⭕️ Thailand - North Korea diplomatic relations 40 years

 

Northern Goshawk  (蒼鷹) ; Siamese Fireback (戴氏鷴)
North Korea (2015)

30th May, 2016. Pyongyang

 

Northern Goshawk  (蒼鷹) ; Siamese Fireback (戴氏鷴)
Thailand (2015)  

28th August, 2015. Bangkok

Siamese fireback also known as Diard's fireback is a fairly large, approximately 80 cm long, pheasant. The male has a grey plumage with an extensive red facial skin, crimson legs and feet, ornamental black crest feathers, reddish brown iris and long curved blackish tail. The female is a brown bird with blackish wing and tail feathers.

The Siamese fireback is distributed to the lowland and evergreen forests of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam in Southeast Asia. This species is also designated as the national bird of Thailand. The female usually lays between four to eight rosy eggs.

The scientific name commemorates the French naturalist Pierre-Médard Diard.

Northern Goshawk is a medium-large raptor in the family Accipitridae, which also includes other diurnal raptors, such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. As a species in the Accipiter genus, the goshawk is often considered a true "hawk". The scientific name is Latin; Accipiter is "hawk", from accipere, "to grasp", and gentilis is "noble" or "gentle" because in the Middle Ages only the nobility were permitted to fly goshawks for falconry.

It is a widespread species that inhabits the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere. It is the only species in the Accipiter genus found in both Eurasia and North America. With the exception of Asia, it is the only species of "goshawk" in its range and it is thus often referred to, both officially and unofficially, as simply the "goshawk". It is mainly resident, but birds from colder regions migrate south for the winter. In North America, migratory goshawks are often seen migrating south along mountain ridge tops in September and October.

This species was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 under its current scientific name.

⭕️Russia-North Korea joint issue

L : Western Osprey (魚鷹) ; R : Eurasian Sparrowhawk (北雀鷹)
Russia (2014)
17th October, 2014. Astrakhan

Osprey is a large bird of prey birds of prey of the family unit Skopina. Spread all over the world except Antarctica and some oceanic islands. Live in areas where there are large clean ponds rich in fish. It feeds mainly on fish, which tracks down, flying high above the water. The current strength of the Osprey decreases it is listed in the Red Book. Russia has signed an agreement with Korea, India, Japan on Migratory Skopje and measures for their protection.

Sparrowhawk is a small bird of prey birds of prey of the family Accipitridae squad. Distributed from Western Europe and North Africa to the Far East and the Himalayas. Found in most parts of Russia, except treeless deserts, steppes and tundra. Preys mainly on small birds. Due to the use of pesticides in the middle of the 20th century. number Sparrowhawk reached historic lows, but since then its population grew again.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (北雀鷹)
Russia (2014)
12th October, 2014. Moscow

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (北雀鷹)
North Korea (2014)
30th May, 2016. Pyongyang

Western Osprey (魚鷹)
Russia (2014)

12th October, 2014. Moscow

Western Osprey (魚鷹)
North Korea (2014)

30th May, 2014. Pyongyang

⭕️Singapore-Vietnam joint issue

Grey Peacock-pheasant (灰孔雀雉) ; Red Junglefowl (茶花雞)
Singapore (2013)
18th October, 2013. Change Alley

Singapore and Vietnam once again to issue common theme stamps on 2013, to celebrate the 40 years of diplomatic relations between two countries.

Grey Peacock-Pheasant is a large Southeast Asian member of the order Galliformes, the national bird of Myanmar. It is a large pheasant, up to 76 cm long and greyish brown with finely spotted green eyespots, an elongated bushy crest, bare pink or yellow facial skin, white throat, and grey iris, bill and legs. To be distributed in lowland and hill forests of mainland Assam and Southeast Asia, but excluding most of Indochina as well as the entire Malayan Peninsula.

Red Junglefowl is thought to be ancestral to the domestic chicken, with some hybridzation with the Grey Junglefowl. The Red Junglefowl was first domesticated at least five thousand years ago in Asia, then taken around the world, and the domestic form is kept globally as a very productive food source of both meat and eggs.

Joint emission - Morocco and Qatar

Peregrine Falcon (擬游隼)
Morocco (2012)
21st January, 2013. Harhoura, Temara

Last year, Morocco and Qatar joint issued a stamp features their national flags and a bird - Peregrine Falcon. In here is not necessary to make description again on the falcon, as it seems easily to be found in desert area, the stamp also features a photograph of Sahara desert.

Above cover sent from Temara, an offshore city of Atlantic Ocean located in north-west of Morocco, it seems rarely to see a mail go through Japan before arrive Hong-Kong.

⭕️Waxwing and Peace Dove

L : Bohemian Waxwing (太平鳥) and R : Rock Pigeon (原鴿)
China (2012)
20th March, 2012. Shennan C. Road, Shenzhen

In recent years, China Post decided turn their stamp design in higher quality, when compare with 10-15 years ago, thanks to computer effect stamps are look more colourful. The above joint-issue with Israel is one example.Two illustrated birds, Bohemian Waxwing and Rock Pigeon, are not much look like real birds and decorated with sharped colour.

The reason to choose two birds as their Chinese names are as well as peaceful. Bohemian Waxwing widely to be found in northern Eurasia area and migrates to south, sometimes can be found them in Fujian, Guangdong or further-south of Vietnam and Cambodia. Rock Pigeon, now becomes domestic dove in worldwide, originally lives in Germany. The whited doves always is a iconic bird of peace in variety activities.

Rock Pigeon (原鴿)
China (2012)
18th May, 2012. Hepingmen, Beijing

SAPOA again

From left to right :
E 1,10 : Blue Crane (藍鶴) ; E 0,85 : Violet-crested Turaco (紫冠蕉鵑)
E 2,45 : Bar-tailed Trogon (斑尾咬鵑) ; E 1,35 : Western Cattle Egret (黃頭鷺)
Swaziland (2004)
25th September, 2010. Mbabane

If you have memory, in August of 2010 I had show a cover sent by Yoram, when he spent a safari trip to Zambia, it was feature a set of SAPOA stamps. Here I would present another cover features this joint-issue - Swaziland, which is a member of SAPOA. Seem I don't need spend the time to talk again these four species, but, these four are national birds of South Africa, Swaziland and Botswana. And also to be found in this small and poorest nation.

Unfortunately, the cover was not send by registered mail upon my request. However the philatelic bureau packed in an official envelope and sent to me. Below is the interesting registered cover by Swaziland Philatelic Bureau.

29th September, 2010. Mbabane
1st October, 2010. Manzini
8th October, 2010. New South Wales, Australia

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

SAPOA

Joint issue SAPOA - from left to right :

K1.100 : Peregrine Falcon (擬游隼) ; K1.700, K500 : African Fish Eagle (吼海鵰)
K2.200 : Blue Crane (藍鶴) ; K750 : Western Cattle Egret (黃頭鷺)
K1.500 : Bar-tailed Trogon (斑尾咬鵑) ; K1.800 : Violet-crested Turaco (紫冠蕉鵑)
Zambia (2004)
Definitive - from top to bottom :
B : African Sacred Ibis (埃及聖鷺) ; C : Purple Swamphen (紫水雞)
Zambia (2001)
9th June, 2010. Lusaka Airport
10th June, 2010. Lusaka

Thanks to Yoram again, he sent me nice bird covers from Zambia and Zimbabwe when he spent a safari trip during mid-June, they are wonderful and amazing. This time, is the first SAPOA (Southern Africa Postal Operators Association) joint issue released on 2004, featuring the 7 membership's national birds, they are Peregrine Falcon of Angola ; African Fish Eagle of Namibia and Zimbabwe ; Blue Crane of South Africa ; Western Cattle Egret of Botswana and Zambia and last one, Violet-crested Turaco of Swaziland. However some birds has already shown here as below :

• Peregrine Falcon - Canada, Italy, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates ;
• African Fish Eagle - Kenya ;
• Blue Crane - South Africa ;
• Violet-crested Turaco - South Africa.

Actually, those birds are quite common to be found in southern Africa, or say some birds are endemic to some areas or countries.

As the postage rate, two more bird definitive stamps be used on the mail, these two old stamps (still selling in there and no surprising) issued on 2001 are seem more attractive than the SAPOA stamps ! African Sacred Ibis and Purple Swamphen are common in sub-Sahara area, and also the swamphen to be found in Indian Peninsula, South-east Asia to eastern part of Australia and Oceania islands.

⭕️Birds, joint issue of Singapore and Malaysia

From left to bottom :
$1 : Black-naped Oriole (黑枕黃鸝)
$2 : White-belled Black Woodpecker (白腹黑啄木鳥)
40c : Asian Fairy Bluebird (銀耳相思鳥)
Domestic rate : Red-throated Sunbird (紅喉太陽鳥)
Singapore (2002)
24th April, 2010. Thomson Road

Each year, Singapore Post issues a set of stamps in common theme and design with other postal administration. They are mostly related to both countries in natural, culture, sport or scene. Above cover featuring a set of Singapore-Malaysia joint issue stamps released on 2002, illustrated four different domestic birds which common in both countries and South-east Asia.

Singapore is a small islands country in the southernmost of Malaya Peninsular, the country lacks of natural areas but exception in the middle and west parts of the island where are the wide nature reserves or reservoirs protected by government, in the meanwhile the government actives in making the country green, so it won the name 'Garden City' in the world. The cover was sent from the Thomson Road post office, where is located in Thomson area, nearby MacRitchie Reservoir and its nature reserve.

Joint issue - Baltic birds

From left to bottom :
Western Osprey (魚鷹) ; Black-tailed Godwit (黑尾塍鷸)
Common Shelduck (翹鼻麻鴨) ; Common Merganser (川秋沙)
Estonia (1992)
17th September, 2007. Jöhvi

In 2002, four Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden were issued a set of common designed stamps features four Baltic birds, when Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were newly independent from former USSR. Four stamps are printed in intaglio and issued as booklet format. Four birds are commonly to be found in these four countries, Black-tailed Godwit breeds from Iceland to most of Europe, and also areas of Central Asia. The bird migrates to Australia, western Europe and western Africa in winter. Now Black-tailed Godwit classified as near threatened. Merganser is a large-sized duck distributed over north Eurasia and North America, most commonly lives in the lacks and rivers.

For enough postage, a Northern Lapwing (鳳頭麥雞) stamp issued on 2001 also be affixed on the envelope, thanks Kristiina for this nice cover.

Joint issue - Portugal and Iran

0,32 € : Western Osprey (魚鷹) ; 0,80 € : White-tailed Eagle (白尾鷲)
Portugal (2009)
21st September, 2009. Lisbon (with first day postmark)

It is a quite interesting joint issue, originally the stamps to be issued on 24 June of individual country and all kind of thing are ready before day of issue. However only issue of Iran was come out on this day, Portugal one was suspended suddenly and to be delayed on 21 September as unexpected reason.

Here is the posted first day cover of Portugal sent by philatelic bureau in Lisbon, unfortunately I still haven't collect Iran's cover when this thread posted. Stamps are illustrated two common prey of birds of these two countries, these two bird shown here before respective in Sweden and Uzbekistan issues. So pity that stamps designed in se-tangent style but printed independently of Portugal issue.

It is third and the last bird issue of Portugal and its archipelagos in this year., other issues are Bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin and Lakes of Azores.

Joint issue - Bulgaria and Serbia

22d : Eurasian Woodcock (丘鷸) ; 46d : Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush (白背磯鶇)
Serbia (2009)
4th September, 2009. Kanjiza

There have two joint issues I want to collect this year, one is Iran-Portugal joint issue and another one is Bulgaria-Serbia joint issue. Actually these four species may duplicate in my collection, but they seem interesting and the covers of these countries I didn't own before. Here is a pair of Bulgaria-Serbia covers sent from these two countries, the Serbia one is not easy to collect wheile two covers have been lost in journey.

In here I don't want to repeat introduce these two species - Eurasian Woodcock and Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush, they shown before in Belgium and Swiss issues. However, different than Swiss one, the Rock-Thrush in this issue illustrated as blue colour, as the birds may change their feather to blue in spring and back to white in winter.

The stamps, except two birds, illustration of backgrounds are vary in these two issues, it caused Bulgaria one looks oddly. Bulgaria also issued a same illustration pre-paid envelope for the series, left-side of envelope illustrated someone hunting a Marsh Harrier (白腹鷂) in rural area. Thanks Iajcsak from Majdan and Ivan from Sofia of their nice covers.

0,60l : Eurasian Woodcock (丘鷸) ; 1,00l : Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush (白背磯鶇)
Bulgaria (2009)
28th May, 2009. Sofia

Joint issue - France and India

L : Gallic Rooster (高盧雄雞) ; R : India Peafowl (藍孔雀)
France (2003)
24th August, 2009. Forum-des-halles, Paris

It is the second time to post joint issue stamps here, the first one was Hongkong, which cooperated with Sweden on 2003. This stamp set, designer illustrated the emblems of these two countries by decorative method - Gallic Rooster (La coq gaulois) of France and India Peafowl of India, and stamps printed in multi-coloured intaglio.

Gallia is the old name of France area which named by Roman Empire (27 BC-395), and also the word gallia means rooster in Latin language. Gallic Rosster became an emblem since the first republic era while it appears on the national flag. India Peafowl is a national bird of India, different then Green Peafowl (綠孔雀), the body is in blue colour. It mainly lives in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. Nowadays, same as Green Peafowl, many of peafowls fed by zoos or peoples.

At last, I would say thanks to François who sent me couple of covers from France, they are very attractive.

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.