Europa 2011 : Forest

Azores : Azores Bullfinch (亞速爾紅腹灰雀)
Madeira : European Robin (知更鳥)
Portugal / Azores / Madeira (2011)
9th May, 2011. Lisbon
L : Trocaz Pigeon (長趾鴿) ; R : European Robin (知更鳥)
Madeira (2011)
9th May, 2011. Funchal
R : Azores Bullfinch (亞速爾紅腹灰雀)
Azores (2011)
9th May, 2011. Ponta Delgada

This year, the United Nations proclaimed that 2011 is the International Year of the Forest. Many countries issue stamps or post stationery related theme, PostEurop also decided Forest is the theme of Europa stamp 2011. In here is a set of Europa issue of Portugal, and its territories Madeira and Azores. The stamps shown how people use resource of the forest (Portugal), enjoy the forest (Madeira) and live together with forest (Azores). Those stamps appear three species are endemic to Madeira or Azores, except the robin.

In the meantime, the Portugal Post issued a special pre-paid postcard made with cork, to commemorate the International Year of the Forest. The postcard and special postmark feature the logo of this activity.

International Year of the Forest (國際森林年)
Portugal (2011)
9th May, 2011. Lisbon

Cory's Shearwater

Atlantic Cory's Shearwater (大西洋猛鸌)
Madeira (2007)
18th June, 2007. Estremoz (Portugal)

Atlantic Cory's Shearwater is one of a subspecies of Cory's Shearwater, a large shearwater in brown colour. Mostly lives in Mediterranean Sea and migrate to Atlantic Ocean, offshore of Europe to Cape Verde Islands in each Springs, but it different than Cape Verde Shearwater (佛得角猛鸌), which is endemic to the country. Now these two species listed as Near Threatened.

The mail sent by me during visiting Portugal, Estremoz is a relax place with attractive castle. The woman in the post office very kindly to help me affix the extra stamps, although one of them is damaged.

European Turtle Dove

European Turtle Dove (歐斑鳩)

Madeira (2002)

25th February, 2008. São Vicente, Madeira

A small (27mm) chalk-browned Turtle Dove with black and white veins on neck and dark-browned wings, size is smaller than Rufous Turtle Dove. Mostly they are widely living in Europe, Eurasia and North Africa. In Madeira, good bird-watching place is São Vicente, a small village in the north of Madeira.

Above cover is sent from São Vicente, the return address I added back after it come back. However, I known one friend who lives in Madeira afterward, her house is in São Vicente and nearest this hotel. She surprises this cover and sent me some postcards from there, it is really a nice place.