Red-billed Leiothrix

Red-billed Leiothrix (紅嘴相思鳥)
China (2016)
9th August, 2016. Longdong, Guangzhou

Red-billed Leiothrix is native to the Indian subcontinent. Adults have bright red bills and a dull yellow ring around their eyes. Their backs are dull olive green, and they have a bright yellow-orange throat with a yellow chin; females are somewhat duller than males, and juveniles have black bills. It has also been introduced in various parts of the world, with small populations of escapees having existed in Japan since the 1980s.

The species usually found in India, Bhutan, Nepal, Burma and parts of Tibet. This species is a bird of the hill forests, found in every type of jungle though it prefers pine forests with bushes. It has also been found at elevations ranging from near sea level to about 7,500 feet.

The species was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands in 1918 and spread to all the forested islands except Lanai. Its population on Oahu crashed in the 1960s and it disappeared from Kauai, but is now common and increasing on Oahu. The leiothrix was released in Western Australia but it failed to become established. This species was also introduced in Great Britain but permanent establishment was unsuccessful. It was introduced to France, where it is now established in several areas, and Catalonia where it is increasing and spreading from the Collserola Park.

Mandarin Duck

Mandarin Duck (鴛鴦)
China (2015)
20th February, 2016. Pengliuyang Road, Wuhan

Mandarin Duck is a perching duck species found in East Asia. It is medium-sized, at 41–49 cm (16–19 in) long with a 65–75cm wingspan. As the other member of the genus Aix, it is closely related to the North American wood duck.

The adult male is a striking and unmistakable bird. It has a red bill, large white crescent above the eye and reddish face and "whiskers". The breast is purple with two vertical white bars, and the flanks ruddy, with two orange "sails" at the back. The female is similar to female wood duck, with a white eye-ring and stripe running back from the eye, but is paler below, has a small white flank stripe, and a pale tip to its bill.

Both the males and females have crests, but the crest is more pronounced on the male.

Like many other species of ducks, the male undergoes a moult after the mating season into eclipse plumage. When in eclipse plumage, the male looks similar to the female, but can be told apart by their bright yellow-orange beak, lack of any crest, and a less-pronounced eye-stripe.

Mandarin ducklings are almost identical in appearance to wood ducklings, and very similar to mallard ducklings. The ducklings can be distinguished from mallard ducklings because the eye-stripe of mandarin ducklings (and wood ducklings) stops at the eye, while in mallard ducklings it reaches all the way to the bill.

Mandarin Duck (鴛鴦)
China (2015)
20th August, 2015. Nanping, Fujian

Huangmei Opera

The far right one : Oriental Magpie-Robin (鵲鴝)
China (2014)
6th July, 2014. Tianhau East, Guangzhou

Huangmei or Huangmei tone originated as a form of rural folksong and dance that has been in existence for the last 200 years and possibly longer. The music is performed with a pitch that hits high and stays high for the duration of the song. It is unique in the sense that it does not sound like the typical rhythmic Chinese opera. In the 1960s Hong Kong counted the style as much as an opera as it was a music genre. Today it is more of a traditional performance art with efforts of revival in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Huangmei Government at Hubei province was officially considered as the place of origin of Huangmei opera.

60th Anniversary of Founding of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

 

China (2014)
3rd May, 2014. Shennan Road C., Shenzhen

The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) is a national people’s organization engaged in people-to-people diplomacy of the People’s Republic of China. The aims of the Association are to enhance people’s friendship, further international cooperation, safeguard world peace and promote common development. On behalf of the Chinese people, it makes friends and deepens friendship in the international community and various countries around the world, lays and expands the social basis of friendly relations between China and other countries, and works for the cause of human progress and solidarity. It implements China’s independent foreign policy of peace, observing the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, while carrying out all-directional, multi-level and broad-area people-to-people friendship work to serve the great cause of China’s peaceful development and reunification and contribute to the building of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity. In launching its activities, it has support from the government and assistance from all sectors of the society. It has set up 46 China-regional or China-national friendship organizations and established relationship of friendly cooperation with nearly 500 nongovernment organizations and institutions in 157 countries.

Birds of prey in China, II

From left to right :
Eastern Imperial Eagle (白肩鵰) ; Eurasian Kestrel (紅隼)
Northern Harrier (白尾鷂) ; Northern Goshawk (蒼鷹)
China (2014)
23rd February, 2014. Nantou, Shenzhen

Though raptors, also known as birds of prey, occupy the top of the food chain, the wild carnivorous birds are now all under the key protection of the state in China. This stamp set shows four diurnal raptors in Falconiformes. Eastern Imperial Eagle is about 75cm long and inhabits mountain forests and places on the edges of forests. It usually stays on trees and preys when opportunities emerge. Northern Harrier is about 50cm long, and lives on open plains, grasslands and farmlands. The greatest natural enemy of other birds and hares in forests, Northern Goshawk is about 56cm long and can fly rapidly and flexibly in forests to get preys. Eurasian Kestrel is only 33cm long. These small raptors can often be seen in open areas. They are famous for their graceful hovering in the air.

Hwamei

Hwamei (畫眉)
China (2011)
14th December, 2012. Tianhe East, Guangzhou

Hwamei, is an endemic bird to South-east China area, as its sing, people in this area mostly like to be fed them as a pet, the bird is very common to see in local bird markets. Above traditional drawing was reproduced from the original drawing Greetings with Southern Branch in Qing dynasty, is related to a Hwamei singing in southern springtime.

Waxwing and Peace Dove

L : Bohemian Waxwing (太平鳥) and R : Rock Pigeon (原鴿)
China (2012)
20th March, 2012. Shennan C. Road, Shenzhen

In recent years, China Post decided turn their stamp design in higher quality, when compare with 10-15 years ago, thanks to computer effect stamps are look more colourful. The above joint-issue with Israel is one example.Two illustrated birds, Bohemian Waxwing and Rock Pigeon, are not much look like real birds and decorated with sharped colour.

The reason to choose two birds as their Chinese names are as well as peaceful. Bohemian Waxwing widely to be found in northern Eurasia area and migrates to south, sometimes can be found them in Fujian, Guangdong or further-south of Vietnam and Cambodia. Rock Pigeon, now becomes domestic dove in worldwide, originally lives in Germany. The whited doves always is a iconic bird of peace in variety activities.

Rock Pigeon (原鴿)
China (2012)
18th May, 2012. Hepingmen, Beijing

Dusk at Poyang Lake

Dusk at Poyang Lake (江西 鄱陽湖)
China (2001)
5th August, 2008. Gulou, Nanjing

Very sorry I forget to show you this beautiful pre-paid postcard two years ago ! It was sent by a friend who lives in Nanjiang. Poyang Lake is famous wetland conservation in Jiangxi, the national reserve founded on June, 1983. Now it is the important bird-watching paradise in mainland China.

The picture Dusk at Poyang Lake drawn by unknown artist, who illustrated a group of Oriental Stork (東方白鸛) active in the bank of Poyang Lake during dusk. In the past, Oriental Stork wrongly defined as sub-species of White Stork (白鸛) but they are inhabiting in different places. In post-19980s, they divided to two species and Oriental Stork now is an endangered species in eastern countries.

Xianghai National Nature Reserve

L : Golden Eagle (金鷹) ; R : Common Shelduck (翹鼻麻鴨)
China (2005)
11th June, 2010. Zhejiang Normal University, Zhejiang

In last year, here was shown a maxicard with a shelduck which cancelled at Xianghai, Jilin. This nature reserve is one of the largest reserve in North-east China. Once again, thanks James, he also sent me a cover with this stamp set Xianghai National Nature Reserve, however it sent from Zhejiang, the rich and beautiful area nearby Yangzi River. Anyway it sounds nice as the cover keep tidy with clear postmarks. The Golden Eagle is commonly to be found in whole Chinese area, but there has two sub-species, the stamp seems illustrated Aquila chrysaetos canadensis as this sub-species lives in north-east and Inner Mongolia of China. Shelduck also commonly breeding in northern part of Eurasia. However, these two species will emigrate to south near Yangzi River for winter.

Yellow-bellied Tit

Yellow-bellied Tit (黃腹山雀)
China (2004)
23rd August, 2007. Guangzhong Road, Shanghai

On 2002, Chinese People Post released two definitive stamp sets to replace old Great Wall definitive stamps, the 30th group named Protect the common homeland of mankind and the 31st group illustrated 9 different birds endemic to China or Taiwan - in its government option says it has control right of this nation. Two stamps from this bird set Chinese Monal Pheasant (綠尾虹雉) and Tibetan Bunting (藏鵐) have been shown separately before, now is the third one issued on 2004.

Yellow-bellied Tit is endemic to mid-Chinese area, farther north from Hebei to southernmost of Sichuan. Normally widely lives in 500m to 2,000m highland and migrate to flatland in winter, usually actives on the needle leaved tree and wide leaved tree.

Tourist mail (1)

L : Ibex (北山羊) ; R : Steller's Sea Eagle (虎頭海雕)
China (2001)
5th April, 2008. Zhongshan (Southern district), Guangdong

When I travel to somewhere, there will be sent a mail back to my home if it is possible. Here is one example of the short trip to Zhongshan, a township near south-west of Canton. The cover features two stamps come from wild animals sheetlet issued on 2001. Ibex lives in grasslands and mountain area of desert range, mostly can be found in Ningxia, Gansu and Xinjiang. Steller's Sea Eagle is the most heaviest eagle in the world, widely breeds in the offshore of Volcanoes of Kamchatka and Sea of Okhotsk, Amur and north of Sakhalin. In winter they migrate to Kuril Islands and Hokkaidō. Nowadays, these two species are listed as endangered species and protected by law in China.

Exploring in South Pole

Snow Petrel (雪鸌)
China (2002)
8th August, 2008. Guangzhong Road, Shanghai
15th August, 2008. Hongkong

Beside those traditional countries like Norway, Argentina, Australia and Great Britain, some countries especially asian countries like Japan, South Korea and China begin to explore this secret continent in recent years. They built couple of research stations in Antarctic or nearest South Pole for science observatories. Selected two series of stamps are issued by China and South Korea. 2008 is the 20th anniversary of foundation of King Sejong Station, which is a year-round station established by South Korea, the stamp was commemorated this event. China also built two year-round stations in Antarctic, they named Great Wall and Zhoungshan, opened on 1985 and 1989 separately, the stamp shown above is illustrated the Grove Mountain in Antarctic.

Left : South Polar Skua (南極賊鷗) and Gentoo Penguin (巴布亞企鵝)
Right : Chinstrap Penguin (南極企鵝) and King Penguin (國王企鵝)
Korea, Republic of (2008)
15th February, 2008. Kang Nam, Seoul (features first day special postmark)

Undiscovered talent

Azores Bullfinch (亞速爾紅腹灰雀)
Azores (2008)
24th October, 2008. Sete-Rios, Lisbon

In Chinese, there have a phrase undiscovered talent (滄海遺珠), it means a treasure forgotten by someone. Here are two covers received recent days, two species Azores Bullfinch and Green Peafowl have been shown here before. Anyway, I would say a great thanks to José of Lisbon and Ray of Nanjing, who sent me these two nice mails.

Green Peafowl (綠孔雀)
China (2004)
8th March, 2009. Fuqiao, Nanjing
11th March, 2009. Hongkong

National and conservation parks

Körös-Maros National Park and Órségi National Park, Hungary

36 Fo. : Great Bustard (大鴇) ; 220 Fo. : Red Crossbill (紅交嘴鳥)

Hungary (2001, 2008)

3rd March, 2009. Józsefváros, Budapest

Few days ago I received a cover has two different national park stamps sent by Majoros in Budapest, thanks for the nice mail. Hungary issued 10 stamps present all of 10 national parks in the country from 1998, they are designed in same style which illustrated bird and its environment, and also the founder. The above two stamps are Körös-Maros National Park and Órségi National Park individually. Körös-Maros National Park (501.34 km²) in the border of Ukraine, created in 1997. Órségi National Park established in 2002, located in the border of Germany and Austria where have about 440 km² protection area.

The stamps also shown Great Bustard and Red Crossbill. Great Bustard breeds in southern and central Europe, where it is the largest species of bird, and across temperate Asia. In China, some people call master of brothel is bustard, but it is national bird of Hungary and called túzok. Red Crossbill is a common bird live in North America's spruce forests to mainland of Europe and Asia.

Tapada de Mafra, Portugal

2,00 € : Bonelli's Eagle (白腹山鵰) ; 1,00 € : Eurasian Eagle-Owl (雕鴞)

Portugal (2007)

13th October, 2007. Pombal

Tapada Nacional de Mafra owned 8 km² protection land following the building of the Mafra National Palace, Mafra. Founded in the reign of Portugal king João V, now there can be found many different species like deer, foxes, birds of prey. These two bird stamps on the envelope, issued by Portugal in 2007 for Tapada Nacional de Mafra, six stamps with one souvenir sheet and only these two feature birds. Bonelli's Eagle and Eurasian Eagle-Owl are very common in Europe and Asia, sometimes they may visible in Hongkong.

Of course, I would say thanks José from Pombal of this mail.

Xianghai National Nature Reserve, China

Maxicard

Common Shelduck (翹鼻麻鴨)

China (2005)

30th July, 2005. Xianghai, Jilin

Xianghai National Nature Reserve is in the north-west of Tongyu County, Jilin near inner-Mongolia, an important conservation wetland for Red-crowned Crane (丹頂鶴) and other species. It founded in 1981 and has 105 km² area, included 5 towns and 12 villages.

China Post issued a set of 4 stamps illustrated four different birds live and can be found in Xianghai National Natural Reserve in 2005. Above maxicard is one of four, a couple of Shelducks nested bank of pound. Thanks Kristiina of her great card.

Tibetan Bunting

Tibetan Bunting (藏鵐)

China (2002)

9th January, 2009. Qamdo, Tibet

Once again, it is my self-illustrated bird envelope features same species stamp, it doesn't look similar as the original photograph is different. Qamdo located in the eastern of Tibet, eastern bank of Yarlung Zangbo River. In Xi Han Dynasty, it was an important city of Ancient tea route, which is a trade network between Burma and Central China.

Tibetan Bunting, is an endemic species habitant in mountain area of eastern Tibet and western Sichuan, also can be found in origin and sub-branch of Yarlung Zangbo River. Now the conservation status listed as Near Threatened.

The postmark included two languages Tibetan and Chinese, and please note that the number 38 on the postmark means cancelled in 38th hour in the working day ! All post offices in minority group of China are using double languages postmark, it mostly features Chinese and local language.

Chinese Monal Pheasant

Chinese Monal Pheasant (綠尾虹雉)

China (2006)

23rd May, 2008. Mount Emei, Sichuan

(features same illustration pictorial postmark)

30th May, 2008. Hongkong

A colourful blue-greenish pheasant only lives in high level grasslands, it is an endemic species only can be found in south-east of Qinghai, and mountain areas of Sichuan. Only males have beautiful feather and skin, females look similar but in dark browned colour. The bird listed as IUCN status due to illegal hunting and their living places are damaging by locals.

Cover postmarked at sight area of Mount Emei, the sight with Leshan Giant Buddha have been listed as UNESCO world heritage sites in 1996. Mount Emei is one of four sacred Buddhist mountains of China, which located in south-west of Sichuan province.

Chinese birds

From left to right :

Tibetan Bunting (藏鵐), Sukatschev's Laughingthrush (黑額山噪鶥)

Golden Pheasant (紅腹錦雞) and Xinjiang Ground Jay (白尾地鴉)

China (2008)

28th February, 2008. Guangzhong Road, Shanghai

(featuring first day postmark used in Shanghai)

Actually, it is a souvenir sheet contains 6 different bird stamps, for me I don't collect and reject to collect cover which wider than 200 mm, so I suggested my friend tear all the stamps from the sheet.

On this cover, there is selected four stamps of them, those birds are live in different places in this country. They have been appeared on stamps before, either special stamps or definitive stamps, however illustrator Zeng Xiaolian done a best job of this sheet, and it looks more beautiful then those old issue - although some old issues designed by him.

In this issue, Taiwan Blue Magpie appears on one of 6 stamps, I don't like this country issue this stamp as it can't be found in China. I introduced wonderful Taiwanese issue before, and this species only lives in Taiwan, seem I won't need record it in my collection.

The cover is clearly to find all stamps and postmarks, thanks for Fan lives in Shanghai. He has a nice blog features his worldwide FDC collection.