Caribbean's birds (4) - Dominica

L : Red-billed Tropicbird (紅嘴熱帶鳥) ; R : Northern Gannet (北方塘鵝)
Dominica (2005)
25th November, 2009. General Post Office, Roseau
12th December, 2009. Hongkong

Again, here to show you a cover with domestic birds from Caribbean, after the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and an overseas department of France - Martinique. It is the eighth of this series and will be updated in future. However, two species on the covers Red-billed Tropicbird and Northern Gannet, are not popular in Caribbean's issues, now is a supplement of these two species.

Red-billed Tropicbird is partly common in Atlantic Ocean, in Caribbean, east coast of Africa and topical of Atlantic Ocean, also some of them appear in Pacific coast of North to Latin America and north India Ocean. The subspecies p. a. indicus to be found in South China Sea. Northern Gannet commonly to be found in north Atlantic, it is a large yellow-headed seabird mostly nesting on cliff in large colonies. After the bleeding season, it migrates to further south in the Atlantic during winter.

Owls of the world (1)

Long-eared Owl (長耳鴞)
St Vincent and the Grenadines (2001)
6th November, 2009. Kingstown, St Vincent

Afer a year, another new items from St Vincent was came again, this time are one maxicard and one cover with a set of Owls of the world, which was issued on 2001. The stamps illustrated 6 different owls however seems none of them to be found in this small islands. But after I checked the books and related refernece, Long-eared owl is a common owl species in Asia, Europe and North America. After the breeding season the birds may partially migrate to south for winter, so I think there have a chance to obverse Long-eared Owl in St Vincent.

Same as last mail, the card cancelled by philatelic bureau of St Vincent again. Different than last mail, the cancellation renewed as well as United States' style. It looks more clear and sharpness.

In the other side of the world, another maxicard also produced from Switzerland. The card was completed the 2007 Domestic Bird definitive series as other three were arranged on 2007 and 2008 respectively. As the last description, Tengmalm's Owl also very common in Asia, Europe and North America. In Switzerland, it mostly appear in pin forest area of Jura, the small mountain range in the north of Alps. The card shown below is a Tengmalm's owl nesting in a branch of pin tree, and cancelled in Saignelegier, where is a municipality in the canton of Jura. A small nature reserve Etang de la Gruère is located in this municipality.

Tengmalm's Owl (鬼鴞)
Switzerland (2007)
22nd January, 2010. Saignelegier

Heisei definitive stamp

Chinese Spot-billed Duck (斑嘴鴨)
Japan (1994)
19th November, 2008. Okayama

To carry this maxicard, A stamped envelope which included on the packet when sent to Japan. The envelope affixed with a definitive stamp issued on early Heisei period, from 1992 to 1998. These twenty-something stamps illustrated domestic butterflies, birds and flowers of Japan, here has been shown Small Copper (紅灰蝶) and Mandarin Duck (鴛鴦) respectively.

Chinese Spot-billed Duck A. p. zonorhyncha is a subspecies of Indian Spot-billed Duck (印度花嘴鴨), which is a migratory bird breed in north-east Asia, mostly visible in Japan, Korean Peninsula and north-east of China. In winter it will fly to south and stay in south-east Asian countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, some birds may fly to Australia or the islands of South Pacific.

Nyasa Lovebird

Front
Nyasa Lovebird (尼亞情侶鸚鵡)
Malawi (2009)
14th December, 2009. Chichiri Central (Stamp Bureau)
14th December, 2009. Chichiri, Blantyre
15th December, 2009. Lilongwe

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, it is a big festival of couple. If find one species related to this festival, I think lovebird is the most suitable bird for couple. Most of people thought that a pair of birds is better than one if people breed lovebird at home as the habit of wild life lovebird mostly appear as couple until die.

There have 9 species in Agapornis (情侶鸚鵡) genus, all of them are to be found in sub-Sahara area of Africa. Nyasa Lovebird is one of nine and is the smallest parrot in Africa, also it is endemic to Malawi, Mozambique to Zambia areas. Nowadays less than 20,000 birds recorded and most of them inhabits Liwonde National Park, a conservation area located on the upper Shire River plain of Malawi. Due to the agricultural purposes of this area, the lovebird being restricted, and the bird does not have ability to find their inhabit place outside the national park. Nyasa Lovebird does not like captivity, so it is hard to breed humanly. The bird is not common in pet market, however still have many people feed them at home.

Actually I am very fancy to lovebird, beside it is a parrot, the colourful feather and its sound are very attractive to me. Unfortunately the environment of my home is not suitable to pet any birds. This Nyasa Lovebird's cover is the first in my collection, hope I can collect all 9 species covers and cards in future.

Back

Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow (家燕)
Hongkong (2006)
30th August, 2007. Taipo

Just few days before new year festival in Chinese culture, people may post anything in their home if it is related to fortune ; like blossom, bat, or other elements. Barn swallow is one of fortune element in their culture, as the bird mostly nests under evas of traditional resident and people discovered that swallows always have fortuned family - father and mother hardly to feed their chick until they can fly. Therefore most of Chinese like to illustrate swallows in folk drawing or vest. Especially the art crafts for wedding.

The above maxicard arranged on two years ago. In the past of Hongkong, Taipo is one of the largest market in east New Territories, which is nearby couple of folk villages in Lam Tsuen, Wukautin and Taipo Au. In these villages, there can be easily to be found the nests of Barn Swallow, until now it still commonly actives in this area.

It is the third post but first maxicard related to Barn Swallow, lasts are Isle of Man in Europe and Egypt of Africa.

Buzin, part 5

0,78 € : Black-tailed Godwit (黑尾塍鷸) ; 4,60 € : White-tailed Eagle (白尾鷲)
0,27 € : Eurasian Woodcock (丘鷸)
Belgium (2006, 2009)
9th December, 2009. Bruxelles de Brouckere, Brussels

Once again, not surprise a mail from Belgium is franking with Buzin stamps, either from Belgian friends or tourist from other European, thanks Yoram of this great mail when he spent a day-trip in Brussels. After his mail, the Belgian 2009 Buzin series is completed, the lasts are Eurasian Woodcock, Black Woodpecker (黑啄木鳥) and Tawny Owl (灰林鴞).

Black-tailed Godwit to be found in the shores or grasslands, northern from Iceland through Central Asia of Russia ; and in winter the bird migrates to south to Australia. western Europe or west Africa. Now the population of this species is decreasing to approximate 63,000 to 80,000 birds, it has been classifed as Near Threatened in IUCN list.

7th definitive stamps of South Africa (2)

R10 : African Green Pigeon (非洲綠鳩) ; R2 : Lilac-breasted Roller (東非佛法僧)
R1,30 : Black-eyed Susan Vine (翼葉山牽牛)
5c : Palette Surgeonfish (黃尾副刺尾魚) ; 20c : Royal Angelfish (甲尻魚)
South Africa (2000)
24th November, 2009. Henley on Klip, Gauteng

After the last definitive cover from South Africa, here is other one affixed full of 7th definitive stamps, and also it seems the last one of this series. This cover featuring other two birds to be found in South Africa, also two types of coral fish and one local flower. African Green Pigeon and Lilac-breasted Roller are widely to be found in sub-African area, and also Arabic Peninsular, they are very common and easy to be observed. The flower, and two coral fishes now are very popular in the world as people plated it on backyard or as pet-fish, they are also very common in south-east Africa.

Thanks for Mr. R. Olivier of his great help from South Africa, Heley on Klip is a small village found on 1905 it is located on the east part of South Africa, next to the highway between Johannesburg and Vereeniging.

Hooded Crane

Hooded Crane (白頭鶴)
Japan (1992)
27th November, 2009. Izumi, Kagoshima

Thanks James of his surprise to send me this nice cover from Japan, actually it seems wonderful as I still have not complete this waterfront bird series, which are 20 stamps issued on 1991 to 1993. This stamp, with the Tufted Puffin (花魁鳥) stamp also sent by James are came from part 3 of this series, and also sent from the bird's inhabit places. Hooded Crane is a small darkness bird breeds in the mid-southern and eastern-south areas of Siberia, and migrates to South Korea, China, and Japan. Especially near 80% birds will stay in Izumi, southern area of Japan during winter.