Iran's owls

From left to bottom :
1100Rls. : Spotted Owlet (斑腹小鴞) ; 600Rls. : Northern Long-eared Owl (長耳鴞)
1600Rls. : Pallid Scops-Owl (縱紋角鴞) ; 2200Rls. : Brown Fish-Owl (褐漁鴞)
Iran (2011)
14th December, 2011. Tehran (Philatelic Bureau)

This stamp set also celebrated 50th anniversary of WWF but it stored in my album for a long time, few months ago I decided to obtain cancellation and finally get a nice FDI postmark. Four species are selected as endemic species to middle-asia area.

The big problem is, who knows what the red-postmark read?

Loons and grebes

From left to right :
Red-throated Loon (紅喉潛鳥) ; Horned Grebe (角鸊鷈)
Great Crested Grebe (鳳頭鸊鷉) ; Black-throated Loon (黑喉潛鳥)
Åland (2013)
5th April, 2013. Mariehamn

After many years, Åland issued new WWF stamps again, this time feature 4 loons and grebes commonly to be found in this small islands. I decided order a FDC from the philatelic bureau, but sadly the shame Hongkong Post once again damaged this beautiful (and quite expensive) FDC.

WWF stamps again of South Georgia

From left to right :
70p : Antarctic Tern (南極燕鷗) ; 60p : South Georgia Shag (南喬治亞鸕鶿)
95p : Brown Skua (褐賊鷗) ; £1,10 : Kelp Gull (黑背鷗)
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (2012)
20th August, 2012. King Edward Point

In each few years, the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands issues their WWF stamps, the above cover features the latest WWF stamp set issued on 2012, this is the first time features 4 species instead as before - 1 species for 4 stamps.

For species are common in sub-Antarctic ocean and islands - Antarctic Tern looks similar with Arctic Tern (北極燕鷗), however the wings of Antarctic Tern are in grey colour and only actives in Antarctic Ocean. South Georgia Shag is endemic to South Georgia and some sub-Antarctic Islands of South Atlantic Ocean. Brown Skua is a large seabird that breeds in the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic zones and moves further north when not breeding. Kelp Gull to be found in wide area of sub-Antarctic, southern Africa, South-America and Australia, include those offshore islands.

Below is the receipt of the registered mail, it shown that the post office still using traditional registration label in 2012.

Collared Lory

Collared Lory (綠領吸蜜鸚鵡)
Fiji (2012)
11th July, 2012. Suva
20th July, 2012. Suva registration office

Actually I dislike nowadays WWF issues, as most of stamps set in high denomination. For example Liechtenstein on last year, whole set of the stamps are selling in 8 Swiss Franc, although they are beautiful and attractive. It seems discourage collector to buy more for their collection. In recent years, most of WWF stamps are sell in a sheetlet which contains 2 or 4 sets of stamps. That causes people will spend more in each issue and easily to be as fast as give up this hobby. This time, as well as last time, Fiji issued a attractive sheet includes 2 sets total value near 7 Euro. I still ordered a FDC and 2 sheets, the only reason is it related to parrot.

Collared Lory is an endemic species to Fiji, specially it can be found from forest to urban area, like Lau Island and Lakeba. The live of the parrot has been humanized to suitable urban situation, especially Suva, the capital of Fiji.

Collared Lory is not an endangered species, due to seem the organization agreed to approve more non-dangered species appear onthe stamps.

Jackass Penguin

Jackass Penguin (非洲企鵝)
Namibia (1997)
18th April, 2012. Windhoek

Jackass Penguin is the only one penguin species to be found in Africa continent. Most of them inhabiting in Namibia and South Africa, one of attractive popular birdwatching place is Boulders Beach which is open to public.

The other name of the penguin called Black-footed Penguin, as their legs in black colour. They also have black strip and spots on the chest, the patten is unique to each penguin like fingerprints of human. In 1910, the penguin with 1,5million population while only leave 10% of them in recent years. The reasons are the eggs be stolen and the damage of inhabit places.

Now the penguin listed as Endangered class in IUCN list. This stamp set of Jackass Penguin is one of earliest issue of this species.

Red-billed Tropicbird

Red-billed Tropicbird (紅嘴熱帶鳥)
Ascension Islands (2011)
31st August, 2011. George Town

After a year, most of stamps to celebrate 50th anniversary of WWF have been arrived, perhaps it is the last one, the red-billed topicbird of Ascension Islands. Many thanks of the post office, the cover was sent on the day of issue but oddly couldn't be find in post office system.

Asiatic Lion

Asiatic Lion (亞洲獅)
India (1999)
20th June, 2011. Anna Road, Chennai

Asiatic Lion, as known as Indian Lion, is an endangered species of India which is sub-species of Lion family. Originally it was widely to be found from Mediterranean Sea to southern Asia, but as a lot of reason, now only has 250-300 lions living in Gir Forest National Park, Gujarat.

The cover also features Smooth Indian Otter (印度水獺), however it is out of my collecting range.

Clockwise from top-left of block of 4 :
Rosy Starling (粉紅椋鳥) ; Garganey (白眉鴨)
Forest Wagtail (山鶺鴒) ; White Stork (白鸛)
India (2000)