Australia-Water Birds

During the recent heat-wave in NSW my friend Karola took relief from the heat by soaking herself, together with some stamps, in the bath. The illustrated cover commemorates the occasion when the mercury reached 44 degrees. We can see Karola was dreaming of  beaches and water birds as she soaked with the stamps . The stamps say it all, Sea gulls, Jabiru, Frigate birds and Tropicbirds..  all found where there is water. Even the kangaroo is by the sea-side. Cancelled at Lightning Ridge NSW, one of the hottest places in the outback..

Christmas Island- Frigate Bird

Christmas Island is a Territory of Australia which issues  humorous  stamps at Christmas time for the festive season. The 2012 stamps did not disappoint  collectors as here we see Santa aided by a greater Frigate bird, a Green turtle and a few Red crabs creating some sand sculpture in the shape of a Christmas tree.
The cover flew in from Ouyen in Victoria.

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.