Philippines

23/9/14
Kathleen sent me this professionally printed postcard with a quote from Cho Wen-Chun:
"Our love was pure as the snow on the mountains. White as a moon between the clouds."
I like that the design feels like it's one thing added on top of another, creating a montage of items.

Many thanks for the postcard!

Bahamas

(No date)
Phoenix sent me this postcard from her recent holiday in the Bahamas. She visited Ardrasta Garden and Zoo and was really impressed by the Flamingoes. Apparently she posed next to them and they thought she was a Flamingo and started "kissing" her hands and shoulder.

Thanks so much for the postcard.

Mexico

(No date)
Oscar sent me this postcard by the Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide, who he get's inspiration from. Mexico is very hot during the summer, and despite the bad publicity it gets, it is a beautiful country and very diverse.

Many thanks for the postcard.

Collection of Bird Postcards

I have been calling myself a "birder" since December 2012, although I have always had an interest in our feathered friends. Why the sudden change from general naturalist to ornithologist? I started Bird Ringing and signed up with the British Trust for Ornithology as a Trainee. For those who don't know, bird ringing (or banding as it is called in some countries) is the process of catching birds and fixing a small metal ring to their legs, while taking biometric data such as wing length and weight before releasing it back where it came from. Each ring has a unique number which means that if that bird is caught again, or found by a member of the public and reported, we know where it has come from and how its condition has changed. This method of monitoring birds has answered so many questions about bird populations and migration, and is always being developed and used for new studies on birds around the world.

Being able to see and handle birds has greatly improved my identification skills, knowledge about migration, breeding and behaviour, and has led to many amazing experiences in the UK and abroad (see my Birding Blog)

Me and Carlos with a collection of Baby Blue Tits (Kvismaren 2014)

My first Bird of Prey - a female Sparrowhawk (Anglesey 2013)

Puffin Island Adventures (Anglesey 2013)

Baby Flycatcher (Öland 2014)

So when I started exchanging postcards, I thought I should have a collection of something, and opted for Birds. Since February 2014 I have been a regular on the Postcrossing forum looking for swaps, tags and round robins on the theme of birds, and 6 months later I have collected over 60 cards from 19 countries! Many thanks to everyone who has helped with my collection so far. Below I have them arranged by Country sets and will add more details when I have a little more time.
If anyone would like to help my collection grow, please contact me!

 The UK

 New Zealand

 China

 Belarus

 Russia

 Borneo

 Brazil

 Germany

 Finland

 USA

Taiwan

 Belgium

 Canada

 France

 Indonesia

 Japan

 Netherlands

 Sri Lanka

Sweden

Ireland

7/8/14
Brian responded to my plea for bird postcards and sent me these gorgeous postcards of Gannets and a Puffin. I have a soft spot for Puffins (as many of you will know!) and have been fortunate to work with them and other seabirds at a local breeding colony. Gannets are fascinating birds and I would love to work with these too in the future.

Thanks for the postcards Brian.

France

12/9/14
Ellie has one of my dream jobs! She is on a work placement with the local tourist information centre and gives guided tours around Bordeaux. Bordeaux means "waters edge" and the city was built on ancient streams and canals which over time have been blocked up. This is Place de la Bourse and Mirroir d'eau, which is a big paddling pool infront of the buildings, giving lovely reflections.

Thanks so much for the postcard, and I am jealous of your job!

*****

8/8/14
This beady eyed bird was sent to me by Anna as part of a Round Robin. Though she likes birds of prey, she doesn't know what species this is, but thinks it might live in the French Alps. I think it looks like a harrier, but will ask my birding friends and confirm this.

Thanks for the postcard.

Bermuda

13/8/14
Carol sent me this vibrant card showing some scenes from around Bermuda. I knew it was a tropical island paradise, but I didn't expect it to be so blue! The Coat of Arms on the flag says "Quo fata ferunt" which means "Whither the fates carry us", which I think is quite a nice motto to live by.

Thanks so much for my first Bermuda card.