Barn Swallow (2)

Barn Swallow (家燕)
Estonia (2010)
27th April, 2010. Tallinn

Once again, Estonia issues its long series 'Bird of the year' on late-Spring, this year is 9th series of the issue and features Barn Swallow. Thanks Pirjo of her kindly helpful to complete my collection. Not much surprising of the stamp as Barn Swallow is very common in Europe and Asia, the stamp illustrates a flying bird while one staying on a branch on the cover, they probably are male birds. However, the most interesting thing of Barn Swallow is their nest built under eves, a stamp also issued by Estonia on 2005 is related to this situation. Below stamp, is the original sample of this Estonia stamp.

An additional description is, Barn Swallow is a national bird of Estonia.

Common Gull

Common Gull (海鷗)
Germany (2011)
1st April, 2011. Braunscnweig

Not a pretty envelope from a German dealer, it features four variety stamp but only one contains small bird, it seems hard to identify. According to news report of Birds of the world on postage stamp website, Chris identified it is Mew Gull L. c. brachyrhynchus (北美海鷗) as 'the legs are light green and the pattern of the primaries is variety for L. canus (Common Gull)'. However, Mew Gull is a sub-species of Common Gull and mostly appears on Alaska to western Canada, it is heavier than Common Gull.

However, after a week, I received an excellent cover from Wolfgang, member of Motivgruppe Ornithologie. It only features the stamp except the 5 cents stamp for make-up charge.

Common Gull (海鷗)
Germany (2011)
18th April, 2011. Mühlau, Sachsen

P.S. Also thanks to Wolfgang who sent me a mail with special pictorial postmark of 21st International Stamp Fair at Essen, the postmark features many species in forest. The bird, probably is a Golden Eagle (金雕), although it is only line-drawing and hard to identify. Golden Eagle Only appears southern Germany near border of Switzerland and Austria.

Golden Eagle (金雕)
Germany (2011)
5th May, 2011. Essen

Little Egret

Little Egret (小白鷺)
South Africa (2010)
22nd December, 2010. Tshwane

It is the latest and newest bird aerogramme issued recent years. As talked before, now less and less postal administration interest to issue aerogramme as lack of using demand. South Africa was an exception to do it on 2010 and seems it will issue in following years.

I think I do not need to make description of Little Egret again, please enjoy this beautiful aerogramme as it really amazing to show an egret ready to fly.

Christmas Frigatebird

Christmas Frigatebird (白腹軍艦鳥)
Christmas Island (2010)
17th August, 2010. Christmas Island, West Australia

4th January, 2011. Christmas Island, West Australia

Christmas Frigatebird, as known as Christmas Island Frigatebird, is one frigatebird only breeding in Christmas Island, however it also widely visible in South China Sea, most of coast of south-east Asian countries, eastern Indian Ocean and west of South Pacific. As it mainly breeds in Christmas Islands, it can say the frigatebird is endemic to this small island in north-west of Australia. During 1988, the frigatebird listed as threatened in IUCN list while became vulnerable species in 1994. Since 2000, the frigatebird listed as critically endangered species due to the inhabit area colonised by huge of Crazy Ants (細足捷蟻), and also damaged by wildfires or cyclones.

As well as other frigatebirds, their diet mostly rob other birds caught, but they also catch fish near water surface or shallows. Male bird is in black colour except small part in white on the belly, and brownish areas on the wings. As they are frigatebird, male also has a large red and inflateable throat sac during courtship.

Same as before, mail from Christmas Island will be postmarked by attractive pictorial postmark illustrates Christmas Red Crab (聖誕島紅蟹).

Buzin, part 8

From left to right :
4,09 € : Common Pheasant (雉雞) ; 0,02 € : Common Snipe (田鷸)
0,44 € : Common House Martin (白腹毛腳燕) ; 0,23 € : Western Jackdaw (寒鴉)
0,10 € : Tengmalm's Owl (鬼鴞) ; 0,75 € : Eurasian Kestrel (紅隼)
Belgium (2003, 2004, 2007, 2010)
30th November, 2010. Bruxelles de Brouckere, Brussels

As well as last year, I selected some Buzin definitive stamps for Christmas mail this year, thanks Yoram of his help and the dearest one 4,60 € stamp which is the latest issue of Buzin. I have many different pheasant stamp but this is first time on cover. Pheasant is commonly to be found Eurasia and North America, it also common hunting bird in the world. House Martin is common migratory bird breeds in Eurasia, the birds will fly to southern Asia or sub-Sahara for winter.