Romania- Eurasian Bee-eater

Eurasian Bee-eater ( Merops apiaster) :These spectacularly colored small birds are true to their name and do eat bees, as well as wasps, hornets and other insects which they catch  mid-air when they fly off from an open perch preferably in a dead tree.
Bee-eaters are migratory , breeding in warm climates where they next colonially and build tunnel nests in sandy river banks .Seen here, with the 12-12-12 tri-date and cancelled in Bucharest, on a pre-paid cover plus a matching stamp for correct international postage. Cover commemorates the Bucharest  Ramsar convention July 2012.

USA- Roseate Spoonbill

Another delightful postcard with a very special date, from the Audubon set with a matching stamp of the colorful Roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) which is a gregarious bird of the Ibis and Spoonbill family. Thanks again to Natalie for this great combination. The USA stamp is from the 1987 series.

USA- Northern Cardinal

Northern cardinals  (Cardinalis cardinalis )with their bright red plumage are good subjects for bird stamps. First seen on a USA Wildlife Conservation stamp in 1972 and ten years later in 1982 on state stamps for West Virginia and Kentucky (and other states) The postcard of Audubon's fine painting depicts the birds on one of their food trees. Thanks again to Natalie for taking so much care in sending this card.  Postmarked in Mountain Lakes with the new thin single ring postmark which replaces the  red ink double ring . I'm sorry to see the red postmark disappear, it was always so different to most you get around the world. Please take note of the 2002,  60 cent stamp ..its smaller than the older stamps, which I find  unusual as generally stamps are getting bigger not smaller:)

USA- Tanagers & Snowy owl

here's that unique date again, this time from Mountain Lakes in NJ, USA  a pair of 2002 s/a  Western Tanagers (Piranga ludoviciana) and Scarlet Tanagers ( Piranga olivacea)  together with a Snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) to send this beautiful postcard of Audubon's Snowy Owl painted in 1831. Thank you dear friend Natalie.

Switzerland-Kingfisher 1966

This is the first bird stamp produced by Switzerland , 1966 River Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) for a publicity issue for the Preservation of Natural Beauty. Other names for this bird are Common Kingfisher and Eurasian kingfisher. Postmarked in Zurich, its a very colorful and popular bird seen on more than 100 different stamps.

Australia-2012 Little Penguins

Thanks to my friend Pelicanus, here is a 12-12-12 dated bird from Australia.

Czech Republic- 2003 Nature Conservation

A double duty cover arrived to day. A trio of travelling birds carried by the 12-12-12-12 postmark from Olomouc in the Czech Republic. Issued in 2003 for nature conservation are the 

Red Kie (Milvus milvus) Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and 9Kc  Booted eagle. (Hieraatus pennatus) very attractive stamps with easily identifiable birds. Thanks to Dr  Radim Vasut for this fine cover  which only took 9 days to reach me here in Malaysia

Taiwan-Greater Painted Snipe

2009 stamps featuring a  Greater Painted-snipe ( Rostratula benghalensis) which is a wader species found in the marshes of Africa, Inida, Pakistan and SE Asia.  The birds are  unusual in that they have reversed sexual dimorphism, the female is larger and more brightly colored than the male.

I didn't crop the bird out this time because I consider the cancellations to special to be missed. A once in a lifetime event..never again in my lifetime of yours.

Taiwan-Tawny Owl

A bird with a unique postmark- 12.12.12-12. The  Tawny Owl Strix aluca) is a stocky medium-sized owl commonly found in woodlands across much of Asia. Their diet consists mainly of rodents except in urban areas where birds easier to catch. Thanks to my exchange friend Douglas for sending this delightful cover.

Christmas Island-White- Tailed tropicbird

Every year in December  you'll find some of the Christmas Island endemic birds featured  somewhere  on their Christmas  stamps.  The Christmas Island  2010  stamps did not disappoint their collectors  and here you see the unique Golden Bosun ..also known as the White-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus fulvus). These elegant birds are distinguished by prominent black bars on the upper wing and a golden tinge to the plumage and golden tail streamers. 

Cuba- Brown Pelican & Cuban Gnatcatcher

Another cover from the Cuban Festival of Birds. The pictorial postmark of the tiny Cuban Gnatcatcher (Polioptila lembeyei) cancelling the very large  2011 Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis). On the stamp with the ordinary CDS  is the 10c, 2008  Cuban Solitaire (Myadestes elisabeth)
Thanks to my good friend CJ for sending these two Cuban covers

Cuba- Partridge Pigeon & Antillean Hummingbird

To commemorate the World Festival of Endemic Birds in Cuba 2012,a pictorial postmark of a Partridge pigeon ( Starnoenas cyanocephala ) was used to cancel an 2011 Antillean crested hummingbird 

(Orthorhyncus cristatus)

Australia-Wedge-tailed Eagle

My favorite birds, the large eagles of the family Aquila. The Wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila Audax) is huge and ranks amongst the largest eagles in the world. Posted in Wangaratta , Victoria with an inverted date slug :)

Australia-Red-backed Kingfisher

A self-adhesive Red-backed kingfisher from Bright in Victoria which is close to the ski-fields, hence the slogan postmark.

Australia- Spotted Catbird

Blocks of used stamps are always sought after and today I received a cover with 10 spotted catbirds. Although the stamps were issued in 1980, I think they are still valid for postage :) A current stamp with Little penguins was added to make up  the correct postage. Thank you to my new stamp friend for this very creative cover.

Alpine Shire-Pink-eared Duck

The postmarks you see here are all from small towns in the Alpine district of north-central Victoria, Australia. If you've been following this blog you will already have seen the higher value  international stamps from this 2012 set which was issued earlier in the year. 60 cents is the local rate for use within Australia.

Hong Kong -Red Whiskered Bulbul

Here you have a $3  2006 Red-whiskered bulbul which did a solo journey from Hong Kong to Ipoh and arrived  in time for  Xmas.

12-12-12. A unique date

A date to remember when philatelists all around the world exchanged covers  to receive the unique postmark. For local mail I always request the use of definitive stamps and you can see here three of the values from the 2005 set which are still in use today.

     

Australia- Kakadu Birds

Stamp collectors never finish their sorting and arranging and writing up their collections. Rewards  can come  from  sorting out packets and here is todays' surprise. Great clear postmark from Tasmania, in fact the first Tasmanian postmark to get on the map http://g.co/maps/tpjra . Australia is a very large continent, Kakadu is in the very far north compared to Tassie which is as far south as you can go

 Stamps are  from the 1997 series  Kakadu  Birds . Little Kingfisher ( Ceyx pusillus)  Brolga ( Grus rubicunda)   Comb-crested Jacana  ( Irediparra gallinacea )

GB- Four birds on one cover

From my good friend in Birmingham comes this neat arrangement of four birds on one cover.
First is the 1977  9p Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix), next to the elegant  2007 Pied Avocet   ( Recurvirostra avosetta). There's a 30 year age gap between these two !!!. Below them are a pair from the
1980 Wild Bird Protection series , White- throated dipper (Cinclus cinclus) and the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Romania- Eurasian Hobby

With a name like Eurasian Hobby, you mightn't think it's a bird but this small slim bird is a Falcon

(Falco subbuteo

) and can be found in open farmland, marshes, taiga and savannah.

This bird has great acrobatic skills , can capture swifts and swallows on the wing   and was used  in  falconry, trained to hawk birds such as quails larks and hoopoes.

 Stamp is from the 2007 series  Birds of Prey

Hong Kong-Fork-tailed Sunbird 2009

 A trio of  2006 definitive $1.40 Fork-tailed sunbirds ( Aethopyga christinae) carried a letter in 2009  from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

India-Demoiselle crane 1975

1975 Inland letter card from India posted to Kuala Lumpur ,up-rated with a pair of  1975 definitive Demoiselle crane (Grus Virgo) stamps. This is one of my favorite bird stamps , have you wondered why there are three legs ?

Indonesia- Endangered Birds 2012

First arrival for December is a cover from Indonesia, this time with the birds on the complete 2012 Bird Life International Endangered Species m/s postmarked from Malang. Birds are Siau Scops Owl, Flores Hawk-eagle, Elegant sunbird and the Invisible Rail. Thanks to my dear friend CJ for sending the cover.

Korea- Parus major or minor?

Republic  of Korea 2006 definitive stamp of the Japanese Tit (Parus minor) although on the stamp is written Parus major. The pictorial postmark is for a local stamp exhibition in the town of  Pyeongtaek with the theme being nature conservation.

Great Britain- Returned to Sender

These birds were really celebrating the unique date on the cancels, 11-11-11. What a tremendous journey they had  while dressed in the finest double  twisted ring postmarks, all the way from Montagu Est, Newcastle Upon Tyne to China.... and back again, and still in good condition. The first stamp is from 1989 RSPB set , 32p Eurasian Oystercatcher (haematopus ostralegus). The other birds are from the 1980 4v set issued for Wild Bird Protection. 13p Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus),10p Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), 11 1/2p White throated dipper (Cinclus cinclus). The bird covered by the RTS label is the Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava). 

Germany- Black Grouse

Another cover from West Germany cancelled at Dortmund 1965, on a 20pf+10pf semi-postal stamp for Child Welfare of the Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) SG # B263

Germany- Northern Goshawk

It's not easy to get birds on postal history  so it was a very  pleasant surprise to receive this cover in the mail last week from a friend in the UK. Cancelled in Ansbach, West Germany, you see a Northern Goshawk from the 4v set of Birds of Prey, on a semi-postal  stamp of 20pf+ 10pf in aid of Youth Welfare.

Denmark- Finches on ATM Labels

This is the second series of birds on ATM bird  labels for Denmark. The first were during 2011 and these  were issued in September 2012  featuring  photographs of 3 finches which are known to breed in Denmark. They are  The Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris), Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), and  Hawfinch(Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
http://www.ateeme.net/anglesw/adk_2012.htm
Thanks to my friend Peter for the clear postmarks from Copenhagen and nice arrangement of the stamps.

Qatar- Resident Species

Complete set of 2009 Qatar  set of birds flown all the way from Doha .
Lesser Grey Shrike   ( Lanius minor)   Common Chiffchaff    (Phylloscopus collybita)
 Western Yellow Wagtail  (  Motacilla flava)      Woodchat Shrike    (Lanius senator)

Eastern Orphean Warbler ( Sylvia crassirostris)    Isabelline Shrike   ( Lanius isabellinus)

USA- Cardinal, Robin & Meadowlark

Guam is an organized unincorporated territory of the USA located in the western Pacific Ocean where several Navy and Air force bases are maintained.
Postmarked at the Military Post Office (MPO) in Guam  on three stamps from the  USA 1982 series of State Birds.

Indonesia-Endangered Birds 2012

 Arrived today the 2012 latest issue of Endangered birds with the Bird Life logo from Indonesia.  Attractive stamps with minimal background , so the bird is clearly seen and identified. Cancelled at Jakapos office, each stamp  has the same value of  2500r.

Elegant Sunbird    (Aethopyga duyvenbodei),

Siau Scops Owl  (Otus siaoensis) ,

 Flores Hawk-Eagle  (Nisaetus floris)   Invisible Rail   ( Habroptila wallacii)
                                                                                                                                                  

Australia- Eagle and Penguin

Another clear postmark from Robina Post Office Shop cancelling the two latest bird stamps from Australia. Wedge-tailed eagle and the Little Penguins.

Australia-Ducks

    More delightful ducks from the recent 2012 Waterbird series posted from  Robina Post Office Shop  on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The two stamps on this cover are the local postage rate of 60 cents,  Rajah Shelduck and a Pink-eared duck .The illustrated cover for this set features a Plumed Whistle duck

Nicaragua- Five Birds on one cover

                                         Tropical birds are very colorful as you can see here on these
                                    stamps from the Nicaragua  Birds of America series issued 2000.
                                Posted from Leon, cancelled on 17 Feb 2009 with a large blue rectangle.
                                         The names of the birds are above and below the stamps.

                                   Keel-billed Toucan   ( Ramphastos sulfuratus )   Bananaquit   ( Coereba flaveola)

 Green Kingfisher   (Chloroceryle americana)  Scarlet Macaw  (Ara macao) Yellow-headed Amazon (Amazona oratrix)

                                                    

Canada-Peregrine Falcon

Since their first birds on stamps in 1946,Canada has  issued  many fine bird stamps including this large sized 2005  definitive of the Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Taiwan- Collared Bush Robin

Birds on stamps also includes birds on postal stationary and I was delighted to receive this attractive pictorial aerogram from Gulfmann in Taiwan.  Overprinted with the logo for the Taipei 2000 Stamp Exhibition, the aerogram is up-rated for current use. The colorful little bird is the unique endemic Collared bush robin ( Tarsiger johnstoniae) which lives high in the mountains of Taiwan.

Japan- Lesser Cuckoo

Another nice small definitive bird stamp from Japan, first  issued 1952, it was reprinted in 1971 the only difference being the name Nippon was added to the stamp. The legible postmark  from Fukushima Ward in Osaka is dated 1969. Lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus) is greatly admired for its beautiful song which heralds the arrival of summer.

Japan- Bull Headed Shrike

What a nice SON * cancel we have here from Honjo in Japan on a 1986, 60y Bull headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus) which is a smallish bird of the shrike family Laniidae. These shrikes breed in north-east China, Korea, Japan and far-eastern Russia with some northern birds migrating southwards for a warmer winter. They feed on insects such as crickets and beetles and are also known to impale prey on a sharp point – usually thorns – so the food can be ripped easily into bite-sized pieces.
*SON in philatelic terms means socked on the nose or in plain English a complete postmark  over the centre of a stamp.

Japan-Manchurian (Red-crowned) crane

SG 866 Japan definitive stamp  issued 1961. Cancelled at Kobe Port

The Manchurian crane is also known as the Red Crowned crane and called tancho by the Japanese. This tall bird has a conspicuous presence in Japanese art and  culture  and reputed in folklore to live 1000 years  therefore being a symbol of longevity. Their reputation for fidelity makes them a popular symbol in wedding ceremonies. 

Australia-Silver Gull

All the way from W A...a Seagull from Seabird.  The seagull is holding a potato chip. In some coastal places potato chips have become a major food source for these birds . Studies have shown that chip eating seagulls  higher cholesterol and higher glucose in their blood than birds with a natural diet, and the birds  are significantly heavier.Some coastal towns discourage people from feeding the seagulls by having threats of high fines. Please do not feed the gulls on chips.

Japan-Golden eagle

From the Japan  2002 -Nature in Harmony series comes this great image of the head of a Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos),. Thank you Ruri

Australia- Wedge-tailed Eagle & Rajah Shelduck

Here's a triple whammy. The reverse of the pre-paid postcard  has the latest in bird stamps, head of the magnificent Wedge-tailed eagle cancelled with a tiger on the FDI  28-09-2012, at Parkville Zoo, Melbourne. This is only the second time the Wedgie has featured on an Australian stamp. Front of the card is my favorite duck, the handsome Rajah Shelduck on a maxi-card . Always nice to see the Parkville Zoo permanent marker with the elephant .

Thanks again to my good friend Robin in Victoria .

Australia- Little Penguin

The latest in bird stamps from Australia, the famous Little penguins of Phillip Island. They are of course in more places than Phillip Island but this is a popular place where the small feathered penguins can be observed at close range. 

Notes on the stamps...on the left is the lick n stick version, on the right is a self adhesive.

Many thanks to my friend Robin for sending this with a good clear postmark of Seymour South.

The Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) also known as fairy Penguin  is  the smallest species of penguin growing to an average of  33 cm (13 in) tall and 43 cm (17 in) tall.  Found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand .

Botswana-Stork & Bee-eater

From the 17v definitive 1978 Botswana stamps depicting Marabou Stork ( Leptoptilos crumenifer) and the beautiful Southern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicoides), posted from Gaborone, Botswana.

USA- Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus

1991 USA very high value , $14,definitive stamp of the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) posted from St Louis. Thanks to Kasi for sending this stamp.

USA- Eastern Bluebird

A flock of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia silalis)  flew in from Mountain Lakes NJ this week. As you can see on the stamps this bird represents  New  York and Missori States  and is also featured on the 3c definitive.
The front of the card is Audubon's hand-colored engraving (1830) of the Eastern Bluebird.

Singapore- Sunbird and Eagle

From my good friend Ai Lyn I received this lovely registered FDC with the special stamps issued for the 2015 World Stamp Exhibition in Singapore. Ai Lyn and I attended the official launch of these stamps in Singapore  where FIP President   Mr Tay Peng Hian, RDP, AMN talked about the future of philately in the electronic world.

Czech Republic- Grouse & Eagle

It's always a privilege to receive a cover from Holger who always uses special stamps and places them perfectly on the envelope.This cover has travelled from  Prague with the special  commemorative Sberatel postmark. The stamp on the left  from the 2011 mini-sheet features a Western Capercallie (Tetrao urogallus) .  The  White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla  )is from the 2008  Trebonsko fauna  4v sheetlet .

Singapore- Sunbird and Eagle

On the week-end of the Tri nations stamp exhibition August 31-September 2, 2012, there was also the launch of these two birds stamps for the World Stamp Exhibtion Singapore 2015. The stamps used this year are reprints of the  1963 definitives when the Sunbird was $2 and the Eagle $5. The 2012 issue has both stamps of  $2 each, only the stamps in the souvenir minisheet have $5 each. I received this registered FDC with the pictorial postmark showing heads of each bird, also a local postmark from Bukit Panjang has been applied.

 Olive-backed Sunbird    Cinnyris jugularis
 White-bellied Sea Eagle    Haliaeetus leucogaster