|
Hong
Kong 3 dollar stamp 2006 |
Introduction
Hong Kong is graced by more than 460 bird species despite its usual image as
a city of crowded skyscrapers. This number amounts to one-third of that found in
the whole of China and one-twentieth of the global total, which is truly amazing
for an area of a mere 1,000 square kilometres.
This miracle has come about because Hong Kong is blessed with a diversity of
natural habitats. This arises from its monsoon climate, its coastal as well as
estuarine location, its curvaceous coastline and the unique juxtaposition of
rivers, plains, hills and valleys within the territory. Thus one finds in Hong
Kong rocky shores and islets, sandy beaches, mudflats, wetlands, fishponds, open
fields, woodlands, shrubby hillsides and grassy hilltops. Practically any bird
would find a niche for itself somewhere. That it is also a key staging post in
the great East Asia bird migratory flyway is an added advantage which helps
enrich its avifauna.
In parallel with the cosmopolitan character of the city itself, Hong Kong is
equally kind to birds of all feathers, offering food and shelter and breeding
ground to residents and seasonal visitors as well as migrants in transit. The
2006 Hong Kong Definitive Stamps portray a cross-section of the wide spectrum of
birds which enliven the city with the colours and music of Nature.
This is the third set of definitive stamps issued by Hongkong Post since the
establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's
Republic of China.
| 10¢: White-bellied Sea Eagle |
An uncommon resident in coastal areas and offshore islands, it is a
majestic eagle with distinctive grey and white adult plumage. Younger
birds show different shades of brown but the base of the tail is always
white. It feeds predominantly on fish, but also eats crustaceans, sea
snakes and carrion. Occasionally it is seen flying within Victoria
Harbour. Category I protected species in China. |
| 20¢: Collared Scops Owl |
A common and ubiquitous resident which can be found in practically
any wooded habitat. It is a medium-sized owl which shows ear tufts when
alarmed. At night, it is recognised by its soft “hoo-oo” call, which is
repeated at about ten-second intervals. It breeds in tree holes and also
nest boxes installed in country parks. Category II protected species in
China. |
| 50¢: Scarlet Minivet |
A common resident of heavily-wooded areas, the majority being found
in Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve. Numbers are increasing locally. Males are
a stunning red, giving rise to its name in Chinese which refers to
peppers flying in the forest. Females are yellow and greatly outnumber
males in winter flocks. They are often encountered as small parties
foraging for food among the trees. |
| $1: Common Kingfisher |
An uncommon breeding species in summer, but common and widespread as
a winter visitor and passage migrant. It is found in all wetland,
riverine and coastal habitats. It is a small blue and rufous kingfisher,
often seen perched on low branches and plunging into water to catch
fish. Its rapid and low flight impresses people as a quick flash of
blue. It nests in burrows in riverbanks. |
| $1.40: Fork-tailed Sunbird |
A common breeding resident typically found in gardens and woodland
with flowers. It is a tiny bird which is often mistaken for a
hummingbird. The male has a brilliant metallic blue-green head and
crimson throat and breast. Seeing the bird in the sun is always a
memorable experience. The female is relatively plain but her long curved
bill is distinctive. The nest is a ball of grass placed in trees. |
| $1.80: Roseate Tern |
An uncommon to scarce summer visitor, breeding on rocky islets in
offshore waters. It is an example of a bird which spends most of the
time at sea, only coming to shore to lay eggs. At a distance, it appears
mostly white apart from a black cap and a red bill. The tail is deeply
forked. The breast and the belly are sometimes tinged red. Its flight is
graceful, punctuated by plunges into the sea to catch fish. |
| $1.90: Black-faced Spoonbill |
A globally endangered species. It is, however, a common winter
visitor to Inner Deep Bay including the famous Mai Po reserve, which
accommodates about 20% of the known world’s population. It is
characterised by a distinctive spatulate bill and extensive black facial
skin linking the eye to the bill. The crest and the breast are yellow in
breeding plumage. It feeds by sideways sweeps of its bill in shallow
water. |
| $2: Little Egret |
An abundant resident which breeds in colonies. Big migratory flocks
are also occasionally seen. It is entirely white with a slender black
bill and distinctive yellow feet which are quite conspicuous in flight.
It is found in any wetland and feeds by quietly stalking for prey in
shallow water in fishponds and gei wais (shallow ponds specialising in
the farming of shrimps). In recent years, an increasing number of this
species are seen in Victoria Harbour. |
| $2.40: Greater Painted-snipe |
A breeding resident in very small numbers, supplemented by winter
visitors and passage migrants. The richly coloured plumage belongs to
the female rather than the male, opposite to common wisdom. It reflects
a reversal of roles, in which the male takes care of juvenile birds. It
favours freshwater swamps, often with several birds in a small area.
|
| $2.50: Barn Swallow |
A common summer visitor as well as an abundant passage migrant. This
is probably the most familiar bird species known to people around the
world, both for its legendary migration and for its hard work in feeding
its young. It is an agile flier and feeds on flying insects often low on
the ground. The nest is built of mud, mixed with a little straw or grass
and typically fixed under eaves. Seen as a sign of good luck, swallow
nests are traditionally welcomed by the Chinese people and are generally
left undisturbed. |
| $3: Red-whiskered Bulbul |
An abundant breeding resident found in
urban parks and quiet woodland. It is a delightful bird with an
unmistakable upright black crest and a distinctive red patch on the
cheek in a close view. Pairs are often seen close together on overhead
wires. Outside the breeding season, large flocks occur. It feeds on
insects, berries and fruit and can be seen catching prey on the wing.
The song is a cheerful “bulbi-bulbit, bulbi-bulbit”. |
| $5: Long-tailed Shrike |
A common breeding resident of the open country. It is a handsome
bird with a strong hooked bill, thick black eye stripes and a long tail.
It perches prominently, often on overhead wires, twitching its tail and
making harsh rasping cries. It is a hunter preying on insects, small
animals and even young birds. It is also known for the peculiar habit of
keeping extra captured food items impaled on thorns. |
| $10: White Wagtail |
A common winter visitor and passage migrant. A small number have
also bred here in summer. It is an elegant, slender, long-tailed bird
with a distinctive black, white and grey plumage. The tail is wagged
constantly, thus its name. It has a distinctive bounding flight and
typically utters a sharp “chissick” call at the low points. It is often
seen pacing in a leisurely manner on the lawns of the bigger urban
parks. It roosts in large numbers, sometimes on buildings, which can be
a spectacular sight. |
| $13: Northern Shoveler |
A common winter visitor to Deep Bay. It is one of the commonest
ducks in Hong Kong, with numbers in the thousands. It is an open-water
duck and takes food from the surface of shallow water. The broad
spatulate bill, which is longer than the head, is visible from a
distance and is diagnostic. The dark green head contrasting with a
prominent white breast is another useful field mark for identification. |
| $20: Common Magpie |
A common and widespread breeding resident. It is a large,
long-tailed bird with a powerful bill. It has an obvious black and white
plumage but in good sunlight, the black wings and tail also show a
bluish purple tinge. It is found in open areas including the bigger
urban parks and often feeds on the ground. The nest is a conspicuous
structure placed high in trees or pylons. The bird is regarded as a bird
of good omen and as a bringer of good luck in China. |
| $50: Dalmatian Pelican |
A regular winter visitor to Deep Bay but in very small numbers. It
is a huge bird comparable in size to a human. It is mostly white and has
a characteristic gular pouch which is bright orange in breeding plumage.
Its long broad wings enable it to fly buoyantly like a glider but it has
to run clumsily into the wind before getting airborne. It is a globally
threatened species and the birds seen in Hong Kong may comprise most of
the East Asian wintering flock. Category II protected species in China. |
*Text courtesy of the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, partly based on The
Birds of Hong Kong and South China by Clive Viney, Karen Phillipps and Lam Chiu
Ying (2005).
Stamp Printing Details
| Design: |
Bon KWAN |
| Illustrator: |
WONG Wai-shing Patrick |
| Printer: |
Joh. Enschedé B.V., the Netherlands |
| Process: |
Photogravure |
| Stamp Size: |
•Low values - 25mm x 29mm (10￠, 20￠, 50￠, $1, $1.40, $1.80, $1.90,
$2, $2.40, $2.50, $3, $5)
•High values - 28.5mm x 33.5mm ($10, $13, $20, $50) |
| Stamp Layout: |
•Low values - Pane of 100 stamps
•High values - Pane of 50 stamps |
| Perforation: |
•Low values - 13 x 13.75 (one elliptical perforation on each
vertical)
•High values - 13.25 (one elliptical perforation on each vertical) |
| Paper: |
Paper with security fibres |
| Date of Issue: |
31 December 2006 |
-
We accept PayPal ONLY.
-
Winner should
make the payment within 3 days. If payment is not received within 3 days, we reserve the right to relist the auction and we will notify
to eBay that payment has not been received. Of course you may send us message if you encounter problems while making payment.
| |
US
|
UK / Canada
|
International**
|
| |
International Airmail |
EMS |
Standard
|
Standard
|
| First Item |
Free |
$19.87 |
Free |
Free |
|
Each Additional Item*
|
Free |
$9.99 |
Free |
Free |
| Delivery Standard* |
22 business days |
5-7 business days |
25 business days |
25-30 business days |
*Business days is Monday to Friday except Weekend and Holidays.
**International Orders: Due to transportation limitations
we only serve the following countries: Worldwide. The buyer is responsible for
any applicable import duties and local taxes. Please verify with your customs
before making your purchase.
-
We will ship the item(s) within
2 business days
after the payment has been paid in full and cleared.
*Business days is Monday to Friday except Weekend and Holidays.
-
Item(s) will be shipped out from
HONG KONG by International Airmail. This
service has NO tracking number.
-
We will
ONLY ship to
buyer's eBay registered address. If you need to change your shipping
address, please change it on eBay BEFORE you pay. After pay, we will
NOT accept shipping address change. So
that please make sure your shipping address is available.
-
Sometimes, shipping time could be taken
longer during Federal Holiday or Customs Duty Review. We could
NOT be
responsible for any delay of this two reasons.
-
Shipping fee includes shipping cost, warehouse, packaging
materials, fuel charges, boxes, labels and packaging cost.
- All item(s) will mark as 'GIFT' with lower product value.
- We do
NOT bear any customs duties.
- International Buyers - Please Note:
- Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or
shipping fee. These charges are the buyer responsibility.
- Please check with your country customs office to determine what these
additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying.
-
We accept exchange within 3 days if the item(s) is faulty or
defected.
-
Buyer is responsible for return shipping fee and we will make
a replacement or credit depending on our inventory.
-
Buyer must contact us before you return the item(s).
Unauthorized returning will be ignored.
-
This item(s) comes with NO
warranty.
-
If you have any question, please feel free to contact us by
eBay message directly. (By clicking "Ask a question")
-
We will try to reply promptly within
3 business days.
|
Back to Search Results
) 
getfastnow
Print
Report item
and your 