⭕️Aerogramme of Giibraltar

From left to right :
Mediterranean Shag (地中海鸕鶿) ; Eurasian Hoopoe (戴勝)
Gibraltar (1992, 2008)
25th August, 2016. Gibraltar

Gibraltar has long been known as a key location for observing birds so we thought what better subject for the 2008 Definitive. The ‘Birds of the Rock’ Definitive focuses on some of the beautiful birds that grace Gibraltar’s skies.

Hoopoe breeds throughout the Mediterranean and is known to many locals as ‘Gallito de Marzo’. They are particularly noticeable around the Alameda Gardens in March during its main migration period every spring.

Mediterranean Shag is a small breeding colony of 5-8 pairs of this threatened seabird breeds in sea caves along the east side of Rock. The Gibraltar colony is possibly the only one left on mainland Iberia.

⭕️Overprinted

Little Owl (縱紋腹小鴞)
Gibraltar (2013)
2nd November, 2013. Gibraltar

An overprint is an additional layer of text or graphics added to the face of a postage stamp, banknote or postal stationery after printed. Post offices most often use overprints for internal administrative purposes such as accounting but these have also been employed in the past for public mail. Gibraltar’s last overprinted stamp was released in 1991 when the 1987 Definitive Guns with the original value of £3 was overprinted with a £1.05 value. Due to the fact that new postal rates are being introduced in Gibraltar with the latest Christmas stamps, the Post Office required two additional values, a 14p and 28p.

From left to right :
£2,00 : Pallid Swift (蒼雨燕) ; 10p : Black Stork (黑鸛)
28p : Eurasian Eagle-Owl (鵰鴞) ; 14p : Little Owl (縱紋腹小鴞)
Gibraltar (2009, 2012, 2013)
27th January, 2014. Gibraltar

Birds of the Rock

Spotted Flycatcher (斑鶲)
Gibraltar (2012)
27th July, 2011. Gibraltar

After 3 parts of definitive issues, seem Gibraltar finished its Birds of the Rock definitive series. Finally the complete set contains 22 stamps and all of them are to be found in Gibraltar. Although Gibraltar is a small point in Europe, it is a main cross-point of bird and marine species, which have description of last post. Below to show the maxicards of this definitive series, and can be visited old posts for covers.

Greater Flamingo (火烈鳥)
Gibraltar (2008)
16th April, 2012. Gibraltar
Mediterranean Shag (地中海鸕鶿)
Gibraltar (2008)
16th April, 2012. Gibraltar
Eurasia Hoopoe (戴勝)
Gibraltar (2008)
16th April, 2012. Gibraltar
Razorbill (大嘴海鴉)
Gibraltar (2008)
16th April, 2012. Gibraltar
Spotted Flycatcher (斑鶲)
Gibraltar (2012)
16th April, 2012. Gibraltar

Europa 2001

Yellow-legged Gull (黄腿鷗)
Gibraltar (2001)
16th April, 2012. Gibraltar

Finally all the items arrived on late-July, while the maxicard arrived on May. I don't have any idea why the envelope travelled 3 months, from Gibraltar to Hong-Kong, isn't it because it sent by registered mail ?

Anyway, this old issue bought in bargain price from internet, which is a main theme Environment to Europa 2001. I was missed it when it is new and seem good luck buy them in bargain price after 10 years. The stamps feature 3 species to be found the nearby water of Gibraltar, as everybody known this small place hold the door of Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, also the nearest point between Europe and Africa. It is the main intersection point to migration of birds and marine life.

By the way, it is oddly to be seen Goldfish on the one of the stamp, is it really find in Gibraltar ?

From left to right :
40p : Common Snapdragon (金魚草) ; 30p : Long-snouted Seahorse (多枝海馬)
54p : Goldfish (鯽魚) ; 42p : Yellow-legged Gull (黄腿鷗)
Gibraltar (2001)
16th April, 2012. Gibraltar

Definitive of Gibraltar

From left to right :
E : Eurasian Hoopoe (戴勝) ; 5p : Eurasian Eagle-Owl (鵰鴞)
2p : Balearic Shearwater (巴利阿裡剪嘴鷗) ; 1p : Woodchat Shrike (林鶺伯勞)
Gibraltar (2008)
30th March, 2011. Gibraltar

Unfortunately, until now, my order from Gibraltar still disappear even the post office sent me twice by registered mail. I don't know what reason of this and also a mail from Spain which contains cash not arrive safety. I give up to wait and only can show above cover received on June - it the third one in my collection. Four low-value definitive stamps are affixed on the cover. The background of the stamps, also interesting to show the sight of Rock of Gibraltar in different weathers and visions.

Three of birds except the shearwater are common to be found in southern European countries. However Balearic Shearwater now is endangered bird only actives offshore of Gibraltar and France, area of Mediterranean Sea ; and also North Sea.

Razorbill and Bonelli's Eagle

L : Razorbill (刀嘴海雀) ; R : Bonelli's Eagle (白腹山鵰)
Gibraltar (2008)
15th February, 2009. Gibraltar (first day postmark)

In last year, when I posted an envelope from Gibraltar, I also say that I have been sent one IRC to Gibraltar post office, for exchange some stamps. It returned few days ago, thanks Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau for the nice stamps and cancellation. Once again, it franked with newest definitive stamps issued on 2008. This excellent illustrated bird definitive set contains 14 stamps and there to be continued issue three more stamps on 15th September of 2009.

These two species, are very common in southern Europe and northern Africa, here has been written their description in different Portugal issues. Gibraltar located next to Spain's south boundary and opposites of Morocco, conjunction of Mediterranean and Atlantic, it also not far away from Portugal.

Bonelli's Eagle (白腹山鵰)
Portugal (2007)
12th June, 2009. Lisbon (Philatelic Bureau)

Red Kite in southern Europe

Red Kite (紅鳶)
Gibraltar (1996)
25th June, 2009. Gibraltar
15th July, 2009. Hongkong

It is the third time to show Red Kite stamp in here, last two are Great Britain and Switzerland separately. In last post says that Red Kite is very common in continent of Europe, however in western and southern of Europe, especially along the seashore of the Mediterranean, it is rarely to find its appearance. In winter, there are small number of Red Kites fly over Gibraltar when they migrating from northern Europe to North Africa, this WWF issue illustrated the birds bleed and live around the fort at the top of Rock of Gibraltar.

On the back of this cover franked with one extra stamp Honey Buzzard (鳳頭蜂鷹), it is one of newest Gibraltar definitive stamps but will not show in here.

Greater Flamingo and Mediterranean Shag

L : Greater Flamingo (火烈鳥) ; R : Mediterranean Shag (地中海鸕鶿)

Gibraltar (2008)

19th March, 2008. Gibraltar

Gibraltar Post done a good job in this year, it issued new series of definitive set which contains 14 different bird stamps. Those species are very common in Gibraltar and Mediterranean. I contacted a vendor in there to help me find some block of 4 and single stamps of all low values, and advised him use those stamps on envelope in the meantime. When I contacting vendor, I also sent one IRC to Gibraltar post office, but they don't have any respond, little bit disappointed. The envelope, I was hidden some parts as the vendor used DL size envelope, it is not good for my album.