Bailiwick Life

Atlantic Puffin (北極海鸚)
Guernsey (2016)
7th February, 2015. Guernsey

This latest issue of Guernsey Post & Go stamps includes six fantastic images of animals, all of which are associated with the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

The first of the stamps features a donkey, partly in recognition of the fact that people of Guernsey are sometimes referred to as donkeys! The inclusion of the donkey in this set is also to pay homage to the original Guernsey golden donkey, which is now extinct.

Other animals with island connections pictured on the stamps include the Guernsey golden goat, the iconic Guernsey cow, the Atlantic grey seal, the puffin and the unusual blonde hedgehog.

Fulmar

Northern Fulmar (暴雪鸌)
Alderney (2006)
16th November, 2010. Alderney, Guernsey

In the past, Fulmar is one genus either the bird lives in North Atlantic or sub-Antarctic areas. However as they live in different hemispheres, finally divided into two species Northern Fulmar and Southern Fulmar (銀灰暴風鸌). Fulmar is not an endangered species, it mainly visible in coast of North Atlantic with 30 million birds, and the population is increasing in recent years.

The stamp issued by Alderney which is a small island under Guernsey. Alderney began to issue stamps since early 80's years and the stamps either issued by Guernsey and Aldernsey are also valid in these two places. But, honestly speaking, most of Alderney stamps become souvenir instead of postally used.

Where are the birds ?

38p : Variegated Scallop (斑麗扇貝), Dogwhelk (疣荔枝螺)
European Cowrie (紫貝) and Painted Topshell (馬蹄螺)
20p : Burnet Rose (蘇格蘭薔薇)
Guernsey (1999)
6th August, 2009. Herm Island

In 1999, Guernsey issued a set of Natural Park and Reserves which includes one Europa stamp, four stamps illustrated different species found in Herm Island, meantime, each stamp respectively shown one label issued on 1954 by Herm Island, as the island still owned by private at the time.

Above cover features two stamps of this stamp set, one is different kind of shells on the beach and another is wild flower growing beside beach. However, could you find any bird inside the stamps ? In the 38p stamp, designer also illustrated a pair of Eurasian Oystercatcher (蠣鴴) for finding shells as their food. Different than American Oystercatcher (美洲蠣鷸), it only to be found in Europe and Asia, and Africa when the bird migrate to there in winter.