Birds of Macao

Clockwise from top-left :
1,50pts. : Light-vented Bulbul (白頭鵯) ; 2,50pts. : Spotted Dove (珠頸斑鳩)
3,50pts. : Yellow Bittern (黃斑葦鳽) ; 4,50pts. : Greater Coucal (褐翅鴉鵑)
Macao (2011)
11th September, 2011. Central

After 16 years, birds become actor of the Macao stamps again. Since Macao returned to China, development and tourism industry becomes only a principal policy of this small special administration. In this 10 years, a wild wetland between Taipa and Coloane be reclamation - now it called Cotai for casinos. Two special protected areas in Taipa and Ka-Ho, are partly be legally developed. Greenish spaces in Macao are decreased in this period so rarely to see wild birds in urban or country area.

Anyway, to commemorate 50th anniversary of foundation of WWF, Macao Post still issued a set of stamps related to natural, it is the first set in natural theme since 1999. Four species feature in stamps are very common ! At least they are to be found easily in the parks or countrysides in most south-east China cities.

Clockwise from top-left :
1,50pts. : Light-vented Bulbul (白頭鵯) ; 2,50pts. : Spotted Dove (珠頸斑鳩)
3,50pts. : Yellow Bittern (黃斑葦鳽) ; 4,50pts. : Greater Coucal (褐翅鴉鵑)
Macao (2011)
11th September, 2011. Central

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

Postage due labels

From top to bottom :
10p : Macaroni Penguin (馬可羅尼企鵝) ; 1p : Magellanic Penguin (麥哲倫企鵝)
3p : Gentoo Penguin (巴布亞企鵝) ; 5p : King Penguin (國王企鵝)
Falkland Islands (2005)
20th August, 2008. Stanley
4th September, 2008. Stanley

Penguins from Falkland Islands again, these four species have been shown here but now they appear on the postage due labels of Falkland Islands. The place was issued a set of 9 postage due labels features five different penguins normally can be found in there. Thanks Falkland Philatelic Bureau of their kindly help of a set of covers, above example franks with one 10p aircraft definitive stamp and dues 17p of domestic postage, so it should pay the charge of 34p.

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