British dinosaurs

 

Ornithocheirus (鳥掌翼龍) ; Dimorphodon (雙型齒翼龍)
Great Britain (2013)
13th May, 2014. Cardiff

Over the past 200 years the fossilised remains of the skeletons of the dinosaurs featured in this issue have been found in the UK, mostly in southern Britain – hence they are ‘British’ dinosaurs. The lightweight Ornithocheirus flew mostly by soaring and gliding on its long, narrow wings. It fed by skimming the sea surface and catching fish with its long, slender jaws fringed with sharp, outwardly pointing, interlocking teeth. The two different sizes of teeth in the jaws of Dimorphodon suggest that it was piscivorous (a fish-eater). It had a large, puffin-shaped skull, with big side openings supported by thin, bony struts to save weight.

Post & Go labels (IV)

From left to right :
Atlantic Puffin (北極海鸚); Arctic Tern (北極燕鷗) ; Eurasian Oystercatcher (蠣鴴)
Common Ringed Plover (環頸鴴) ; Northern Gannet (北方塘鵝)
Great Cormorant (普通鸕鶿)
Great Britain (2011)
16th September, 2011. Trafalgar Square, London

In the Autumn Stampex, Post Office released its fourth bird Post & Go labels, which is the last in this series. This time features 6 seabirds are common to be found in seashores of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Not surprisingly the species have been appeared on stamps. Above cover is the first day cover of the label sent from London.

As the seabirds mostly inhabiting in northern nation of the country, a set of maximum cards as below which I arranged to be cancelled in those variety post office in Scotland.

Northern Gannet (北方塘鵝)
Great Britain (2011)
6th October, 2011. North Berwick, East Lothian

In the offshore of North Berwick, there has a rock called The Base Rock where is a praise of gannets. Three-fourths of British gannets to be found in this island, however the island has its own castle and lighthouse.

Arctic Tern (北極燕鷗) ; Great Cormorant (普通鸕鶿)
Great Britain (2011)
5th October, 2011. Holy Island, Northumberland

Holy Island, is a tidal island off coast of Northumberland, England. The island formally called Lindisfarne, the lower margin of postmark called Berwick on Tweed is parliament of the island. The island is historical but it also is a nature reserve named Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, in there can be observed thousand of seabirds in each migration seasons.

Atlantic Puffin (北極海鸚)
Great Britain (2011)
4th November, 2011. Marloes, Pembrokeshire

Puffin is common and cute seabird in the country. Marloes is one of best place to find them in breeding seasons.

Common Ringed Plover (環頸鴴) ; Eurasian Oystercatcher (蠣鴴)
Great Britain (2011)
7th October, 2011. Fair Island, Shetland

Last two cards are cancelled in Fair Isle, Shetland. Shetland is the most important islands to seabirds, it is in the north-east of Scotland. Only 15 island inhabited while all of them colonised by seabirds ! Fair Isle and Fetlar are the islands in the east side of Shetland, only few inhabitant in there but have thousands of different seabirds like gannet, puffin and oystercatcher. A RSPB reserve has been built in the islands. The stamps as below cover, was issued on 1999 to commemorate centenary of RSPB.

Clockwise from top-left :
32p : Eurasian Oystercatcher (蠣鴴) ; 27p : Pied Avocet (反嘴鷸)
25p : Northern Gannet (北方塘鵝) ; 19p : Atlantic Puffin (北極海鸚)
Great Britain (1999)
3rd May, 2011. Fetlar, Shetland

Endangered birds of Britain

First roll :
White-tailed Eagle (白尾鷲) ; Bearded Reedling (文須雀) ; Red Kite (紅鳶)
Cirl Bunting (黃道眉鵐) ; Western Marsh Harrier (白頭鷂)
Second roll :
Pied Avocet (反嘴鷸) ; Eurasian Bittern (大麻鳽) ; Dartford Warbler (波紋林鶯)
Corn Crake (長腳秧雞) ; Peregrine Falcon (擬游隼)
Great Britain (2007)
4th September, 2007. Trafalgar Square, London

Finally I rescan this large envelope which sent on the first day issue of British Endangered Birds. The set, as the series, features 10 variety species to be found in the islands. Actually they are not very special in the world but after industry revolution, the wild environment of British became poor and as inhabit loss, population of some species largely decrease. However it is not too late to stop this situation when couple of environment rules come out recent years and now some of population is growing up.

Red Kite, one of stamp in this set, was shown in this blog on 2009. Above packet especially thanks to Yoram, he is helpful to send me covers from Britain and other countries.

Hyacinth Macaw

Hyacinth Macaw (紫藍金剛鸚鵡)
Great Britain (2011)
22nd March, 2011. Trafalgar Square, London

Hyacinth Macaw is the largest species of Psittaciformes (鸚形目), which has unique body, charmed jewelery blued feather are attracted to pet feeder. The macaw is endemic to Amazon tropical palm forests or swamps of southern Brazil, east of Bolivia and north of Paraguay. As it is a popular pet of people, the macaw has big demand in pet market and caused wild macaws are being illegal bird trading. Moreover according to the over development of forest area, their inhabit area are damaged or lost. In 80's year over 10,000 birds be caught and most of them traded to black-market of Brazil, now only 3,000 wild macaws to be found in this area.

The stamp as above comes from souvenir sheet of Great Britain, which commemorated 50th anniversary of Worldwide Fund of Nature. Whole set products include 10 stamps with worldwide endangered mammals and souvenir sheet features 4 species to be found in Amazon forest. But disappointingly none of them related to Great Britain.

Today is a big day as it was a foundation day of Worldwide Fund for Nature in 50 years ago. The orginasation registered at Morges, Switzerland on 11th September by Sir Julian Huxley who is a British biologist.

Aerogrammes of Great Britain

From left to right :
British Coastal Birds
Atlantic Puffin (北極海鸚) ; Black-legged Kittiwake (三趾鷗) ; Guillemot (普通海鴉)
British Moorland and Upland Birds
Willow Grouse (柳雷鳥) ; Eurasian Golden-Plover (歐金斑鴴) ; Black Grouse (黑琴雞)
British Birds - the Crow Family
Jackdaw (寒鴉) ; Eurasian Jay (松鴉) ; Common Magpie (喜鵲)
Great Britain (c. 1995)
12th December, 2010. Mount Pleasant, London

A set of 6 aerogrammes issued by Royal Mail during mid-90's year of last century illustrates British domestic birds in variety situations. Each aerogramme illustrated by famous artists with colourful backgrounds. One of artist is Norman Arlott, he illustrates birds since 50's years, some of illustrates published in reference books of bird-watching and special topics. recent years he also writing about bird handbooks and guides. Now he lives in Norfolk and over 100 books with his illustrations. Another one, Noel Cusa, also an artist of fauna. He begun to draw wildlife with watercolour since 60's year, above two of aerogrammes are illustrated by him.

Post & Go labels (III)

First column :
Great Crested Grebe (鳳頭鸊鷉)
Second column :
Moorhen (黑水雞) ; Greylag Goose (灰雁)
Mute Swan (疣鼻天鵝) ; Common Kingfisher (普通翠鳥)
Third column (last stamp) : Mallard (綠頭鴨)
Great Britain (2011)
19th May, 2011. Great Portland Street, London

As the schedule, Post Office issued third series of bird theme Post & Go labels, this time features six waterbirds to be found in England or Scotland. Unfortunately some of birds have been appeared on stamps and shown here as before. Still thanks to Yoram from London he kindly to set me a copy of mint stamps and above cover. I selected Greylag Goose to arranged maxicard as below, the card also issued by one English publisher and the description says the geese mostly appear in Hebrides and Forsinard, the Highlands of Scotland.

Below maxicard bears Forsinard post office cds., where is one of remotest village in the northernmost of Scotland. A reserve Forsinard Flows is located near the village.

Maxicard

Greylag Goose (灰雁)
Great Britain (2011)
10th June, 2011. Forsinard, Sutherland

Wild bird protection

From left to right :
10p : Kingfisher (普通翠鳥) ; 11½p : White-throated Dipper (河烏)
13p : Moorhen (黑水雞) ; 15p : Yellow Wagtail (黃鶺鴒)
Great Britain (1980)
30th June, 2010. Padgate Lane, Warrington
5th July, 2010. Hongkong

From 1969 to late-90's year of last century of Great Britain, perhaps the print quantity of stamps over collector's demand, most of them are selling in bargain price nowadays, thus so many people - especially for auction sellers (mostly philatelic dealers) who are happy to use them for postage to customer. Above package is a good example to shown how to use these bargain stamps and counter used label for make-up postage.

I never mind use the old stamps in present envelope, just they still valid for postage. This beautiful and classic bird stamp set issued on 1980, for 30 years ago. The stamps illustrated four common species to be found in wild area of England.

Abbotsbury Swannery

Mute Swan (疣鼻天鵝)

Great Britain (1993)
21st August, 2010. Abbotsbury, Dorset
21st August, 2010. Dorset & East Devon

Swannery was established by Benedictine Monks during 1040's which has a monastery at Abbotsbury, a small village in the Dorset, and also inside the area of Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO heritage site in Great Britain. The swannery was existence on 1393 when the records written, but probably existed before that.

Abbotsbury Swannery is the only colony of Mute Swan in the world, over 600 swans are feed inside the farm. Naturally Mute Swan is very common to be found in the world, mostly wild life swans are breed in waterside and migrate to south during winter. It distributed in Europe and Asia while North Africa in winter. The swan does not sound in its whole life, it specially has an orange bill bordered with black, ecognisabled by its pronounced knob atop the bill. Today, Abbotsbury Swannery is a tourist attractive as it is a part of UNESCO heritage site in Dorset, where begins from Exmouth to Swanage, total length 153km coastline.

Mute Swan only has one partner in its life, when they found a partner, the couple always play a dance in the lake. As the reason, Mute Swans frequency appear on Valentina cards, greetings stamps or related products.

Post & Go labels (II)

From left to right :
Common Blackbird (烏鶇) ; Common Magpie (喜鵲) ; Eurasian Collared-Dove (灰斑鳩)
European Greenfinch (金翅雀) ; Long-tailed Tit (銀喉長尾山雀) ; Chaffinch (蒼頭燕雀)
Great Britain (2011)
24th January, 2011. Trafalgar Square, London

After three months of first bird theme Post & Go labels, the Post Office released second set on January also features 6 common birds. The new set similar to first sixes are illustrated by Peter Horridge but not colourful as first sixes. Once again, thanks to Yoram sent me this cover on the day of issue. As before, the labels are obtained from Trafalgar Square according to the code imprinted on labels.

Post & Go labels (I)

From left to right :
House Sparrow (家麻雀) ; Wood Pigeon (斑尾林鴿) ; Blue Tit (藍山雀)
Starling (椋鳥) ; European Robin (知更鳥) ; Goldfinch (紅額金翅雀)
Great Britain (2010)
17th September, 2010. Trafalgar Square, London

In 2007, Royal Mail and Post Office tried introduce self-service posting machines in selected branches, it will be more convenient to customer to post stuff. Following the machine, there has one specially designed label using on this system, and it was firstly appeared at Bristol. The label in golden coloured with queen head, similar with Machin definitive.

After 2 years, Post Office considered change the design of labels, the idea came from the election results of Big Garden Birdwatch by RSPB. 6 of 20 be selected in first series and more will be on further issues. Six birds are commonly and popular in nationwide are House Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Starling and Robin, however only 5 labels in each strip, the sixth label will be provided on next strip.

Here are three different items which arranged on day of issue, thanks Yoram of London and Montse of Spain who done great help to me. The first one features whole set of labels, five are printed in worldwide up to 20g rate and one printed in national 100g rate total value £5,71 with made-up Machin stamps. It is correct registered postage under 40g to Hongkong. The labels were printed at Trafalgar Square. Second one just features one label which printed at City of London, ordinary machine postmark be acquired.

Starling (椋鳥)
Great Britain (2010)
17th September, 2010. Mount Pleasant, London

Also, a set of self-illustrated maxicards also arrange, it was the first set self-illustrations be produced as mass production. All illustrations similar as the backgrounds of this blog and 4 selected to show as below. The second series of Bird Post & Go labels is planned to be issued on January 2011.

Maxicards


From left to right :
Wood Pigeon (斑尾林鴿) ; Starling (椋鳥)
European Robin (知更鳥) ; Goldfinch (紅額金翅雀)
Great Britain (2010)
17th September, 2010. Bristol

The most northerly post office of Britain

Tartan (蘇格蘭格子)
Scotland, Great Britain (1999)
31st December, 2007. Baltasound, Shetland (Unst)
3rd January, 2008. Lerwick, Shetland

Shetland Islands is an archipelago in Scotland, the most northerly islands of Scotland and Great Britain. The islands has 100 islands and only half have inhabitation, it faces North Sea to east and Atlantic Ocean to north, only 280 km far away from Faroe Islands. The islands also a paradise of sea birds, most of birds are colony on Hermaness, Foula, Mousa, Noss, Sumburgh Head and Fair Isle ; species include Atlantic Puffin (北極海鸚) and Wilson's Storm Petrel (黃蹼洋海燕).

Cancellation obtained from Haroldswich post office, which becomes the northerly post office of Britain after Baltasound post office closed on 1999. The cancellation illustrates a pair of Atlantic Puffins, the bird can be found in the seashore of Unst.

Since 1999, Royal Mail issues new design country stamps of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England. Above tartan stamp is one of first new Scotland country stamp, is one traditional patten of Scotland.

Barn Owl and Eurasian Kestrel

Up : Barn Owl (倉鴞) and Down : Eurasian Kestrel (紅隼)
Great Britain (2003)
14th July, 2008. Great Portland Street, London

It is an interesting stamp set issued by Great Britain illustrate their flying motion of two prey of birds, Bran Owl and Eurasian Kestrel are very common in this country or over the world. Beside two poles, they can easily be found. Eurasian Kestrel lives in field or grassland of hill area, normally actives at nightfall independency. Barn Owl only actives at night live in forest area, coloured grey-white with wide wings and long legs. Rodent (齧齒目) is its main food, some Barn Owls can eat 7 mouse at one night.

Red Kites

Red Kite (紅鳶)
Great Britain (2007)
22nd September, 2007. Doune, Perthshire

Red Kite is a resident bird of Isles of Britain, mostly can be found in Central Wales, mid-Scotland and parts of England. However the population of the bird has been reduced to extinct by early 1900's year. After re-introduced, red kites increasing their population again in England and Scotland, and now huge numbers live in Chilterns of England and Argaty of Scotland.

Doune is in the south part of Scotland, small village nearby Argaty, it located in the west of Dundee and the north of Glasgow. The post office in Doune founded in 1793, over 200 years !

Field birds in British Isles

Here I would present three items came from British Isles but they were sent from three different places respectively. Those birds shown below are very common on the islands, either in field, gardens or bank of rivers. They are small, can sing nice songs and pleasant.

Great Britain

Maxicard

Song Thrush (歐歌鶇)

Great Britain (1998)

10th June, 2008. Chelmsford, Essex

A popular garden songbird can be found in farmland and most of gardens, however the populations in England are decreasing in recent years, now it is Red Listed species. In England, there are about one million residents recorded. The cancellation of the maxicard is date-postmark of Chelmsford, a city in the east of England. There have a wetland in the town centre and most bird-watchers obverse the birds in there.

Ireland

Left : Goldcrest (戴菊) ; Right : Common Blackbird (烏鶇)

Ireland (2002)

29th April, 2008. Dublin

Goldcrest is the smallest bird in isles, mostly can be found them in coniferous forests and woodlands, also suburban area and gardens. A resident in most area through whole the year but during summer in north Scotland. Common Blackbird is the most common in field and gardens. As named as blackbird, overall its feather are black but with yellowed bill. Above cover franked with three definitive stamps, birds were issued on 2002 and wildflower was issued on 2006, which for replaces bird issue. 10c is illustrated the Mountain Avens (仙女木), a Wild Flower common to the Burren.

Isle of Man

Barn Swallow (家燕)

Isle of Man (2000)

25th April, 2008. Douglas

Barn Seallow is very common in the world, which likes nesting under eaves. Can be found them where have worms or small insects, lives in northern area but widely seen them in summer. Isle of Man is in the middle of Britain and Ireland, a part of Crown dependency of Great Britain.

Bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin

Large Ground-Finch (大嘴地雀)

Portugal (2009)

12th February, 2009. Praça dos Restauradores, Lisbon

(featuring first day special postmark)

February 12 is the day of birth of Charles Darwin (1809-1882), and this year is bicentenary of birth of him, some postal admissions issued stamps to commemorate his birthday. Today I received two of them, Portugal and Great Britain. Thanks for Paula in Lisbon and Yoram in London, to send me covers. Especially Yoram as he got cold during the big snow weather.

The species on the stamps of these two countries nearly same, which found by Darwin. They are endemism of Galapagos Islands, a group of islands in the Equator, outside Pacific Ocean of Ecuador. The souvenir sheet issued by Great Britain copied a map which surveyed by Robert FitzRoy and the officers of HMS Begales, 1835, illustrated Galapagos Giant Tortoise (加拉帕哥斯象龜) and Marine Iguana (鬣蜥蜴) and three birds listed as below.

Top - 1st : Flightless Cormorant (加拉帕哥斯短翼鸕鷀) and

1st : Common Cactus-Finch (仙人掌地雀)

Bottom - 81p : Floreana Mockingbird (三斑嘲鶇)

Great Britain (2009)

12th February, 2009. Trafalgar Square, London

European Robin

European Robin (知更鳥)

Luxembourg (2007)

14th December, 2007. Luxembourg (First day special postmark)

European Robin is popular actor on many Christmas cards and stamps. Selected two are issued by Luxembourg and Great Britain, which cancelled by first day postmark or 'post early' machine postmark.

Great Britain (1995)

8th December, 1995. London West