Baby Eagle and Ural Owls (private swap)

Today I received again two very beautiful baby owl postcards from Eva (Finland).

1. Four baby Eagle Owls (Bubo bubo)

"Eagle owls begin breeding in mid- or late winter. This owl doesn't build a nest; eggs are laid on cliff ledges or rocky slopes. Incubation often begins when there's still fresh snow on the ground. This early start means that the young will fledge in time to feed on unwary animals that are preoccupied with spring courtship and nesting or are just emerging from from hibernation."

About postcard: 3265, published by Janne Harala TMI; Photo: Teppo Leikkonen; printed in Finland.


2. Young Ural Owl (Strix uralensis)

"The breeding season of Ural Owl begins in February. A tree cavity is normally chosen, but the abandoned nests of other birds of prey may be used. They will also adopt nest boxes, which has helped to increase their number in some areas."

About postcard: Eesti Mitmepalgeline, Huma 3-069; photo: Arne Kaasik.

Thank you very much Eva for all six owl postcards sent this month. I really appreciate this.

Romanian Owl Stamps

Some owl stamps from Romfilatelia (mint) . They don't have an on-line shop, but have some stores in Bucharest.

1. Barn Owl (Tyo alba)

Release date: 1967


2. Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)

Release date: 1967


3. Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) 

Release date: 1985


4. Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis)

Release date: 1992


5. Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Release date: 1998


6. Scops Owl (Otus scops) 

Release date: 2003


7. Ural Owl (Strix uralensis)

Release date: 2003


8. Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum)

Release date: 2003


9. Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

Release date: 2003


10. Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)

Release date: 2003


11. Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) 

Release date: 2003


12. Little Owl (Athene noctua) 

Release date: 2007


Images taken from a very interesting and useful site named Theme Birds on Stamps by Kjell Scharning.

Swedish Owl Stamps and FDCs

On January 24, 2010 I discovered the on-line shop of the Sweden Post. I placed an order and within three days I received my owl stamps and FDC :)

1. Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)

Release date: 1989


2. Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) - stamp; and Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) - FDC

"Do birds have different personalities? I think so. I've often noticed how individuals, even of the same species, differ in behaviour and temperament.
... The short-eared owl was also special.I followed it as it was hunting the fields near the Arctic Circle. As it left one field, I'd drive to another a bit further away and wait. And then suddenly there it was, checking me out, as if to ask, 'Who are you?' ..."

Brutus Ostling

Winged
Release date: March 26, 2009
Photographs: Brutus Ostling
Design: Gustav Martensson
Engraving: Lars Sjooblom.
Print: Recess, Sweden Post Stamps



3. Mother Owl's school from Children of the Forest by Elsa Beskow

"Teacher's pointer or magic wand? Children's literature has historically found itself in the borderland between art and pedagogy. ... In the meeting between text and image, magical worlds can be created, such as in Elsa Beskow's indispensable Children of the Forest (1910), in which the damp scent of the moss and whispering  pine have delighted generations of children - and stimulated a lifelong affection for Nordic nature. ..."

Cecilia Ostlund, librarian, writer

Europa 2010 - Children's Books
Release date: January 28, 2010
Graphic design: Gustav Martensson
Engraving: Piotr Naszarkowski
Print: combination, Sweden Post Stamps

Hungarian Owl Stamps

My first owl stamp from Hungary (mint)

Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)

Release date: 1962
Denomination: 30 filler

Russian Owl Stamps

Today I bought four mint stamps from the former USSR (CCCP):

1. Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Release date: 1979

Denomination: 10 kopeiki

2. Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca)

Release date: 1990
Denomination: 10 kopeiki


3. Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) 

Release date: 1990
Denomination: 20 kopeiki


4. Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)

Release date: 1990
Denomination: 35 kopeiki

Owls Riddle Card (private swap)

Alex from Romania brought to me a cool riddle postcard from his trip to France. Look for intruder!

Thank you, Alex. I found the Cat Owl :D

About postcard: Editions des Correspondances; Magali Membre - CL

Ural Owl (private swap)

A new wonderful postcard received on January 28, 2011 from Eva (Finland) showing an Ural Owl (Strix uralensis).

Ural Owl doesn't live in Finland, but sometimes some single birds can be seen also there.

Strix uralensis
Size: 60cm
Habitat: Prefers lowland forest 
Nest: Tree cavity
Eggs: 2-4, white 
Food: Mainly small mammals and birds 

About postcard: Eesti Mitmepalgeline, Huma 9-006; photo: Arne Ader.

Tengmalm's Owls (private swap)

On January 27, 2011, Ella from Finland sent to me also a postcard with three baby Tengmalm's Owls (Aegolius funereus) from the same Hannu Hautala Collection.

These owl fledglings have already got their ID rings.

About postcard: 51442, www.paletti.fi; photo: Hannu Hautala.

Eagle Owl (private swap)

On January 27, 2011, Ella from Finland sent me a postcard with a baby Eagle Owl (Bubi bubo) from the Hannu Hautala Collection.

The largest owl in the world, the eagle owl, is nesting in Finland almost up to the timber line. After leaving its nest, still unable to fly, the baby eagle owl has already a fierce and burning gaze.

About postcard: 42499, Painettu Suomessa, www.paletti.fi; photo: Hannu Hautala.

Snowy Owls (private swap)

On January 27, 2011 Eva from Finland sent to me two beautiful postcards with Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca).

The male is all white. Young birds and females have black dots.

About postcard: 2578, published by Pentti Harala KY, Espoo; Photo: Hannu Hautala.

About postcard: 2559, published by Pentti Harala KY, Espoo; Photo: Hannu Hautala; made in Finland.

KR-13973 Brown Hawk Owl stamp

A nice stamp with the Brown Hawk Owl (Ninox scutulata) received today from Ah (South Korea).

The Brown Hawk Owl is a medium-sized (29-32cm) owl with a hawk-like shape due to its long tail and lack of a distinct facial disk. Its head, back and tail are dark brown, while its white chest and belly have dark brown spots that form vertical lines. Extends from the Indian subcontinent and South-east Asia to some Indonesian islands, Japan and the Philippines, then via the mainland to eastern Siberia. Its habitats include needle-leaf trees, deciduous broad-leaved trees, forests near human dwellings and gardens. It is active primarily during night time and feeds on insects, bats, small wild birds. Hens are usually smaller.

About stamp:
Release date: November 1, 2006
Denomination: 250 won
Stamp no.: 2512 
Printing process & colours: Photogravure, four colours
Size of stamp: 22x25
Whole sheet composition: 10x10
Paper: White, unwatermarked
Perforation: 13
Printer: KOMSCO
Designer: Shin, Jae-yong
Quantity: 30000000

http://www.koreastamp.go.kr/

DE-812381 Long-eared Owl

Today I received a wonderful postcard with a Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) from Helga (Germany).

"Ranges through Europe and across Asia. Found also in north-western Africa and North America. Characteristics tufts on the head are only raised when the owl is alert. Facial area is an orangish-yellow, with a white central area extending between the orange eyes and around the bill. Underparts are pale yellow with blank streaking . Hens have more rusty-buff faces, otherwise sexes are alike."

About postcard: Skowronski & Koch Verlag - Berlin

BY-129654 Belovezhskaya Puscha

Today I received a beautiful postcard with a baby Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa), from Alexandra (Belarus).

The postcard was issued by Belarus Post in 3000 copies in 2009 when it was celebrated the "600th anniversary of Belovezhskaya Puscha reserve status".

"The Belovezhskaya Puscha national park is located on the territory of Kamenets & Pruzhany districts of Brest region and Svisloch district of Grodno region. The administrative centre of the national park is in Kameniuki village of Kamenets district. The state national park “Belovezhskaya Puscha” of Belarus forms a single nature reserve with Poland’s Belovezhski National Park.

The first records about the intact wood on the territory of the present Belovezhskaya Puscha were made by Gerodot in the 5th century B. C.  It was also mentioned in the Ipatiev Chronicles in 983. At the end of the 14th century Lithuanian Prince Yagailo proclaimed these lands a reserve. He put a veto upon hunting in Belovezhskaya Puscha. Since 1588 the felling of trees was also forbidden there.

In 1992 UNESCO put Belovezhskaya Puscha on its World Heritage List. In 1993 the park acquired the status of a biosphere reserve, and in 1998 — the status of the key international ornithological area. In 1997 Belovezhskaya Puscha was awarded with a diploma of the Council of Europe for an immense contribution to environment protection.

Belovezhskaya Puscha is one of the oldest nature reserves in the world. In 2009 the Belovezhskaya Puscha National Park marks the 600th anniversary of its reserve status. This date is put into the List of memorable dates of UNESCO."

BE-66964 Owl stamps from Belgium

On July 22, 2010 I received an amazing homemade postcard in an envelope with two owl stamps (among others), from Hildegarde (Belgium).

Athene noctua (Little Owl)
Size: 25cm
Habitat: Prefers relatively open country
Nest: Tree hole or a cliff hole
Eggs: 3-5, white
Food: Invertebrates and small vertebrates

"Chouette de Chevêche du 09 juillet 2007

Prix : € 0,06
Format : 24 mm x 27,66 mm
Code : VG07006" 

Aegolius funereus (Boreal/Pearl/Tengmalm's Owl)

"Chouette de Tengmalm du 26 février 2007

Prix : € 0,10
Format : 24 mm x 27,66 mm
Code : VG07010"

http://www.bpost.be/site/fr/residential/stamps/philately/stamps/birds/index.html

More stamps with the Little Owl and the Boreal Owl

AT-56535 Barn Owl stamp

A beautiful stamp with the Barn Owl, sent on June 12, 2010 by Berta (Austria) http://www.postcrossing.com/user/Baikalsee

Too bad that the Post Office put its mark on the entire stamp ...

Tyto alba
Size: 39cm
Habitat: Prefers relatively open countryside
Nest: Hollow tree or inside a building
Eggs: 4-7, white
Food: Voles, amphibians and invertebrates

 

About stamp:

Release Date: April 5, 2009

Printing Style: Engraved-recess printing

Design: Hannes Margreiter

Printed by: Joh. Enschedé Stamps B.V.

Type: Self Adhesive Stamps

You can see other stamps with the Barn Owl here: http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/7701400.htm

SE-22681 Tengmalm's Owl

An unusual size postcard with Tengmalm's Owl (Aegolius funereus), received on January 21, 2011 from Emily (Sweden) http://www.postcrossing.com/user/itchy

Larger and longer-tailed than Little Owl, with large head and pale facial disc, arched high over the yellow eyes; upperparts dark grey-brown with large white spots, underparts paler. Young chocolate brown. Active at dusk and by night.

 About postcard: David Tipling / Alamy - GlobalPhoto; made in France

 

DE-805208 Wonderful homemade

A wonderful handmade postcard received on January 20, 2011 from Meike (Germany) http://www.postcrossing.com/user/moe_ke

"There was no real owl-card to find and so I tried to draw one of my own" Thank You, Meike! I really appreciate your drawing. I like it a lot :)

FI-993201 Pearl Owl

A postcard with a Pearl Owl (also known as Boreal or Tengmalm's Owl), received on January 19, 2011 from Eva (Finland)  http://www.postcrossing.com/user/evagot

Aegolius funereus
Size: 25-29cm
Habitat: Conifer and mixed woods
Nest: Black Woodpecker holes, nestboxes
Eggs: 3-6
Food: Small rodents, shrews, small birds

About postcard: published by Pentti harala Ky, Espoo; Photo Hannu Hautala

NL-531613 A very nice owl postcard

A beautiful painting of a little girl near a peaceful owl :) , received on January 17, 2011 from Nanda (the Netherlands) http://www.postcrossing.com/user/Nilleke

Daniela Drescher, In the Land of Fairies

"Dwarfed by dormice and owls, moth-like fairies flit about the pages of this colourful book. Depicting the seasons, each page is framed by flowers and is painted in soft, bewitching water colours." - Frances Perkins, Bournemouth Daily Echo, 13 March 2004

About postcard: Illustration from In the Land of Fairies, Floris Books, Christofoor, P.O. Box 234, NL 3700 AE Zeist, Holland

FI-991644 Eagle Owl

An interesting ad card received on January 17, 2011 from Outi (Hungary/Finland) http://www.postcrossing.com/user/rosabella

The postcard was made for a club/pub from Budapest  http://www.instant.co.hu/

I like that beautiful woman with the head of an Eagle Owl :D

The Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is the largest European owl: 66-71cm, 2.000-3.000g.

JP-135361 A new Snowy Owl

A new postcard with the Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca), received on November 10, 2010 from Satomi (Japan) http://www.postcrossing.com/user/sktour

Almost Eagle Owl size, white with round head and gleaming yellow eyes; legs and toes strongly feathered. Male almost entirely white, female larger, usually strongly barred with dark brown.Young dark brown with dirty white narrow barring. Flight Buzzard-like, glides a great deal on long, rounded wings. Mainly diurnal, also active at dusk; sit-and-wait hunter from ground or low perch.

About postcard: Shin Yoshino, Kojinsha

GB-181676 Snowy Owl

A Snowy Owl postcard received on November 8, 2010 from Ann (UK) http://www.postcrossing.com/user/nyassa

"An occasional visitor to northern Britain, the snowy owl normally breeds in the Arctic where its white plumage serves as camouflage against the snow and ice"

Nyctea scandiaca
Size: 65cm
Habitat: Woodland, extending to the tundra
Nest: Scrape on the ground
Eggs: 3-11, white
Food: Mainly lemmings but also birds, invertebrates, and fish


About postcard: A Salmon Cameracolour Post Card, printed and published by J. Salmon Ltd., Sevenoaks, Kent

NL-424086 My first owl postcard

On September 8, 2010 I received my first owl postcard from Sonja (the Netherlands) http://www.postcrossing.com/user/Putchu 

A really cute little owl :) Thank you, Sonja!