Lake Constance

Mute Swan (疣鼻天鵝)
Switzerland (2016)
12st May, 2016. Romanshorn

Black-headed Gull (紅嘴鷗)
Switzerland (2016)
12th May, 2015. Ermatingen

Let’s get one thing clear from the start: anyone hoping to spot a monster is going to be disappointed. Surrounded by three countries, the waters do not conceal any sea creatures in the vein of Nessie, for ex- ample. With its wealth of islands, Lake Constance is simply too idyllic for that. However, anglers near Bregenz did recently catch a huge wels catfish measuring 2.5 metres in length. Experts even suspect the existence of older and larger specimens gliding through the depths, measuring up to 3 metres in length and weighing well over 100 kilograms. But this shouldn’t stop anyone from enjoying their water-sports or indulging their fas- cination with the stunning sunsets and fantastic cloud formations reflected in the enormous mirrored surface. This natural wonder consists of three bodies of water: the Obersee (upper lake), Untersee (lower lake) and Seerhein, which links the first two. The shoreline of this gem is shared by three countries. So it is no surprise that Swiss Post has chosen to pres- ent its new special stamp as a triptych.

Nocturnal animals

Tawny Owl (灰林鴞)
Switzerland (2016)
12th May, 2016. Wildegg


Tawny Owl (灰林鴞)
Switzerland (2016)
12th May, 2016. Bern 

At night, when all good citizens make their way to bed to sleep the sleep of the just, it’s time for some creatures to really start their revels and turn our night into their day. Under cover of darkness, they go in search of their prey – silently creeping, flying and lurking – and feast on their bounty or attract potential mates to play by the light of the silvery moon. Mother Nature has equipped them well over thecourse of evolution: with an acute sense of hearing, highly sensitive sight, organs of touch, radar-like systems, their own light sources and many other aids. Swiss Post is now devoting a set of special stamps to four native nocturnal animals: the tawny owl, the garden dormouse, the European glow-worm and the hedgehog. The stamps can, of course, be used night and day.

Eurasian Nutcracker

Nutcracker (星鴉)
Switzerland (2014)
4th September, 2014. Goldau

Eurasian Nutcracker is a passerine bird slightly larger than the Eurasian jay. It has a much larger bill and a slimmer looking head without any crest. The feathering over its body is predominantly a chocolate brown with distinct white spots and streaks. The wings and upper tail are virtually black with a greenish-blue gloss. It is one of three species of nutcracker. The Large-spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga multipunctata), was formerly considered a subspecies. The other, Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), occurs in western North America.

It is a dark brown, broad-winged, short-tailed corvid. Body plumage is mid to dark chocolate brown, heavily spotted with white on face, neck, mantle and underparts. It has a large white loral spot, a white eye-ring, blackish brown cap extending onto the nape, dark blackish wings with a greenish-blue gloss, all white vent, and dark tail with white corners above and a white terminal band on the undertail. In flight, broad wings, white vent and short tail are noticeable; the flight undulating. The black bill is slender and rather long, sharply pointed, and varies in size amongst races. The iris, legs and feet are black.

Nutcracker (星鴉)
Switzerland (2014)
4th September, 2014. Bern

Nutcracker (星鴉)
Switzerland (2014)
4th September, 2014. Goldau

100 years Swiss National Park

Golden Eagle (金雕)
Switzerland (2014)
6th March, 2014. Zernez

100 years ago, the Swiss National Park (SNP) was established by a group of visionaries, laying the foundations for a unique, natural oasis. Today, their original idea – namely leaving natural processes untouched and documenting the many and varied changes – is more relevant than ever. To mark its centenary, the National Park is offering its visitors a varied programme of centenary events.
 

In its centenary year, the SNP is staging a varied programme of events. It has chosen 27 March 2014 for the national launch – 100 years to the day since the Swiss parliament voted to esta- blish the park. On 1 August 2014, Swiss television channel SRF will be broadcasting the main celebration live from Zernez. From 11 July to 16 August, Zernez will also be hosting 16 performances for locals and visitors of the anniversary open-air spectacle “LAINA VIA – the phenomenal story of the Swiss National Park”. LAINA VIVA will bring drama, humour, romance, music and lots of movement to the stage and will be an unmissable spectacle! From March to October, the SNP is going on a nationwide tour to the 16 biggest Coop shopping centres, to present nature where it is least expected. The anniversary exhibition in the National Park Centre is dedicated to special gures from the SNP’s 100-year history. The centenary will also be marked by various publications, including the Atlas of the Swiss National Park.

Golden Eagle (金雕)
Switzerland (2014)
6th March, 2014. Zernez

White Stork in Switzerland

White Stork (白鸛)
Switzerland (2013)
7th May, 2013. Bern

In 1949, Switzerland’s white stork population disappeared, leaving a landscape totally devoid of bill clattering. Max Bloesch (1908–97), known as the “Father of the Storks”, successfully reintroduced these long-legged birds to Altreu (Canton Solothurn). Today, some 300 breeding pairs circle the skies between the plain of the River Orbe and Canton St. Gallen’s Rhine Valley.

These two first day covers and maxicards are feature the postmark of Bern and Selach. Where are the official first day cancellation and the reintroduced place of White Storks. And the last, a pair of cover and maxicard feature postmark of Brittnau, which the postmark illustrated a pair of White Stork.

It is the 500th post of Philatelic of birds, after 5 years of its open.

White Stork (白鸛)
Switzerland (2013)
7th May, 2013. Selach

White Stork (白鸛)

Switzerland (2013)

7th May, 2013. Bern / Selach

White Stork (白鸛)

Switzerland (2013)

5th July, 2013. Brittnau

St. Margrethen and Kaltbrunn

Common Tern (普通燕鷗)
Switzerland (1992)
26th April, 2011. St. Margrethen

This time, did not do any stupid as last Philippine maxicard. The card photographed real Common Tern and the stamp illustrated same species, although it is a commemorative stamp in 19 years ago ! For me it is not a big problem due to I only collect bird theme stamps.

The maxicard postmarked in St. Margrethen, it is a border town of Swiss near Austria. Not far away is Austrian village In der Schanz and Lac Bodensee, as shown in the map of stamp. There is a small wetland attract couple of migratory birds in each year, Common Tern is one of common visitors of the area.

Not far away from St. Margrethen, Kaltbrunn also in the Canton of St. Gallen. Is a town in the mountain area, nearby the town there has a protected area called Kaltbrunner Ried. It seems a small wetland to wild animals and birds. As this, the postmark which used in Kaltbrunn is feature a sight of the wetland. Two birds on the postmark probably like Black-headed Gull (紅嘴鷗).

Common Cuckoo (普通杜鵑)
Switzerland (2006)
6th December, 2011. Kaltbrunn

Ruff

Ruff (流蘇鷸)
Switzerland (1997)
20th November, 1997. Bern (first day cancellation)
18th October, 2010. Köniz

Thanks to Zasa for this nice first day cover, unfortunately it was damaged by someone in Hongkong who affix couple of 'Hongkong Postage Paid' label on the cover. Above image shown the labels removed - none of one stamp in good condition. I reported it to my delivery office but officer doesn't have idea of this situation. However, if no label overlapped, this mail is postage insufficient according to the handwriting T 1,90/1,40.

Ruff, is a beautiful wading bird to be found in Europe and Africa, when the bird migrates in winter. Males specially with blacked or white-coloured head tufts which is attract females, as its special look, in 16th to 17th century nobles kill them for woman wearing or decoration of the clothes, as a result the population has been decreased in this period. Ruff normally breeds in northern Eurasian area, but migrates to sub-Sahara area, South Asia or South Australia in winter. However some of ruffs are resident in Europe for whole year.

Until 18th century, nobles forgave to use head tufts for decoration, population of ruff increased back to normal range.

Owls of the world (1)

Long-eared Owl (長耳鴞)
St Vincent and the Grenadines (2001)
6th November, 2009. Kingstown, St Vincent

Afer a year, another new items from St Vincent was came again, this time are one maxicard and one cover with a set of Owls of the world, which was issued on 2001. The stamps illustrated 6 different owls however seems none of them to be found in this small islands. But after I checked the books and related refernece, Long-eared owl is a common owl species in Asia, Europe and North America. After the breeding season the birds may partially migrate to south for winter, so I think there have a chance to obverse Long-eared Owl in St Vincent.

Same as last mail, the card cancelled by philatelic bureau of St Vincent again. Different than last mail, the cancellation renewed as well as United States' style. It looks more clear and sharpness.

In the other side of the world, another maxicard also produced from Switzerland. The card was completed the 2007 Domestic Bird definitive series as other three were arranged on 2007 and 2008 respectively. As the last description, Tengmalm's Owl also very common in Asia, Europe and North America. In Switzerland, it mostly appear in pin forest area of Jura, the small mountain range in the north of Alps. The card shown below is a Tengmalm's owl nesting in a branch of pin tree, and cancelled in Saignelegier, where is a municipality in the canton of Jura. A small nature reserve Etang de la Gruère is located in this municipality.

Tengmalm's Owl (鬼鴞)
Switzerland (2007)
22nd January, 2010. Saignelegier

Touristic postmarks of Swiss

In the past here had shown some pictorial postmarks from Switzerland, but as the limited writing, here did not write any detailed description about these pretty postmarks. These postmarks called touristic postmarks. Now review them once as below.

From left to right :
City sight (城市景色), 3000 Bern
City sight (城市景色), 6204 Sempach Stadt ; Ibex (羱羊), 7530 Zernez

Touristic postmarks are long history in Swiss postal history, since 40's years of last century, many post offices where have special sight or located in tourist points were started to use pictorial postmarks to replace regular postmarks, mostly they illustrate the sight of village, mountains, bridges or local residences. However few of them illustrate natural animals and other local industry. In recent days, I received two more touristic postmarks, the first one is illustrated wetland of Brittnau, the couple of White Stork (白鸛) is bleeding their chicken in their nest. The far background is Brittnau, it is a small village in the north side of Switzerland. Second one affixed with two bird stamps Bullfinch and Great Tit, which issued on 1968 and 2007 respectively. These two birds are very common to be find in this nation. The cancellation illustrated local residence St. Wendelin, which built in 1576.

Four seasons of Switzerland (瑞士四季景色)
(L : Jura ; R : Engadin, Grischun)
Switzerland (1996)
10th November, 2009. Brittnau

L : Bullfinch (紅腹灰雀) ; R : Great Tit (大山雀)
Switzerland (1968, 2007)
20th November, 2009. Geuensee

L : White Stork (白鸛), 4805 Brittnau
R : Kapelle St. Wendeln (St. Wendeln 住宅), 6232 Geuensee

In the end of this post, also have one cover from Swiss would shown here. The cover affixed two latest definitive stamps issue and sent from Lausanne. Unfortunately it cancelled by regular postmark but it looks fine. Thank you Vural of Switzerland and David of France to send me these nice and beautiful covers. Following days may obtain more Swiss touristic postmarks for the collection.

L : Chaffinch (蒼頭燕雀) : R : Great Tit (大山雀)
Switzerland (2007)
7th November, 2009. Saint-François, Lausanne

Pro Juventute (2)

In August, I have been posted a cover of Switzerland which franked full of 1968 Pro Juventute stamps. As I said, Swiss Post issued Pro Juventute stamps featured domestic birds during 1968 to 1971, here is another one cover with such stamps. Thanks zasa again of this nice cover, although I delayed two months.

Same as before, stamps are designed in small format, perhaps this reason and the huge quantity of print, the stamps not valuable in market. But the birds appear on this cover are very popular and famous in Switzerland or European countries, most of European countries have been issued stamps related to these species.

After counted this cover, I still owe 6 bird stamps which Switzerland issued, either in mint, used or in other formats. Seem it is a good record.

From left to right :
Goldfinch (金翅雀) ; Eurasian Jay (松鴉)
Redstart (紅尾鴝) ; Bluethroat (藍喉歌鴝) ; Peregrine Falcon (擬游隼)
Switzerland (1969, 1971)
14th July, 2009. Bern (Philatelic Bureau)

About bird covers : As near the end of the year, most of items are finished and only few covers are waiting for post. Situation of some covers now are waiting return back from remote countries and I guess them shall not come back very soon. Therefore it is time to slow down the update of this blog, but it is not end.

To have more attractive of the cover and avoid damage, I suggest use C6 or B6 size envelope to arrange the cover, of course it is not must. If there do not have enough space or the stamps not related to birds, it is better to frank them on back side if post office allowed.

Pro juventute (1)

From left to right :
Eurasian Capercaillie (松雞) ; Woodchat Shrike (林鶺伯勞)
Firecrest (火冠戴菊)
Switzerland (1968)
14th July, 2009. Bern (Philatelic Bureau)

Each year, Swiss Post issues a set of children fund charity stamps on its final season. Mostly stamps are related to children like different faces of child, folk stories, tales or toys. In 1968 to 1971, there were four issues illustrated 16 domestic birds, the above cover with three block of four were issued on 1968. Thanks zasa of her great covers.

Eurasian Capercaille and Firecrest have been shown here before, but they issued by Spain, Turkey and Egypt separately. However, these three birds are very common in Switzerland, and they can be found in parks, forest and resident area.

Domestic birds of Switzerland (3)

1,90 CHF : Red Kite (紅鳶) ; 1,40 CHF : Rock Partridge (石雞)
Switzerland (2009)
8th May, 2009. Schanzenstrasse, Bern
18th May, 2009. Hongkong

As the domestic tariff of Switzerland planned to adjust on April 1st, two new stamps issued on the same day for the domestic bird definitive series, and they separate are Red Kite and Rock Partridge will be last two of this series. Those two birds are common resident birds in continent of Europe. Rock Partridge mostly lives in forest of high mountain areas, and also can be found in north-east of China and west of America, it is popular game in China, some says its taste better than Common Pheasant (雉雞). Red Kite can be found in whole area of Switzerland, either in cities, villages or forest areas.

The design of first day cover same as last three issues, illustrated different footprints of some species. The cover also features one definitive stamp Grey-faced Woodpecker (灰頭綠啄木鳥) has been shown in this blog before.

Domestic birds of Switzerland (2)

Chaffinch (蒼頭燕雀)

Switzerland (2007)

14th September, 2007. Sempach Stadt

Continue to post the definitive stamps of Switzerland. Shown here are three maxicards feature Chaffinch, Great Tit and Wallcreeper separately. Chaffinch and Great Tit are very common in Europe mainland and England Islands, mostly can be found them in gardens or fields. Those two cards are illustrated a pair of birds by same artist, published in Switzerland and over 60 years ages. Sempach is a town in the middle of Switzerland, pictorial postmark shown the sight of the town.

Great Tit (大山雀)

Switzerland (2007)

12th September, 2007. Jura, Fribourg

Wallcreeper lives in Alps or high-level areas, built the nest on the rock to bleed their chicks. Zernez is a small village in south Alps nearest Italy border and is a main entry to Swiss National Park, Ibex (羱羊) is a common habitant in the park and Alps so postmark has its illustration.

Maxicard

Wallcreeper (紅翅懸壁雀)

Switzerland (2007)

9th February, 2009. Zernez

Domestic birds of Switzerland (1)

During 2006 to 2008, Switzerland was issued a set of definitive stamps illustrated Swiss domestic birds, they are nice enough. Here are four of them and other three stamps will show in next time.

1,80 CHF : Tengmalm's Owl (鬼鴞)

2,20 CHF : Great Crested Grebe (鳳頭鸊鷉)

Switzerland (2007, 2008)

21st January, 2009. Schanzenstrasse, Bern

Tengmalm's Owl only visible at night, mostly can be found in north part of the world, from Canada to northerv Europe, and Eurasia to northern China. Great Crest Grebe is a water bird widely can be found in Asia and Europe, also south part of Africa and Australia. Above envelope affixed with two different bird stamps was sent by Swiss Post, which return some philatelic items for me. Below first day cover has a mistake, the cancellation date is before few day of issue. Neuchâtel is a town which located the shore of Lake Neuchâtel, about 800 pairs of Great Crested Grebe have been recorded in recent years. Grey-faced Woodpecker can be widely found in Europe and Far East, however they are killed in China illegally as the nourished value.

1,20 CHF : Grey-faced Woodpecker (灰頭綠啄木鳥)

2,20 CHF : Great Crested Grebe (鳳頭鸊鷉)

Switzerland (2008)

6th May, 2008. Neuchâtel

Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush widely lives in Europe, north Africa, Turkey and Russia, sometimes can be found in northern China. In winter, birds will move to north-west of India, Iran or Tanzania. The envelope shown in below was sent from a small village in the southern of Switzerland. Postmarked eight o'clock of 8 August, 2008. An interesting postmark with 4 of eight. Cover features two extra flower stamps are Common Mallow (錦葵) and Camomile (挪威甘菊) separately.

Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush (白背磯鶇)

Switzerland (2008)

8th August, 2008. Château-d'Oex

20th August, 2008. Hongkong