Langeland, Tryggelev Nor, 16 May 2013

Tryggelev Nor Gråstrubet lappedykker (Podiceps grisegena), Red-necked Grebe

Tirana 1st of May 2013

1st of May is day off in Albania, and I took a walk through town op in the hills west of Tirana

The town and especially the parks was crowded but in the hills I was totally alone apart from birds and a lot of turtles

Turtle sex

More Turtle sex

Tomorit, Albania, 05 April 2013

Friday afternoon I took the bus (together with many (not very tall) Albanian beauties on their way from their studies in Tirana to a weekend at home) to Berat in the middle of the country. Berat lies close to the holy mountain of Albania: Tomorit. Morten’s and my intention was to hike on Tomorit Saturday. Morten had already been there for a couple of days and arranged everything with his contact: The Forester. On our way to the start of the hike. The text says something like: When you drink from this spring please remember Dora who died in 1925. A snowball match between our four “guides” – here the Mayor and the Forester preparing their ammunition. Here the shepherds stay at night with their sheep’s in a fencing protecting them for wolfs. Whenever we meet some local on the mountain the Mayor said hello and they were very honoured to see him, probably he did not get that far out in his parish that often From his home-made rucksack the Village Head extracted an impressive lunch – everything home made – from left to right: The Forrester, the Village Head, the Young Helper and the Mayor. The village chicken From where we were having our lunch there were an fantastic view in all directions There were also toasting in the local wine and snaps and singing some of our home country wistful songs And it is not water in the plastic bottle After the eating and drinking we were ready to continue, merrier but maybe not so safe walking. The Mayor We meet a shepherd from a neighbouring and the Major had to explain that he was not allowed grazing his sheep’s here Some impressive juniper trees The Forrester and the Village Head with his home made rucksack A very impressive waterfall straight from the mountain This shepherd from the Municipality was a little bit overwhelmed by meeting the Mayor End of a fantastic hike – ready to go back to Berat in the 4WD of the Mayor View from the hotel towards Tomorit

From Berat to the Karavasta Lagoon, 29 March 2013

Goodbye to Berat - the streets are so narrow and step that cement for building has to transported by donkey Hello to the Karavasta Lagoon. Water buffaloes have been imported, and this one looks rather angry, so we were advised to keep distance. Karavasta lagoon is the largest offshore wetland in Albania. The lagoon is declared a National Park and it is the only official Ramsar site in Albania The lagoon is composed of an inner lagoon and a small outer lagoon. Three channels link the lagoon with Adriatic Sea. The site is important for wintering waterbirds and for breeding colonial waterbirds, including the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus). The huge Dalmatian Pelican is the largest of the pelicans and one of the largest living bird species. It measures 160 to 183 cm in length, 9–15 kg in weight and 290–351 cm in wingspan. The mean weight of around 11.5 kg of the Dalmatian Pelican makes it the world's heaviest flying bird species.