The most important domestic animal. Who would leave out the milk, yoghurt, cheese or all those dishes that contains milk? Yea, those with lactose intolerance, which is the natural condition for most weaned mammals, except most people of European origin. This is on the island Tjøtta in Nordland.

Cows grazing in Oppstryn. Beyond, in the mountains, lays a branch of Norway's largest glazier, Jostedalsbreen. But the white stuff you see is mostly clouds (called fog when you are up there) often forming on top of the ice.

(2008-09-12)

Sheep in the valley Venjedalen, close to the valley Romsdalen. Left Romsdalshorn (1550 m) and in the right half of the picture, Trolltindene.

(2010-09-09)

Sheep in Oppdal, Trøndelag, having returned from the mountain pastures.

(2003-09-28)

A goat on a mountain pasture somewhere. Few of us likes goat milk, but as many other Norwegians, I love the special Norwegian delicacy, the brown goat cheese. And I enjoy watching foreign tourist tasting the stuff for the first time 😈

(2005-08-09)

A male mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), one of the most common ducks.

(2009-06-08)

The common gull (Larus canus).

(2003-06-16)

A black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

(2009-06-08)

Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) brooding on the turf "roof" of a information board of a church.

(2008-06-27)

A mute swan (Cygnus olor) – classic pose. In Norway they stay mainly on the south coast. In summer we see them paddling around begging for food. Some of these swans stay in Jylland, Denmark through the winter.

(2003-07-12)

A mute swan family on a begging round in the Kragerø harbour. The father is in control as usual.

(2004-07-17)

In spring the whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) migrate north to breed and in the autumn they come back to spend the winter in areas with open water, preferably with some food source also on land. This is Øysand, near the mouth of the river Gaula, just south of Trondheim. The grey ones are the last year's chicks.

(2008-03-24)

When spring approaches, the urge to fly northwards increases. They must be there in time because the new offsprings have to get airborne before the lake where they hatched freezes over.

(2008-03-29)

Departure. The starlings flock together in preparation for the autumn migration. This is Trondheim Airport Værnes.

(2005-08-26)

To take pictures of a beaver it's best to be out before dawn, therefore I have none. But they often leave evidence of their activity, for example dams that floods a large areas. Or as shown; coming out of the hive in early spring they sometimes go into a frenzy felling trees. This is quite far from the wilderness: Across the rivers you can see the tower of the SINTEF Multiphase Flow Labororatory, and close by, outside the picture to the right, stands the RISE Fire Research laboratory.

(2004-03-31)

Vipera berus, the common adder or the common viper. They have a venomous bite, but it's rarely lethal to grownups. This snake has just left its winter nest and is cold and slow moving.

(2011-05-08)

The colour of the adders vary a lot. This young adder was sunning on a timber road in an area that used to be free of adders. Before encountering the animal, we met a woman and a young man almost running with a wheelbarrow, transporting a medium sized dog with a plastic bag draped on in its snout. Let's hope that the dog survived.

(2010-05-24)

A honeybee, just out of the hive, has found a source of nectar, and pollen has collected on its hind legs. Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is the first wildflower in most parts of the country.

(2006-04-22)

The small tortoiseshell butterfly (Aglais urticae) has emerged from hibernation and is feeding on coltsfoot nectar. It has lost much of its brilliant colours, but in July a new generation will be everywhere from the sea to the mountain tops.

(2004-04-18)

The orange tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines). Only the male has this orange tip. They spend the winter as a pupa and the butterfly emerges in spring. Then they fly vigorously for maybe two months, mates, lay eggs, and die.

(2004-06-02)

One of those garden whites (genus Pieris) on a dandelion in early summer.

(2009-05-28)

A brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx fhamni) sitting on a favourite flower, a knapweed (Centaurea).

(2006-08-06)

A red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) feeding on a knapweed.

(2006-08-05)

A red admiral (Vanessa atalanta), retired and with a palish "red" colour, enjoying berries and fruits. Rotting or fermenting fruits seems to be a favourite, and that inevitably results in some intoxicated admirals. To be fair, there are many representatives of the animal kingdom that would happily join that feast if they happened to pass by.

(2006-10-05)

The end of a red admiral – and the end of summer.

(2005-09-25)