Albania: From Tirana to Valbona via Prizren, 14 September 2012

After 3 to 4 months without rain, it started to rain in Tirana the night before we left for the Valbona Valley. We found our guide, Bledar, left from the bus stop with a minibus. There were only Lisbeth, me, Bledar and his brother.

Find the car. We were driving with the new highway that goes through the mountains from Tirana to Pristina in Kosovo called ‘The Road of the Nation’. There was very few cars on the road, and I thin it must compete with the famous (famous at least in Denmark) Risgaaard and Knudsen highways in northern Jutland, Denmark for being the highways in the world with the least traffic. We went via Prizren in Kosovo, as it is by far the fastest way to get to the Valbona valley.

We had a two hours stop in Bajram Curri - the regional centre, as we had to shift from one minibus to another. Our guidebook writes about Bajram Curri: It is a windy town whose lack of charm is amply compensated by the beautiful moutains which overlook it.

The town is named after a famous hero Bajram Curri from the liberation wars to free the country from ottoman rule.

Eventually the minibus from Bajram Curri to Valbona was ready for departure. This time the bus was fully booked.

We stopped to deliver equipment to a guy working with some road repair.

At then we reached our bed & breakfast place, which was run by the mother, farther and sister of our guide brothers. The minibus from Bajram Curri has a daily regular stop at the place. Bledar told that they opened the place 6 years ago, and that they has many visitors, approximately half Albanians and half foreign. When we were there were 6 hikers sleeping in their tent and the farm, an Austrian couple in their Land Rover and 19 Albanian ladies on a weekend trip. Next day a group of 12 people from New Zealand, who was on a hiking trip to Croatia, Albania and Greece, members of a hiking club, arrived. Bledar also told that by the time they opened they were the only B&B. Now there are many B&Bs, small hotels and restaurants in the valley and the former depopulation has turned into an increase of the population in the valley.

The river which hides its water Next to the farm is the river. Actually the river is covered with a two meter layer of stones, and the water is running between, so there is only water in the river a few days a year after torrential rain.

Evening at the family farm.

Langeland, 27-28 August 2012

The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) (in Danish: Tårnfalk)

Our Garden at Glumsø, August 2012

Map, Nældesommerfugl (Araschnia levana), Second (summer) generation The Map is unusual in that its two annual broods look very different. The summer brood are black with white markings, looking like a miniature version of the White Admiral and lacking most of the orange of the pictured spring brood. Nældesommerfuglen er temmelig usædvanlig, da forårs- og sommergenerationen ikke ligner hinanden. Næl...desommerfuglen er, som navnet antyder, knyttet til planten Stor Nælde, og opholder sig gerne i områder, hvor denne plante forekommer, dvs. i frodige skovlysninger, langs veje, kanaler og grøfter, moser og tilgroede enge. Man kan være heldig at træffe sommerfuglen i det syd-østlige Danmark, den har bredt sig her indenfor de sidste ca. 100 år.

Small Tortoiseshell, Nældens takvinge (Aglais urticae) This is a species often found in gardens. The caterpillars feed on stinging nettles and small nettle Nældens takvinge er en almindelig sommerfugl i Danmark og er udnævnt til at være nationalsommerfugl i Danmark. Den voksne sommerfugl ses tit om vinteren i kældre og på kølige lofter sammen med dagpåfugleøjen. De første individer ses flyve i marts, hvor de normalt vågner af vinterdvalen. Den nye familie bliver til i slutningen af juli hvor æggene lægges på undersiden af nældeblade.

Butterflies at Engelstofte Forest, 11 August 2012

Map,Nældesommerfugl (Araschnia levana), Second (summer) generation

Map,Nældesommerfugl (Araschnia levana), Second (summer) generation The Map is unusual in that its two annual broods look very different. The summer brood are black with white markings, looking like a miniature version of the White Admiral and lacking most of the orange of the pictured spring brood. Nældesommerfuglen er temmelig usædvanlig, da forårs- og sommergenerationen ikke ligner hinanden. Nældesommerfuglen er, som navnet antyder, knyttet til planten Stor Nælde, og opholder sig gerne i områder, hvor denne plante forekommer, dvs. i frodige skovlysninger, langs veje, kanaler og grøfter, moser og tilgroede enge. Man kan være heldig at træffe sommerfuglen i det syd-østlige Danmark, den har bredt sig her indenfor de sidste ca. 100 år.

High Brown Fritillary, Skovperlemorssommerfugl (Fabriciana adippe) The High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family, native from Europe across mainland Asia to Japan. The adults fly in July/August.

Peacock butterfly, Dagpåfugleøje (Inachis io) The Peacock can be found in woods, fields, meadows, pastures, parks, and gardens, and from lowlands up to 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) elevation. It is a relatively common butterfly seen in many European parks and gardens. Dagpåfugleøje (Inachis io) lever på åbne og solrige steder i skovområder, træbevoksede bredder, fugtige enge, brakmarker, beskyttede kløfter med buske og små træer. De første sommerfugle ses allerede i starten af marts. De første nye eksemplarer dukker op omkring 20. juli. I september bliver der færre sommerfugle, nu finder de steder at overvintre.

Comma, Det hvide C, (Polygonia c-album) Comma (Polygonia c-album) is a species of butterfly that ranges across Europe and temperate Asia to Japan and south to Morocco. Similar species are found in the United States and Canada. Det hvide C er en sommerfugl, som ikke er almindelig i hele Danmark, men findes i nogle år i større tal især på Sydsjælland, Nordsjælland, Møn, Lolland, Falster og Bornholm, Eksemplaret her er dog fotograferet på Nordfyn, 29. juli 2003. Det hvide C holder til ved eller i skove hvor humle eller stor nælde vokser. Den kan dog sagtens træffes andre steder også, da den flyver meget omkring

Comma, Det hvide C, (Polygonia c-album)

Langeland, 7 August 2012.

Bar-tailed Godwit, Lille Kobbersneppe (Limosa lapponica)

Bar-tailed Godwit, Lille Kobbersneppe (Limosa lapponica) and Dunlin, almindelige ryle (Calidris alpina)

Bar-tailed Godwit, Lille Kobbersneppe (Limosa lapponica) and Dunlin, almindelige ryle (Calidris alpina)

Great Black Cormorant, Skarv (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Fishing cod, Langelandsbæltet 5 August 2012.

North of Prague, 21 July 2012.

Stipa, Feather grass

Austrian Flax, Østrigsk Hør, Linum austriacum

Thistle, Tidsel (Carduus)

Thistle, Tidsel (Carduus)

Common yarrow, Almindelig Røllike (Achillea millefolium)

Wood Cow-wheat, Blåtoppet Kohvede (Melampyrum nemorosum)

St. Bernard's Lily, Anthericum ramosum - Grenet edderkoppeurt