White faced Tree Duck

White faced Tree Duck.

A very interesting Duck and the white patch on its face is quiet prominent as the name suggests.

They have a long grey bill, long head and longish legs ; a white face and crown, and black rear head. The back and wings are dark brown to black, and the underparts are black, although the flanks have fine white barring. The neck is chestnut. 

They are quiet noisy and make a whistling sound, wee-weoo .

I saw this duck at the Andover Bird Conservancy last year.They are usually found near lakes and reservoirs.

The Malawi stamp value K2 (as shown below) is a beautiful stamp which shows this duck quiet clear ,  it is part of a lovely stamp set and is very collectible in used/mint condition.

                                                                 

Malawi 1975 Birds

1t - African Snipe    

2t - Double-banded Sandgrouse    

3t - Blue Quail    

5t - Red-necked Spurfowl    

8t - Harlequin Quail    

10t- Spur-winged Goose    

15t- Denham's Bustard   

20t- Knob-billed Duck    

30t- Helmeted Guineafowl    

50t- African Pygmy Goose    

1k-  Garganey   

2k-  White-faced Whistling Duck    

4k-  African Green Pigeon

• Gambia 1966 Birds set :

1d - White-faced Whistling Duck

Other favorites:

South Africa 1997

Botswana 1978

Venda 1987

Grey Heron .

I spotted a Grey Heron on my way back home near the stream ...it was dark , but managed to get my first good picture of this lovely bird.

Sorting Stamps..

I just received a bag  full of Japanese Stamps on paper from my friend.

They were so many and  beautiful; I got a lot of help from my daughter(shes 2 years old) sorting them.

It was a sight to see when she picked up each stamp and shouted out "Flowers"!! , "Birdie"!!

This treasure trove gave me some beautiful Bird,Fish and animals stamps...

Though this will take sometime sorting everything out - but who knows , there could be some more exciting stamps inn there  waiting to be part of my collection.

Things to try! - asking some friends to help you with some kilo-ware , find what you need and then share it across.

Happy hunting!

Birds...Just Photos.

Comorant - near the River @ Caversham Reading

Robin - near Coley Primary School @ Reading

Grebe -  @ Caversham Reading

Black Swan-  @ Caversham Reading

Moorhen -  @ Caversham Reading

Roses are Red My Love...

A Red Rose signifies love and its associated to an emotion of giving the other a special place in your heart / conveying love to the other.

Albania  Roses -1967 set of 8  stamps

The rose is the national flower of England. The language of flowers, sometimes called Floriography, was a Victorian-era means of communication in which various flowers and floral arrangements were used to send coded messages, allowing individuals to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken. 

@ Forbury Gardens, Reading -UK

This language was most commonly communicated through small flower bouquets, an art which has a following today.

Roses have been an essential part of my garden ; my Dad loves them and they need special care like trimming, watering. They come in different colors and each color has a meaning. 

Red roses indicate passion and romantic love, while yellow roses signify friendship and devotion. Roses are traditionally given on Valentine's Day, but they're certain to be well-received any time of year.

Bulgaria 1960/1963 Roses .

But before you buy roses, you must know what message you're sending across.

@Sonning , UK

To ensure that your loved ones and friends understand what the roses you bestow mean, I have tried to get the best meaning for you-

The Red Rose : "True love"

Red roses proclaim "I love you." They symbolize romantic love and enduring passion.

The Yellow Rose :

Yellow roses indicate friendship and freedom ; Yellow roses are also appropriate for sending  good wishes to newlyweds, graduates and new mothers.

The Pink Rose:

Pale pink roses connote grace, gentleness and gratitude.

Light Pink Roses:

A joy to behold, light pink roses express fun and happiness.

Deep Pink Roses :

Deep pink roses say "Thank you." They symbolize Gratitude.

Lilac Roses :

Lilac roses indicate that the sender has fallen in love at first sight , new love .

White Roses :

"silence or innocence, wistfulness, virtue, purity, secrecy, reverence and humility"

Pure white roses symbolize truth and innocence. They also send other messages like: "I miss you".

Peach Roses :

Peach roses speak of appreciation and gratitude.

Coral Roses :

Coral roses express one thing with their passionate color: Desire.

Orange Roses :

Orange roses communicate enthusiasm and desire on the part of sender.

Combination of Roses :

Put two or more colors of roses together, and a new rose meaning arises.

White Roses + Yellow Roses :

A symbol of harmony also joy, happiness and excitement.

Red Roses + Yellow Roses :

A message of happiness and celebration.

Red Roses + White Roses :

An indication of bonding, unity and harmony.

 

Khor Fakkan - a very collectible Roses set .

France 2012 from a set of 12

Argentina - perfumed stamps 2008.

So this time say it with Roses....

Waterbirds - Just Stamps

• 1980 - Hungary, Protected birds

20 Ft - Great Egret (Miniature Sheet)

The term water bird or aquatic bird refers to birds that live in or around water. Some definitions apply the term especially to birds in freshwater habitats, though others make no distinction from birds that inhabit marine environments. 

Some water birds are more terrestrial or aquatic than others, and their adaptations will vary depending on their environment. These adaptations include webbed feet, bills and legs adapted to feed in water, and the ability to dive from the surface or the air to catch their prey in water.

Some common Water birds are:

• Herons
• Egrets
• Cranes

• Endangered Birds - India 1994

1r	-	Andaman Teal
6r	-	Oriental Stork
8r	-	Black-necked Crane
11r	-	Pink-headed Duck

In 1994, India Post had issued a block of 4 stamps on Indian water birds for Rs 26 which were withdrawn later,  since it had used soluble ink during printing.

A wonderful set to have in a collection, this stamp set has seen a steep rise in its retail price over the years.

I haven't seen most of the birds mentioned in the stamp set. However, I hope to see them and get some good photographs, especially the Black Necked Crane.

• Cuba 1993 

3c	-	Northern Jacana
5c	-	Great Blue Heron
10c	-	Black-necked Stilt
20c	-	Black-crowned Night Heron
30c	-	Sandhill Crane
50c	-	Limpkin

Not all water birds swim through water; some prefer to wade through shallow water. These birds typically have long, slender legs that allow them to walk slowly without much effort through the water. 

Cranes, herons, Egret's are all wading birds. They typically eat aquatic insects, small amphibians and fish that are found in shallow waters.

Recently I spotted this bird in the stream near my house and tried to get a picture of it. I think its a Grey Heron, not very sure though. I couldn't get a better and clearer picture. Hope to see it again .

The Great Crested Grebe

I spotted this bird on my walk along the river at Caversham, Reading. In the distance, it seemed like a strange looking duck in the water with a crest so I zoomed in closer to get a better view.

When I saw the photograph, the striking features of this bird were very clear. The adults are unmistakable in summer with head and neck decorations.In winter, this is whiter than most grebes, with white above the eye, and a pink bill. It is the largest European grebe.

The Great Crested Grebe is the largest member of the grebe family found in the Old World, with some larger species residing in the Americas. 

Crested Grebe @ Caversham, Reading

Crested Grebe - Albania

The Great Crested Grebe breeds in vegetated areas of freshwater lakes . The photograph below is that of a young Crested Grebe.

The best stamp in my collection of this bird is the Jersey stamp as shown above. There are several other countries that have depicted this beauty which I would love to have in the near future....