Survey Northern Sarawak 2010 at Pustaka Miri, a few of us (Musa, Nazeri, Clare, Sim, Iqbal, Sue, Ali and Aisya) decided to extend the euphoria of the day just that bit further by making a trip to Kpg Kuala Sibuti via Kpg Pejuang Kelulit to stake out fireflies.
The drive was a few minutes shy of an hour from Miri City along the Coastal Road pass Bekenu junction, along Kpg Pejuang Kelulit along decent single lane road leading to Kpg Kuala Sibuti. Wheb we reached the area, the tide was just rising and the sun was just setting.
We waited for the little Coleopteras to reveal themselves. As the lights diminished, the twinkling sparkles started. And what a show it was, from one beremban tree to the next, it was awesome. The fact that the site was by the roadside made it even more exciting, easily accessible.
The children were thrilled to bits as more fireflies revealed themselves. Some started to fly here and there, some decided to take the adventurous route crossing the road to where we were.
The clear skies revealed more sparkling diamonds, this time the stars in the very sky above our heads, being away from bright city lights, the Milky Way made a magnificent show.
Amongst the base of mangroves, on the waterline, 4 pairs of eyes were constantly watching us all the while. There were three juvvy crocs nearby and perhaps a mama croc if not an adolescent watching us from slightly further away. They were all probably wondering what these two legged creatures were fussing about in the neighbourhood. Sparkling diamonds in the skies and amongst the beremban trees are probably commonplace for them.
We left the spot just before 9pm on a high note ... not often on a landas nite in Sarawak.
Mangrove lined waterways, seemed ideal habitat for crocodiles and fireflies.
As the nite enveloped the mangroves, the beremban started to flicker.
Sparkling diamonds in the beremban trees by the roadside.
More fireflies dancing the mating dance on their last few days on earth, what a way to go.
Fireflies, spectacular show as the nite gets darker and darker.
Sparkling diamonds in the sky.
Write-up and pictures by Nazeri Abghani/MNS Miri/CFZ Project/Nov 2010.
Wow.. very nice that you get these on a photo! I tried it once but it wasnt more than a big blur with some brighter spots in it. What camera and lens were used to take these pictures and with which settings?
ReplyDeleteI started of with 30secs, f8 at ISO 400 when the sun set and progressed to 180secs, f5.6 at ISO 1600 in full darkness ... on a tripod. Very noisy at that ISO. Would try 1440secs, f8 at ISO 400 next but it'll be a major feat to cordon off traffic in the area!!!
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