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.