⭕️Frozen Planet

King Penguin (國王企鵝)
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (2011)
20th August, 2012. King Edward Point

It is rarely to see a documentary series features on the stamps, Frozen Planet was co-produced by BBC and three other television broadcasting units of Europe, it filmed on 2010 when the group of filmmakers and crews visited Arctic and Antarctica. Whole 6 series with extra 1 episode began to broadcast on 2011 in the world.

Only South Georgia and British Antarctica Territories issued the stamps on the same year, however the stamps quite boring due to the species selected to the stamps frequency. Here are two maxicards from South Georgia related to birds.

Wandering Albatross (漂泊信天翁)
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (2011)
20th August, 2012. King Edward Point

⭕️Threatened birds of Jersey

From left to right :

55p : Stonechat (黑喉石鵖) ; 88p : Yellowhammer (黃鵐)
70p : Eurasian Bullfinch (紅腹灰雀) ; 60p : Cirl Bunting (黃道眉鵐) ; 68p : Serin (金絲雀)
45p : Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (小斑啄木鳥)

Jersey (2012)
7th November, 2012. Jersey

In last post of Jersey, I've been said that I won't buy Jersey stamps any more. However, after a year, bird stamps come again, it is the sixth also last series of bird series illustrated by Nick Parlett, who is local artist of Jersey. In late-June, I still order the stamps from Jersey Post but sadly, an uncomfortable experience given by the philatelic bureau again - the cancellation works finished on November and the special cancellation still unobtainable.

Six species are common in European continent but as Jersey is an island in English Channel, or can be says as offshore of France. Those birds are rarely fly to there or become less colonist in the island.

Although below five maxicards are cancelled by ordinary postmark, they still look nice and attractive.

 
55p : Stonechat (黑喉石鵖) ; 88p : Yellowhammer (黃鵐)

 

 

68p : Serin (黑喉絲雀)

70p : Eurasian Bullfinch (紅腹灰雀) ; 45p : Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (小斑啄木鳥)

Jersey (2012)
7th November, 2012. Jersey

⭕️Biodiversity SOAR of Ireland

Eurasian Kestrel (紅隼)
Ireland (2012)
9th August, 2012. Dublin

Come again, it is the third series of Biodiversity definitive SOAR for Ireland, eight labels issued cover variety family as well as before. The bird choose Kestrel, which is common birds of prey in this country. Above maxicard shown the Kestrel label while below cover shown Irish Hare, an endemic species to Ireland and Northern Ireland of Great Britain.

Still have two series of Biodiversity definitive SOAR to be issued in following two years. As it is the last post of 2012, I wish all you Happy New Year in 2013.

Irish Hare (愛爾蘭雪兔)
Ireland (2012)
9th August, 2012. Dublin

The bird of the year 2012

Postmark : Eurasian Jackdaw (寒鴉)
Germany (2012)
20th October, 2011. Neubrandenburg

Last year, I shown here a pictorial postmark from Germany, which is Redstart (紅尾鴝). Actually, one bird will be represented in each year, and in 2012, it is Jackdaw.

Jackdaw has been illustrated as postmark on May, marked an event in Kaltennordheim. What bird will be represented in next year?

LPO Centenary (2)

Woodchat Shrike (林即鳥伯勞)
Monaco (2012)

5th November, 2012. Monte-Carlo

Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) is a protection of nature association in France. In April of this year, La Poste, the post of France was issued a souvenir sheet to celebrate the centenary of the association. As Monaco is a neighbourhood with France and their closely relationship, the association also includes the area of Monaco. In September, the post office issued a stamp for same event.

Woodchat Shrike is a migratory bird of southern Europe and Middle-East area. In winter it will migrate to sub-Sahara area and southern Yemen.

Vultures

From top left to bottom right :
550t : Lammergeier (胡兀鷲) : 100t ; Himalayan Vulture (高山兀鷲)
300t : Egyptian Vulture (白兀鷲) ; 400t : Cinereous Vulture (灰禿鷲)
150t : Griffon Vulture (黑白禿鷲)
Mongolia (2002)

26th October, 2012. Ulaanbaatar
7th November, 2012. Hong-Kong

Aegypiinae, is a sub-family of Old World vultures in the Accipitridae family. In Mongolia, as most of the country is montane ecology and plateau, there to be found variety species of vultures, either are residents or migrates. Above cover features whole set of vulture stamps issued on 2002 by Mongol Post, it also is a first cover from this secret far-east area. Just one extra information to say Bogdkhan National Park is located in the south of Ulaanbaatar.

So pity that, most of Mongol stamps are given too commercial image to collector, even most of stamps are belong to Mongolia. Perhaps, as rarely people can be visited there or receive a snail mail from there.

⭕️The migratory birds in Pakistan

From top left to bottom right :
White Stork (白鸛) : Northern Shoveler (琵嘴鴨)
Snow Goose (雪雁) ; Siberian Crane (西伯利亞白鶴)
Pakistan (2012)
27th September, 2012. Karachi

Finally, I receive first but not the very first mail from Pakistan. The very first one, is an Afghanistan postcard, sent from Pakistan. But unfortunately the stamp on the card was missing, and I am sure that mail from these countries are not safety even sent by registered mail. Anyway it is the nice first day cover I received this year.

Not surprisingly, as Pakistan stands in the migratory route from northern Asia to southern Asia or Africa, it is easy to find variety birds around the country. Above four, except Siberian Crane is very common birds in summer while they will migrate to southern Asia, Oceania or Africa.

⭕️ATM labels of Denmark (2)

From top left to bottom right :
Eurasian Bullfinch (紅腹灰雀) ; Hawfinch (錫嘴雀) ; Greenfinch (金翅雀)
Denmark (2012)
5th September, 2012. Copenhagen

After the first bird theme of last year, Denmark Post continues to choose bird be the main theme in 2012 ATM label. Three garden birds are selected and they are commonly to be found in Europe, thanks Denmark Post of the great help on the postmarking. The cover I chose as first day cover is issued by Jersey Post for Threatened Birds which released on 2012.

Below maxicards, so pity that can't be cancelled by special postmark according to the postmarking policy, however they haven't lost their value.

From left to right :
Eurasian Bullfinch (紅腹灰雀) ; Hawfinch (錫嘴雀) ; Greenfinch (金翅雀)
Denmark (2012)

5th September, 2012. Copenhagen

Singapore 2015

L : White-bellied Sea-Eagle (白腹海鵰) ; R : Olive-backed Sunbird (黃腹花蜜鳥)
Singapore (2012)
26th September, 2012. Singapore Post Centre

In 2015, it is 50th anniversary of independence of Singapore. To celebrate this event, numbers of association to hold a lot of activities in the year. In August of 2015, a worldwide classed stamp exhibition to be held in Singapore, which is one of activity for the celebration. From 2012, Singapore Post to be issued 4 series of the stamps to promote the exhibition. All of them are retro-published to early independent period of Singapore issues. The first one is 1962 Definitive issue.

White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Olive-backed Sunbird are common species to southern Asia. But, nevertheless, it is rarely to see Olive-backed Sunbird in the stamp of southern countries.

The front cover affixed another issue Giant Panda which is celebrate the arrival of a pair of Giant Pandas, Kai Kai and Jia Jia. Which presented by China.

Giant Panda (大熊貓)
Singapore (2012)

Cinderella?

Purple Heron (紫鷺)
Guinea-Bissau (2008)
21st August, 2012. Bissau

In these few years, some countries like Mozambique, Solomon Islands, Burundi or Guinea-Bissau happy to issuehuge of stamps illustrate variety sport theme, world affairs, natural and movie pop stars. However most of them are not related to these poor countries. Checked those stamps seem produced by a stamp dealer which located in Northern Europe. The dealer beside controls what themes to issue, it also has a production house to design all the artwork. Thus, all the stamps look similar if compare variety countries' issues. Anyway, still have some stamps have some collectable value, if the stamp related to the country.

Grey Crowned-Crane (灰冠鶴)
Guinea-Bissau (2008)
21st August, 2012. Bissau

Examples are two stamps issued by Guinea-Bissau. The first one is Purple Heron and second one is Grey Crowned-Crane. Unfortunately for the maxicard of Grey Crowned-Crane, except cancelled with poor postmark, the species also does not find in Western Africa.