⭕️Matt Sewell’s Birds

Atlantic Puffin (北極海鸚)

Isle of Man (2016)

24th March, 2016. Isle of Man

The 10 iconic illustrations from the celebrated artist and ornithologist showcase the diverse range of birdlife the British Isles, including the Isle of Man. Recreated from the original water colours, the images include many popular species, but we are especially pleased that this set of stamps includes the Manx Shearwater as an exclusive design.

Matt will be familiar to some as former artist-in-residence on the BBC’s Springwatch Unsprung and his appearances on Countryfile, but his work has reached a global audience through a series of books, publications like the Guardian and The Big Issue and exhibitions in London, Manchester, New York, Tokyo and Paris.

As someone who admits to having been obsessed with birds for as long as they can remember, an invitation to see what Manx shores had to offer was too good to miss for Matt, and didn’t disappoint.

The Isle of Man is home to dozens of species including fittingly given the subject of Matt’s new book, many seabirds. Numbered among them is the Manx Shearwater, a bird once threatened with a severe decline in numbers which is now once again on the increase. Matt’s Shearwater illustration is a wonderful and exclusive addition to this set.

Matt has also written text to accompany the stamp, explaining his lifelong love of birds, how he began drawing them and offering often whimsical descriptions of the species featured. He also talks about his conservation work with charities fighting to protect under-threat bird habitats.

Common Pheasant (雉雞)

Isle of Man (2016)

24th March, 2016. Isle of Man

Blue Tit (藍山雀)

Isle of Man (2016)

24th March, 2016. Isle of Man

European Robin (知更鳥)

Isle of Man (2016)

24th March, 2016. Isle of Man

Goldfinch (紅額金翅雀)

Isle of Man (2016)

24th March, 2016. Isle of Man

Common Starling (椋鳥)

Isle of Man (2016)

24th March, 2016. Isle of Man

⭕️Christmas robin 2013

European Robin (知更鳥)
Isle of Man (2013)

17th October, 2007. Douglas (First day special postmark)

 

European Robin (知更鳥)
Ireland (2013)

7th November, 2007. Dublin (First day special postmark)

 

After a month of rest, here is new article renew the blog this year, the first article on 2014. I selected two cards which related to Christmas, as before, Robin is the hottest item to Christmas theme, do you need review again last issue, here it is.

Calf of Man bird observatory

From left to right :
20p : Black-eared Wheatear (白頂即鳥) ; 20p : White-throated Robin (白喉歌鵖)
24p : Goldcrest (戴菊) ; 30p : Common Kingfisher (普通翠鳥)
24p : Baltimore Oriole (橙腹擬黃鸝) ; 30p : Eurasian Hoopoe (戴勝)
Isle of Man (1994)
3rd August, 2012. Douglas

The Bird Observatory on the Calf was established in 1959 and became an official British Bird Observatory in 1962, to commemorate its 35th anniversary, Isle of Man Post Office issued a set of 6 stamps and a souvenir sheet features 7 bird species common in the islands. Above cover shown the stamps individually, as they are common in Europe and shown frequency before. It is no need to repeat the descriptions here.

In the meantime, the cover included two maxicards feature Bird of the Winter issued on last year, it is furthermore to complete this series. Below are these two cards.

Left : Bohemian Waxwing (太平鳥) ; Right : Eurasian Siskin (黃雀)
Isle of Man (2011)
28th September, 2011. Douglas

Jeremy Paul

Pheasant (雉雞)
Isle of Man (2009)
1st September, 2009. Douglas (First day postmark)

Jeremy Paul is a famous British wildlife artist born in 1954, he was travelled or lived in Spain, England, India, Africa and other remotest places include Antarctica and the Arctic. He now living in Isle of Man with his family, and has been held many exhibition related to his work. Since 1997, he was invited by the post office of Isle of Man, to illustrate couple of wildlife theme stamps of the post office, which are issued on 1997 (Owls), 2004 (Robins - Winter's friends), 2006 (Manx bird atlas) and 2009 (Country file by Jeremy Paul). The further issue, Christmas stamps of 2011 will also illustrate by him.

For more details of Jeremy Paul can visit his own site : http://www.jeremypaulwildlifeartist.co.uk/

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

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher (斑鶲)

Isle of Man (2000)

26th January, 2010. Douglas

After two years, another request mail from Isle of Man Philatelic Bureau. Same as last mail, another stamp which comes from same WWF issue has been used, the only different is this is maxicard. The card specially printed in black and white colour shown the bird standing on the dead branch. Spotted Flycatcher is very common in Europe and also western Asia as there is breeding place of them. In winter, it migrates to Africa and south-west Asia.

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.