Mayotte, after it becomes an overseas department of France

Front
Clockwise from top-left :
Mayotte White-eye (栗脅繡眼鳥) ; Mayotte Sunbird (馬約島花蜜鳥)
Aldabra Red-headed Fody (阿爾達巴拉紅頭雀) ; Mayotte Drongo (馬約特卷尾)
Mayotte (2002)
12th April, 2011. Mamoudzou

In the beginning of this year, I receive a greetings mail from Mayotte Philatelic Bureau, it let me remember the situation of this remote islands. Mayotte, is an islands between Madagascar and Comoros. They originally are colonies of France, after Madagascar and Comoros got independence, Mayotte still was a territory until 2010, when the residents voted and decided become an overseas department of France. Since 1892 the colonies government issued its first set of stamps, then for a long period Mayotte were using nearby colonies or French stamps until 1997, when a set of overprinted Marianne issued and Mayotte has its own stamps again.

Above mail specially requested to be sent after March 31, the day becomes an overseas department of France. However all kind of things are never change. The bird stamps on the envelope are endemic species of Mayotte, except Aldabra Red-headed Fody - it also to be found in Seychelles.

The latest issue, as shown below, issued on April 4 still bearing 'Mayotte' name is a Madagascar Bee-eater. The species only endemic to Madagascar, Mayotte and Comoros ; and also parts of Namibia and Mozambique.

Confirmed in mid-2011, Mayotte will use French stamps again after December 31, that means Mayotte stamps will be discontinued on 2012. If you still missing a mail from this islands, still have 3 days to get it.

Back
Madagascar Bee-eater (馬達加斯加蜂虎)
Mayotte (2011)

Common Kingfisher

Common Kingfisher (普通翠鳥)
Hungary (2001)
18th October, 2010. Nyíregyházai

Although kingfisher is a common bird in the world, seems I never specially show an item only with this species. Above maxicard arranged on late-September before the aluminum accident in Kolontár. However, it is not much relationship to the card, or say the kingfisher. As most of natural conservations are located in the east of Hungary, especially Aggtelek National Park is a main area to find large population of kingfisher, it also is a part of UNESCO world heritage site.

Nyíregyházai is the seventh large city located in the north-east Hungary, it seems a hub to visit nearby national park of conservations.

Season's greetings from the Isle of Man

European Robin (知更鳥) ; Goldfinch (紅額金翅雀)

Isle of Man (2011)
28th September, 2011. Douglas

This year, is Isle of Man's robin Christmas stamp to wish you have Merry Christmas. The stamp, and other five beautiful bird stamps are illustrated by Jeremy Paul who is famous nature illustrator in the island. The set of stamps also feature Sepac and Europa series, but I haven't purchased. Here, shown two maxicards as above and the cover with highest value stamp.

Long-tailed Tit (銀喉長尾山雀)

Isle of Man (2011)
3rd October, 2011. Douglas

Singapore Peranakan Museum

Singapore Peranakan Museum (土生華人博物館)
Singapore (2008)
16th March, 2011. Clementi West

Peranakan is a group of Chinese who immigrated to Melaka area during 15th to 16th century, after years those Chinese effected by local Malays. As their long-term history in this region, their instruments, gadgets, clothes to accessories are specially mixing with Chinese and Malaya styles, in sharp charmed colours with decorated Chinese luckily plants, animals and birds. In 2008, Singapore specially built a museum to commemorate and show above things of Peranakan culture. A set of 8 stamps issued on the meanwhile to show collection of the museum and 4 of them which are instruments or accessories with bird decoration.

Stamps from left to right are decorations of Phoenix (鳳凰) which is imitation luckily bird in Chinese culture, Tree Sparrow (麻雀), Common Pheasant (雉雞) and Red-crowned Crane (丹頂鶴) respectively. They normally painted on porcelain, jewellery and clothes.

Hummingbirds of Caribbean

$1.25, 35¢ : Antillean Crested Hummingbird (鳳頭蜂鳥)
30¢, 15¢ : Green-throated Carib (綠喉蜂鳥)
British Virgin Islands (1982)
2nd February, 2011. Road Town, Tortola

Above mail is also come from Caribbean which is the sixteen country of this region, as before not much people known where is British Virgin Islands, but mostly people only known that where is famous place to register company. However, some birds are endemic to this small islands and nearby regions. Antillean Crested Hummingbird and Green-throated Carib are common hummingbirds to be found in Caribbean, they also feature with beautiful and shiny greenish feathers.

50th anniversay of WWF

From top of first column to bottom of last column :
Eurasian Hobby (燕隼) ; Eurasian Wryneck (蟻鴷) ; Red-backed Shrike (紅背伯勞)
Golden Oriole (金黃鸝) ; Redstart (紅尾鴝)
Eurasian Pygmy Owl (花頭鵂鶹) ; Nightingale (夜鶯) ; Whinchat (草原石即鳥)
Liechtenstein (2011)

9th September, 2011. Vaduz

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of foundation of WWF, couple of countries issued stamps last year. The most interesting stamps possible is Liechtenstein, which is a souvenir sheet features 8 species in Europe, from songbirds to preys of bird. Although the stamp shame in hexagonal shape, overall it looks nice as the birds look inhabit in the forest. The most special is the sheet features 8 variety species while compare to other WWF series maximum in four.

However, they are all very common to be found in European countries, it was quite oddly to the license holder wish endangered species appear on the stamps. Perhaps it changes its mind but it is not good for collector as the series will be overflowed.

Maxicard

From top to bottom :
Red-backed Shrike (紅背伯勞) ; Redstart (紅尾鴝)
Eurasian Wryneck (蟻鴷) ; Whinchat (草原石即鳥)
Nightingale (夜鶯) ; Golden Oriole (金黃鸝)
Liechtenstein (2011)

9th September, 2011. Vaduz

75th anniversary of National Trust for Jersey

From left to right :
42p/75p : Western Marsh Harrier (白頭鷂) ; 79p : Atlantic Puffin (北極海鸚)
59p : Dartford Warbler (波紋林鶯)
Jersey (2011)
25th October, 2011. Jersey

I think, or I would promise this is the last cover from Jersey ! The reason is not their stamps not nice enough but the service by their philatelic bureau is not acceptable. Following its cover, I receive a notice from philatelic bureau related to service charge of cancellation. The letter posted on soapbox meanwhile.

Anyway, look back to the stamps, not surprisingly the stamps illustrated by N. Parlett, who illustrated lots of wildlife stamps of Jersey. The stamp set, 5 stamps only 3 are birds. An extra one - 75p, as well as 42p stamp but specially change the mill (as known as La Caumine) in green colour ! It was not computer effect as the mill really painted in green to commemorate 75th anniversary of National Trust for Jersey, only few hours it turned white after inundated with complaints from angry Islanders.

Maxicard
Atlantic Puffin (北極海鸚)
Jersey (2011)
25th October, 2011. Jersey