New stamps celebrate beauty and grace of birds of prey

A new set of stamps is being issued featuring images of birds of prey native to the UK.

The 10 birds featured include the red kite, golden eagle, kestrel and peregrine falcon, with a mixture of close-up shots and the sight of them in flight.

The stamps are original images taken at the International Centre for Birds of Prey in Gloucestershire by Tim Flach, who specialises in animal photography.

Royal Mail also worked with Jemima Parry-Jones, the centre’s director, who said: “Enjoy the stamps, see if you can recognise those birds that you might see in your garden – like a sparrowhawk or a kestrel or a buzzard sitting on a telegraph pole. See if you can recognise them from the stamps – that would be a huge step forward.”

Philip Parker of Royal Mail said: “Our birds of prey are masters of the skies. Tim Flach’s photography for our stamps captures their beauty and character in extraordinary detail.”