⭕️Roseate Tern

Roseate Tern (粉紅燕鷗)
Hong-Kong (2006)
24th July, 2014. Hong-Kong

This is the third set of definitive stamps issued by Hongkong Post since the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and the new set of Hong Kong definitive stamps, featuring the landscapes of Hong Kong Global Geopark of China, will be released on 24 July 2014. In parallel, the 2006 definitive stamps on birds, officially released on 31 December 2006, will continue to be on sale while stock lasts.

Roseate Tern is an uncommon to scarce summer visitor, breeding on rocky islets in offshore waters. It is an example of a bird which spends most of the time at sea, only coming to shore to lay eggs. At a distance, it appears mostly white apart from a black cap and a red bill. The tail is deeply forked. The breast and the belly are sometimes tinged red. Its flight is graceful, punctuated by plunges into the sea to catch fish.

Roseate Tern (粉紅燕鷗)
Hong-Kong (2006)
24th July, 2014. Sai Kung

Chinese Dinosaurs

Microraptor gui (顧氏小盜龍)
Hong-Kong (2014)
20th February, 2014. International Mail Centre

Microraptor gui, a carnivorous dromaeosaurid dinosaur in the Early Cretaceousperiod(around 120 million years ago), was the most well-known kind of feathered dinosaur. Its fossils were unearthed in western Liaoning Province. The species was named after the famous palaeontologist Gu Zhiwei. Microraptor gui was about 1 metre long with a massive tail more than half of its body length. It lived mostly in woods, and had the ability to glide between trees. A batch of feathered dinosaur fossils, discovered in Liaoning Province in 2000 by researchers of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, provides evidence to support the theory that birds are descended from dinosaurs.

Inclusive arts

Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon (紫尾皇鳩)
Hong-Kong (2013)
15th October, 2013. Hong-Kong
29th October, 2013. Artsakh

Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion. The population of Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion. The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion . For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

World Wetlands Day 2012

$1,40 : Fork-tailed Sunbird (叉尾太陽鳥) ; $1,80 : Roseate Tern (粉紅燕鷗)
$2,40 : Greater Painted Snipe (彩鷸) ; $3 : Red-whiskered Bulbul (紅耳鵯)
Hong-Kong (2006)
2nd February, 2012. Tuen Mun Central

Just for my record, after 2010 and 2011, I decided to make some stuff to record this day in this year, even seems no care this event. And also one more maximum card of this definitive issue to be produced. Dalmatian Pelican, is the largest in pelican family, it is not more famous than Black-faced Spoonbill (黑面琵鷺) but more attractive than most water birds during migrate seasons.

The pelican now listed as Vulnerable class in IUCN list, mostly to be found in Mei-Po or Deep Bay of Hong Kong.

Dalmatian Pelican (卷羽鵜鶘)
Hong-Kong (2006)
2nd February, 2012. Tin Yuet, Tinshuiwai

Is it a Nightingale ?

$2,50 : Bird in Moonlight (月夜小鳥) ; $3,00 : Flower and Butterfly (花蝶)

Hongkong (2009)

16th May, 2009. Hongkong

In 2009, Hongkong Post issued a set of Museum collections features 6 Chinese drawings and calligraphy. Two of them are collections of Hong Kong Heritage Museum illustrated beauty of nature. After the issue, I spent an afternoon to find these two drawings in the museum, and have a conclusion that the bird in the drawing Bird in Moonlight is Nightingale (夜鶯). It is not surprise as the artist GAO Qifeng (1889 - 1933) drew a bird singing at night with full-moon, the bird has black coloured back and write in stomach. For real bird of nightingale, it is brown coloured back with white stomach, and it likes to sing in midnight, so the drawing exactly similar to species, the variety because Chinese painting rarely to use brown ink.

Nightingale is frequency appear on art of culture, either west or east. The past maxicard of Slovenia, is an example of Slovenian poetry Simon Gregorčič (1844-1906) written a famous poem Soči related to Nightingale.

The other one drawing features nature is Flower and Butterfly by JU Lian (1828 - 1904). A butterfly stops in a peony (牡丹), however so pity that the butterfly is hard to identify.

Waterbirds, joint issue of Hongkong and Sweden

$2,40 : Horned Grebe (角鸊鷈) ; $1,40 : Pied Avocet (反嘴鷸)
Hongkong (2003)
12th May, 2010. Kwai Fong

In 2003, Hongkong and Sweden issued a set of common design stamps featuring four waterbirds, which are to be found in both country and this small city. However, unfortunately do not know who made a mistake, Black-throated Loon is not possible to be found in Hongkong ! Anyway the stamps are attractive as it engraved by Czeslaw SLANIA, who is the famous Swedish stamp engraver but death in few years ago.

The stamp Pied Avocet has been shown in maxicard before, Horned Grebe and Great Crest Grebe are species in same family Grebes (鷿鷈科), which contain 22 species in 6 extant genera. These two grebes are migratory birds, they are breeding in northern Eurasia and migrate to south for winter, Hongkong is one of places for them during this season. The two covers shown here were sent on the same day, it was a first day of introducing of roller postmark in 28 post offices. Kwai Fong and Tsuen Wan are two of them and others to be shown in soapbox since June.

$3,00 : Black-throated Loon (黑喉潛鳥) ; $5,00 : Great Crested Grebe (鳳頭鸊鷉)
Hongkong (2003)
12th May, 2010. Tsuen Wan

Amazing Asian Aminals

Toco Toucan (托哥巨嘴鳥) and Long-eared Owl (長耳鴞)
Hongkong (2010)
30th April, 2010. Hongkong

To commemorate the first year of foundation of Amazing Asian Animals in Ocean Park, Hongkong Post issued a set of pre-paid postcard to show the collection of the centre, which includes giant pandas, goldfishes, endangered birds and other animals. Here I selected one of cards only has birds, however I dislike this card as the toucan is not locally species. The toucan, only to be found in Amazon topical rainforest, due to illegal cage-bird trading, the wild-life population is decreasing, and recent years the toucan listed as protected species and the population becomes stable.

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.

Birds of Hongkong (2) - Overpaid and due

20c : Collared Scops Owl (領角鴞) ; $1,80 : Roseate Tern (粉紅燕鷗)
$3 : Red-whiskered Bulbul (紅耳鵯) ; $5 : Long-tailed Shrike (棕背伯勞)
$1,40 : Fork-tailed Sunbird (叉尾太陽鳥) ; 10c : White-bellied Sea Eagle (白腹海鵰)
$1 : Common Kingfisher (普通翠鳥) ; $2 : Little Egret (小白鷺)
Hongkong (re-print 2009, 2006)
22nd January, 2009. Shatin Central

After couple of months, Hongkong Post released reprint definitive stamps on July. Same as before, all details are same except top-margin printed with EX prefix number. Above cover with whole set of re-print stamps bears prefix number was sent on the day of issue. In here I shall not repeat to write these species, however there is very interesting that the cover postmarked with sign Overpaid, customer informed, it is because the total value of the stamps has overpaid the basic domestic registered mail rate, and it discovered by counter.

Oppositely, if there is not enough postage stamps to be affixed, post office will charge the due tax to customer. For domestic mail, customer normally will be charged double how much does the domestic letter owe. Below one is an example of recorded delivery mail owed 40 cents of postage, it finally be changed double. 80 cents postage due labels are affixed, also cancelled with sign To pay and regular date-postmark by North Point post box office on May 17 of 2008, very specially it was last day service of this post office and no other replacement.

Red-whiskered Bulbul (紅耳鵯)
Hongkong (2006, postage due label : 2004)
14th May, 2008. International Mail Centre
17th May, 2008. North Point

Pied Avocet

Pied Avocet (反嘴鷸)
Hongkong (2003)
20th October, 2007. Santin
20th October, 2007. International Mail Centre, Kowloon
22nd October, 2007. Shatin

A beautiful species widely lives in European and northern Asia, specially features a thin and long upturned bill. In winter most of birds will migrate to Africa and southern Asia, include Hongkong. It can easily be found in wetlands, water ponds and lacks, in Hongkong they mostly live in the fish ponds located in north-west of New Territories like Santin, Yuen Long and Tinshuiwai.

The postcard shown famous Belgian artist Hub. Dupond's illustration of male and juvenile of Pied Avocet, he clearly illustrated its features, however the stamp not shown the colour of legs correctly which compare with the postcard.

White Wagtail

White Wagtail (白鶺鴒)
Hongkong (2006)
7th February, 2009. Leimukshui

White Wagtail is very common migrating bird in Hongkong, mostly can be found in parks located in New Territories, of course many of birds are live in Maipo and rounded wetlands. This species commonly breeds in Eurasia area and flies to south like south-east Asia or Africa for winter time.

Above cover is come from a parcel so the postmarks are not clear enough, the cover also featured five Large Faun (串珠環蝶) butterfly stamps issued on 2007. Below mail franked with another butterfly stamp from the same stamp set, this butterfly called Spotted Royal.

Spotted Royal (豹斑雙尾灰蝶)
Hongkong (2007)
11th February, 2009. Kwai Fong
12th February, 2009. Shatin Central

Hand-drawing envelopes

In past two months, I got many hand-drawing covers from different friends, or print the related photos on the envelopes, they are beautiful and make the envelopes more attractive. Now I would show three of them from the Netherlands and Portugal, as those covers are franked with nice bird stamps - although some stamps shown here already.

0,65 € : Hawfinch (錫嘴雀) ; 0,39 € : Great Cormorant (普通鸕鶿)

the Netherlands (2005)

24th February, 2009. Zwolle, Overijssel

The first one is from the Netherlands, two stamps are come from a set of two different souvenir sheets which commemorated 100 years of Natuurmonumenten (English: Society for preservation of nature monuments in the Netherlands), the organisation found in 1905 by Jac. P. Thijsse. These two sheets feature 8 different species and only two are birds, the cover presents Great Cormorant and male Hawfinch, and the stamp illustrated female Hawfinch.

0,39 € : Common Crane (灰鶴) ; 70+30c : Black-tailed Godwit (黑尾塍鷸)

the Netherlands (2006, 1984)

20th January, 2009. Grote Market, Goes

20th January, 2009. Rotterdam

The above cover come from the Netherlands again which illustrated with colour pencils, seems it is a White Stork (白鸛). It lets me remember pictorial books read in child time. Stamps are Common Crane (really is crane, great drawing !) and Black-tailed Godwit, they were issued on 2006 and 1984 respectively.

First roll :

0,61 € : Wilson's Storm Petrel (黃蹼洋海燕) ; 0,52 € : Razorbill (刀嘴海雀)

Second roll : 0,70 € : Black-eared Wheatear (白頂即鳥)

0,02 € : European Bee-eater (黃喉蜂虎)

Portugal (2008, 2003, 2002)

18th January, 2009. Avenida 5 de Outubro, Lisbon

Same as last cover, this cover also used colour-pencils, but it sent from Portugal. It looks very cute, especially the bill is in reddish colour, perhaps it is sharp enough in high-level area. Above two stamps have been shown here before, and other two are come from the definitive set issued on 2002 to 2003.

$1,40 : Fork-tailed Sunbird (叉尾太陽鳥) ; $1,80 : Roseate Tern (粉紅燕鷗)

$2,40 : Greater Painted Snipe (彩鷸) ; $3,00 : Red-whiskered Bulbul (紅耳鵯)

Hongkong (2006)

23rd February, 2009. Airmail Centre

At last, I would shown my illustration, this was drew at Shatin Park in last month. Those stamps are in coil format so they are smaller than normal size.

Thanks Else and Jetske from the Netherlands, and Paula from Portugal of all their great works.

Endangered Species - Canada

Left : Burrowing Owl (穴鴞) ; Right : Prothonotary Warbler (藍翅黃森鶯)

Bottom : Roseate Tern (粉紅燕鷗)

Canada (2008)

1st October, 2008. Semans, Saskatchewan

It is the last set of Endangered Species stamp series issued by Canada, last two sets are illustrated different marine life and wildlife animals. On the cover shown three of these four stamps, and the forth one is butterfly stamp illustrated Taylor’s Checkerspot (泰勒氏格紋蛺蝶).

Burrowing Owl is becoming rare bird, only 88 pairs recorded in 1998 and only Grasslands National Park which located in border of Saskatchewan can be observed inside Canada. Prothonotary Warbler is wildly living in western part of North America, they look like Yellow Warbler. In Canada, mostly can be found in southwestern Ontario. Roseate Tern is a seabird can be found in western Atlantic, from Nova Scotia to Iles de la Madeleine. However it also can be found in western Pacific, Hongkong has been issue Roseate Tern stamp includes in definitive stamps issued on 2006.

Above cover was sent on the first day of issue, featuring one oyster farming definitive stamp, thank Eve for this cover. Below cover shown Roseate Tern stamp sent from Hongkong.

Roseate Tern (粉紅燕鷗)

Hongkong (2006)

22nd December, 2008. Sun Chui, Shatin

Black-faced Spoonbill

Black-faced Spoonbill (黑面琵鷺)

Taiwan (2004, pre-paid envelope 2005)

21st November, 2008. Chigo

Yesterday is International Wetland Day, however seem no one knows it as there was no news report in here.

Black-faced spoonbill is very famous in Hongkong. During late autumn, thousand of Black-faced Spoonbill start their long journey from Korea peninsula and North-east of China to south-east Asia, include Taiwan, Hongkong, and most farthest place of Vietnam.

Deep Bay is the most important living place for them in Hongkong, many bird-watchers will visit Maipo, Namsanwai to obverse them, and also wetland park in Tinshuiwai which operated by FNO. In Taiwan, the famous bird-watching place is Tsengwen Estuary wetlands of Tainan. Above pre-paid Black-faced spoonbill envelope with whole set of same illustration stamps, is sent from Chigo, which Tsengwen River is pass through there. The below envelope, sent from Hongkong to Portugal, bear with one Portuguese postage label, to mark the Poste Restante fee have been paid.

At last, thanks James from Taipei and Ruí from Vendas Novas of Portugal, to send me and collect those envelopes.

Hongkong (2006)

22nd September, 2008. Maonshan

30th September, 2008. Vendas Novas

Birds of Hongkong (1)

Although Hongkong is a small place in the world, it is a good place for bird-watchers, in Maipo, Taipo Au or parks in urban area can be found different species of birds. In the end of 2006, Hongkong Post issued a set of new definitive stamps featuring 16 different birds, Little Egret has been introduced in here last month, now is other stamps of this bird series.

$1,40 : Fork-tailed Sunbird (叉尾太陽鳥) ; 20c : Collared Scops Owl (領角鴞)

10c : White-bellied Sea Eagle (白腹海鵰) ; $5 : Long-tailed Shrike (棕背伯勞)

$3 : Red-whiskered Bulbul (紅耳鵯) ; $2 : Little Egret (小白鷺)

$1 : Common Kingfisher (普通翠鳥)

Hongkong (re-print 2009, 2006)

22nd January, 2009. Shatin Central

White-bellied Sea Eagle is not common in Hongkong but mostly can be found in Victoria Harbour. A couple became a news last year as they nesting on electric pagoda in Aberdeen. Collared Scops Owl, Folk-tailed Sunbird and Red-whiskered Bulbul are commonly found in urban parks. Kingfisher can be found in country parks near reservoir and Long-tailed Shrike in fields of northern area. Above is the first day cover of third reprinted definitive stamps (paper margin printed with ES-prefix running number), hand-drawing illustration is a Long-tailed Shrike resting on thorn.

Maxicard

Northern Shoveler (琵嘴鴨)

Hongkong (2006)

20th October, 2007. Santin

Four high values of the set are little bit larger and featuring security perforations. Two maxicards with those two stamps shown Northern Shoveler and Common Magpie.

Maxicard

Common Magpie (喜鵲)

Hongkong (2006)

22nd October, 2007. Garden Road

Birds' paradise in Hongkong

$1,30 : Yellow-breasted Bunting (黃胸鵐) ; $2,50 : Great Knot (細嘴濱鷸)

$3,10 : Falcated Teal (羅紋鴨) ; $5,00 : Black-faced Spoonbill (黑面琵鷺)

Hongkong (1997)

27th April, 1997. Maonshan, Shatin

There are many places in Hongkong can be observe birds and other species, like Taipo Au, Shataukok, Kamtin and northwest of New Territories, those places are attractive for bird as there have many fishing pounds in the ancient years. But in recent years, especially Tinshuiwai and Santin, fishing pounds became repository sites or be developed. Those places do not suitable for natural lives to have their own home or migration. Maipo and Wetland Park in northern Tinshuiwai are only two places protected by law, which prohibit to develop or damage, while Wetland Park is open to public. Nevertheless, as lack of eduction and government ignores of the environment problem, quantity of species are decreasing.

The above first day cover, was issued on 1997 during Hongkong under British colony. And other one, is a booklet contain two sheetlets to commemorate the opening of Wetland Park, different of stamps is only the country name is Hongkong, China.

Hongkong (2000)

22nd December, 2008. Sun Chui Estate, Shatin

Little Egret

Little Egret (小白鷺)

Hongkong (2006)

20th October, 2007. Kam Tai Court, Maonshan

Little Egret is quite abundant resident in Far East, southern Europe and Africa, however they are migratory occasionally. In Hongkong, I can find couple of them breeding at beach not far away from my home. Also largely find in two shores of Shing Mun River of Shatin, wetlands of Taipo, Maipo and Tai O. The above maxicard, was cancelled by Kamtai Post Office, Kamtai is an housing estate at the end shore of Shing Mun River.

Below envelope, is a registered mail sent to Lisbon for Poste Restante. As little fee must be charged by Portugal Post, receiver should stamp postage due labels on the envelope to prove it be charged, here can observe that 0,65 euro have been charged by post office. Many thanks Carlos Silvério for the great help.

16th September, 2008. Yautong, Kowloon

26th September, 2008. Telhelras, Lisbon