Pelicans

Pelicans are a genus of large water birds comprising the family Pelecanidae. 

They are characterized by a long beak and large throat pouch used in catching prey and draining water from the scooped up contents before swallowing. 

They have predominantly pale plumage, the exceptions being the Brown and Peruvian Pelicans. The bills, pouches and bare facial skin of all species become brightly colored before the breeding season. 

The eight living pelican species are :


Each shown of commonly found Pelican stamps and my favorites...

• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

Brown Pelicans are well known for Plunge diving - for feeding on fish in deeper waters . In the shallow parts they use their bills and throat pouches as dip net just like the other pelicans.

• Peruvian Pelican (Pelecanus thagus)

Airmail stamp showing the Pelican on the right side corner ....

• Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)

from the 1996 Fauna set from Laos .

• Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens)

The Pelican from 1960 Set from French Somali Coast.

• American White Pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

The American white Pelican breeds in the wetlands throughout North America.

This beautiful stamp from the 1956 Cuban Bird stamp set .

• Great White Pelican(Pelecanus onocrotalus)

This wonderful stamp from Bahawalpur 1945 is an early example of the White Pelican on stamp .

• Dalmatian Pelican(Pelecanus crispus)

Dalmatian Pelicans on the Romanian Delta Danube 1984 - who are seen raising their young in this favorite complex network of watercourses and shallow lakes and lagoons.

There is a water lily in the 2nd stamp - which fills the water and forms a beautiful carpet .

• Australian Pelican(Pelecanus conspicillatus)

This bird is shown flying over Lake Eyre .

Australia - 2011 Birdlife stamp - featuring the Australian Pelican.

A countdown - Collecting 'a Bird stamp' from countries that ever printed one!

Dear Friends

Over the past two years I have focused on getting 'a bird stamp' from countries that ever printed one; referring to online guides and to the best knowledge I have begun to the last 21 countries from a big list of

Total : 373

I have : 352 

Missing : 21

Hope to get the next 21 soon ..let me know if you have any ?


The missing ones are : a bird stamp from -

1. Bosnia Herzegovina (Sarajevo)
2. Bosnia Herzegovina (Rep Srpska)
3. British Com Occ Force (Japan)
4. Canouan
5. Caribbean Netherlands
6. Croatia (Serbian Krajina)
7. Egypt
8. Eritrea
9. French Morocco
10. French Oceanic Set
11. Georgia
12. Gilbert Is
13. Korea South, N K Occupation
14. Kosovo
15. Penrhyn Is
16. St Maarten
17. Tangier, French Post
18. Tibet
19. Upper Yafa
20. West New Guinea
21. Jaipur

Tonga - The Shining Red Parrot.

This stamp intrigued me and made me go after it.The Maroon Shining Parrot.

A stamp first released in 1897 and surcharged over in 1922  then re-issued in 1942 to 1943 .

1897 - Turtle Watermark
1922 - a surcharge
1942 1943 - Crown Watermark.

this stamp is a nice collectible ,  the designs are the same across the years .

Tonga has some colorful stamps of different shapes and sizes the Parrot has been a frequent theme on their postage stamps , also they show a lot of colorful birds.

1897

As a one off just collecting a single 1897 / 1942 should help a bird collecting enthusiast.

1942/1943 variants

Thailand 1967 .

A lovely set to collect in Mint/used.

20s-Great Hornbill   
25s-Common Hill Myna    
50s- White-rumped Shama    
1b-Siamese Fireback    
1.50b-Spotted Dove    
2b-Sarus Crane    
3b - White-throated Kingfisher    
5b-  Asian Openbill 

Heron..

A Grey Heron at "Seal Sanctuary, Cornwall UK".

Scarlet Ibis .

A juvenile Scarlet Ibis is a mix of grey, brown, and white. As it grows, a heavy diet of red crustaceans produces the scarlet coloration and makes it a beautiful bird .

I seen one at the London zoo and its color was just amazing...

Botswana Birds - 1997

Barbados - Nice birds 1979 (continued 1981,82)

A lovely set and includes some lovely birds like the Green-throated Carib which i hope to see someday ; the set has 17 values in 1979 and 55c , 15c, 40c, 60c in 1981 and 1982 .

1c Grassland Yellow Finch  

2c Grey Kingbird  

5c Barbados Bullfinch  

8c Magnificent Frigatebird  

10c Western Cattle Egret  

12c Green Heron  

20c Antillean Crested Hummingbird  

25c Common Ground Dove  

28c Carib Grackle  

35c Green-throated Carib  

45c Zenaida Dove  

50c Scaly-naped Pigeon  

70c Bananaquit  

1$  Caribbean Elaenia  

2.50$ American Redstart  

5$ Belted Kingfisher  

10$ Common Gallinule

55c American Golden Plover

15c Carib Grackle  

40c Scaly-naped Pigeon

60c Bananaquit

The Humming bird is a beautiful bird ; one of the smallest bird and has amazing strength in its wings .....

France - 1947 : Good stamp.

A good stamp by far...a Birdseye view. The European Herring Gull .

A lovely stamp and a favorite.

Japan 1998 - Paintings & Wood Block Prints .

Paintings on Stamps is a good topical stamp collection to start - I have collected them in form of Birds / wildlife / flowers" represented .

There are lot of good stamps where in noted painters have captured the natural realm in its real form - but I set a focus away from the more traditional to some what fantastical - and the paintings for one artist in Japan got my focus early - though I read about his accomplishments quite late - while writing this post.

The Japanese artist is  Ito Jakuchu - I just seen  some paintings online and they really catch the eye .

Please visit wiki -paintings / any web site showcasing free access to view the art works .

Paintings and wood-block printings of flowers and birds in the seasons:Selection from the paintings and wood-block printings by Ito Jakuchu (painter/wood-block printing artist).

Issue for  International Letter Writing Week &  Greeting 1998.

Se-tenant pairs Designs Inter-national  Letter Writing Week:

start from top left - along to the right...

1. Small fowls in autumnal hue's. (90)

2. Mandarin ducks in snow .(110)

3. Butterflies at peonies (130)

4. Parakeet in a Oak. (90)

5. Golden pheasant and bamboo in snow. (110)

6. Parakeet at roses. (130)

Cornwall - Birds 2013.

 

 

Beautiful Stamps - Montserrat 1970 Birds.

If I could vote for a wonderful bird stamp set - I would give a 10 on 10 for this set .

 

This set has a tick in the box for :

 

1. Colour

2.the bird

3. Design

4. good top values in span in less than 15 stamps.

 

The best stamp set in my collection this year .

 

 

And the best stamp in the set !! the 2nd top value....the Carib.