Birds and mammals in the forests of Uppsala wolves

Siggefora wolf territory

Marsh Warbler

In the wolf forest close to Uppsala I placed a drop rig continuously recording for 48 hours and mixed it down to nine minutes. In the order they appear:
willow tit
crested tit
capercaillie, male flew past very close
pygmy owl
common scooter, two flocks migrating south
rain shower
WOLVES
pygmy owl
ural owl, female barking
jay
crested tit
raven landed close and walked around at the same time as WOLVES had a concert in the distance
crested tit
willow tit
Siggefora, Uppland. September 1 to 3, 2022.

Wolf forest from dusk to dawn

The third year in a row a pair of Blyth's Reed Warblers will nest at Salsta Castle, just north of Uppsala. Always a pleasure to record with all its imitations. At least 15 species are discernible in this recording: Chaffinch, House Martin, White Wagtail, Linnet, Common Swift, Goldfinch, Bluethroat, Blackbird, Yellow Wagtail, Blue Tit, Redstart, Fieldfare, Barn Swallow, Wheatear and Redwing. Salsta, May 29, 2023.

Blyth's Reed Warbler - the master mimic!

Amazing feat to be able to continuously sing without seemingly breathe. Close to Hågaån in Uppsala I recorded this grasshopper warbler and its close neighbours: Sedge Warbler,Common Reed Bunting, Red-backed Shrike. June 7, 2023.

The bird that never breathes: Grasshopper Warbler

Last Friday we were out in our local wolf territory (1-hour drive from Uppsala) and at midnight a lone wolf howled at the moon. Always an amazing experience. Siggefora, Uppland. September 8, 2023.

Howling wolf at midnight

From dusk to dawn with two pairs of cranes and one or two single male contenders. In this recording you will hear almost infrasound (80-200 Hz) growls and heavy panting as the males chase each other in the wetland and of course the trumpeting of cranes through the night. An amazing experience to be this close. Huddunge, Uppsala. April 9, 2024.

Mixpre 3ii + Lewitt 440 Pure in ortf

Cranes like you never heard them before!

One of the best recordings I have made of Lynx. In this recording you can first hear the Lynx calling in the distance, then after a while closer.
Uppsala, May 4, 2024.

Lewitt 440 Pure + Mixpre 3ii

A male Lynx calling for mates

Experimenting with this setup (see photo) using Warm Audio 84 with cardioid capsules. Three Thrush Nightingales were singing throughout the night. 
Kvarnbo, Uppsala. June 3, 2024.

Thrush Nightingale at midnight

Four years in a row I have been trying to record wolves. I have been lucky most years but since they have changed rendez-vouz area it took longer than usual this year. Now I have pinpointed where they are and maybe I will get better recording in the coming weeks. This is a perfect time of the year to listen for wolves.

Siggefora. September 5, 2024.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 as tree-ears

Wolves with pups

A song battle between a nightjar and a song thrush. When the nightjar didn't call it a day, the song thrush became immediately quiet. Eventually, the nightjar went to bed as the sun rose. A short special performance of a woodcock as well.

Svinasjön, Uppland. July 10, 2024.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 as tree-ears

When Night Meets Day

A roe deer slowly walks on dry leaves at night time.

Tämnaren, Uppland. April 8, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 as tree ears

ASMR - roe deer walking among dry leaves at night

Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Common Crane, Whooper Swans, Song Thrushes, Redwing, Willow Tit and more. There are still pockets of untouched forest in nature reserves in Uppland where you can hear an almost complete dawn chorus. The recording starts off with a Pygmy Owl and during the night both Great Grey and Ural Owls called. This is a mix with highlights of a four hour long recording.

Långhällsmossen, Uppland. April 15, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 as tree ears.

Boreal forest dawn chorus

Fifth year in a row on different Capercaillie leks. This year started out slowly at 04.10 AM and about 5 males were displaying without much enthusiam until 07.30 when four females arrived. All of a sudden I had 15 males in front of the hide! Where did they come from. Wonderful recordings of the (almost) infrasound (32 Hz) when the males go "blind". If you listen carefully you will also hear mating of Pygmy Owl and hear when the Capercaillie males go quiet when a Goshawk calls in the distance.

Uppland. April 17, 2025.
Zoom F3 + AudioTechnica BP4025

Capercaillie lek with infrasound

Lots of volunteers help toads and frogs across a busy city road so that they can go down to small city ponds for their lek. This year more than 2000 toads and frogs have been helped to cross the road!

Ekeby, Uppsala. April 18, 2025.
Mixpre 3ii + Wildtronics Stereoparabolic dish

Frogs and toads in a suburban pond

For those of you who have difficulties separating different species of frogs and toads, this recording has three of the most common ones included. There is a background "noise" of common frogs and the moor frog calls after 5, 14, 21 and 28 seconds, and after 38 seconds the common toad starts to sing.

Moor frog, common frog and common toad lekking

Highlights from a Capercaillie lek with closeup recording of all parts of the male display including infrasound parts as the flutterjumps and the "buzz" (28 Hz).

Uppland. April 17, 2025.
Zoom F3 + AudioTechnica BP4025

Clicks, Trill, Cork, Whetting, Flutterjumps and Infrasound

The two small grebe species share breeding habitat with a pair of Whooper Swans, several pairs of Coot and Teal. 

Storkärret, Uppland. April 26, 2025.
Zoom F3 + 2 x Clippy EM272

Whooper Swan, Coot and Common Teal at night

Lapwing often calls at night with a very distinctive call and the wings make these buzzing sounds while displaying.

Storkärret, Uppland. April 26, 2025.
Zoom F3 + 2 x Clippy EM272

Lapwing displaying

Wood Sandpiper is a common species in Uppland during migration but as a breeding bird it is very rare. This morning I found a new breeding area for this species in a lovely setting. Tree Pipits, Cranes, Mistle Thrushes, Black Grouse and others can be heard in the background.

Svinasjön, Uppland. May 3, 2025.
Mixpre 3ii + Wildtronics stereoparabolic dish

Wood Sandpiper - A rare breeding bird in Uppland

One after another of the tropical migrants arrive to Uppland. This Whinchat was actively singing on a clearcut and in the background you can hear a pair of Grey-headed Woodpeckers, Black Grouse, Wood Lark and others.

Uppland. May 3, 2025.
Mixpre 3ii + Wildtronics stereoparabolic dish

Whinchat singing from a clearcut

In 2025 I have visited four breeding sites where males were calling early in the year but there had been no signs of breeding later in the Spring. This was until yesterday when I stumbled upon a breeding pair. In this recording you can first hear begging calls of the female and later on what I gather is the female song (more the tone of a Wood Pigeon than in the male). 

Uppland. May 4, 2025.
Mixpre 3ii + Wildtronics stereoparabolic dish

Lapland Owl breeding in Uppland also this year!

While recording a Whinchat I was lucky to stumble upon two Grey-headed Woodpeckers close to an aspen. I found a hole made this year and decided to put out a droprig the coming night. I was lucky to make a close-up recording of the calling male and at least two instances when they mated early morning.

Uppland. May 5, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 as tree ears

Grey-headed Woodpeckers at home

The recording of the female Great Grey Owl calling at nest made with the parabole is much better than this droprig left out during the night. But it is interesting that after about 14 minutes you can hear Tengmalm's Owl, Ural Owl and Great Grey Owl almost at the same time, and in the morning a Pygmy Owl called. Very good owl habitats and also with wolves and lynx in the forest. Although clearcutting is rampant in the area some wildlife manage to hold on. 

Uppland. May 5, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 as tree ears

Nothing to write home about but four species of owl calling the same night

This howl took me by surprise. The wolf call I have heard before is when the parents call to their young in August to September. Often the young wolves join the choir in September. This is obviously quite another call. Discussed it with several colleagues knowledgeable about wolves and we came to the conclusion that this is most likely an 'alpha male' doing this to let other packs or wolves in local territory to stay away. This is the time they are having their pups and if they have young nearby the parents are likely on high alert!

Uppland. May 5, 2025.
Tascam FR-AV2 + MikroUsi as tree ears

Wolf howling at dusk

In the run-up to spring, Naturmorgon is loading up with a special programme on owls. Who are they, what do they sound like - and why are we fascinated by them?

Now comes the time of the owls (Swedish Radio)

I fell in love with the call of the Fire-bellied Toads. When there is not a full choir but only a few solists you can hear that each toad sings in a different frequency. This is a short version of the night, starting at 7 PM until 5 AM in the morning. First you only hear four to five Fire-bellied Toads in the evening, at nightfall the constant chorus of European Tree Frog forms the background, then the Tawny Owl sings at midnight, until the Common Redstart starts to sing just before the dawn breaks.

Högaborg, Scania. May 12, 2025.
Zoom F3 + 2 x Clippy EM272 separated 1 m apart

12 hours with Fire-bellied Toads

Another night, another chorus of Fire-bellied Toads. This time at the idyllic pond at Gislövs Stjärna and tens or even hundreds of toads are calling. Singing Barn Swallows in the background.

Gislövs stjärna, Scania. May 12, 2025.
Mixpre 3ii + Wildtronics stereoparabolic dish

Fire-bellied Toad chorus

I visited Lake Vendel in Uppland to hopefully record the rarely heard song of the Penduline TIt. I was richly rewarded. Windy conditions but I sat hidden in the reedbeds roughly 20 m away from  a nest nearing completion. The male often sang in the nest or in the near vicinity, and both the male and female built on the nest. Much more complex song than I anticipated!

Vendelsjön, Uppland. May 28, 2025.
Mixpre 3ii + Wildtronics stereo parabolic dish

The rarely heard song of Penduline Tit

We have found four nests of Great Grey Owls within a few km of each other. To monitor the nest success I put up a droprig recorder about 500 m from one of the nests. It starts out slowly at midnight, a Woodcock flies by several times and a Great Grey Owl utters a warning call for unknown reason. But then the pre-dawn chorus took me by surprise. Such volume, such rich repertoire. Here you will hear Nightjar, Wood Lark, Red-backed Shrike, Black Grouse, Cranes, Whooper Swans, several species of thrushes and warblers, many of the forest tits. etc. Enjoy!

Uppsala. May 29, 2025.
Clippy EM272 as tree ears + Zoom F3

Boreal mire dawn chorus

A recording starting just after midnight when the Thrush Nightingale is almost alone on the scene and ending when the Nightingale (to the relief of many close neighbours) stop singing early morning. In the background you will hear some of the noise from one of the major highways in Uppsala.

Kvarnbo, Uppsala. June 1, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 spaces 1 m apart

When the Nightingale calls it a night

Martens have increased in numbers the last 5 years and several times I have seen a marten robbing young from thrush nests in the vicinity. Although you cannot hear the marten it is clear from the *very* annoyed Mistle Thrushes and Blackbirds that this marten had been successful.

Siggefora, Uppland. June 8, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 as tree ears

Marten hunting for thrushes

A Hobby calling to his mate while flying overhead.

Tämnaren, Uppland. June 8, 2025.
AudioTechnica BP4025 + Tascam FR-AV2

A Hobby calling

I always appreciate meeting Wild Boars. They feel somewhat agitated and disgruntled all the time. 

Siggefora, Uppland. June 8, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 as tree ears

Disgruntled and asthmatic

I like most bird songs but hearing this almost around the clock in our garden can be quite tiresome.

Håga, Uppsala. June 17, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 spaced 1 m apart

Please find a partner! The Common Whitethroat

Midsummer is the biggest holiday in Sweden. I put out a droprig on the boat dock from midnight till early morning. Birds have become very quiet this time of year but the Blackbirds are well into their second clutch of the season and continue to sing. A heronry nearby means that Grey Herons pass by now and then. Other birds that can be heard are Common Gulls, Icterine Warbler and more.

Halvan, Runmarö. June 21, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 spaced 1 m apart

Swedish Midsummer

This year we have probably more successful breeding attempts of Great Grey Owl than Ural Owls in Uppland but this morning I stumbled upon one successful nest of Ural Owl. The recording starts of with the typical owl warning call of a Common Blackbird that has discovered the fledged owlets. After about 19 minutes you will hear the female uttering one single warning call and shortly thereafter she delivers food to the young. Otherwise you will hear a closeup roding Woodcock.

Siggefora, Uppland. June 27, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272

Owlets of Ural Owl

Nightjars have been very successful in Uppland the last 10-20 years. Nowadays it is quite a common bird in the forest-clearcut landscape. I had scouted this clearcut last year so I knew exactly where they would display. One of the best recordings I have made with nightjars where you can even hear them landing on the pine branches. Contact calls and lots of wing clapping. At dawn Blackbirds and Song Thrushes take over the scene.

Siggefora, Uppland. June 27, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 as tree ears

Break of dawn with nightjars

One of my goals this summer is to record thunderstorms, lots of thunderstorms :) Tonight's storm was very short and quite intense with a duration of less than 15 minutes.

Håga, Uppsala. June 29, 2025.
Lewitt 440 pure in ORTF + Zoom F3

Intense thunderstorm

Magpie parents at night in our apple tree. Something made them very upset, perhaps the resident Tawny Owl.

Håga, Uppsala. July 1, 2025
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 as tree ears

Not very happy Magpies

The Roe Deer calling up close is quite terryfing. The call travels widely and you can hear the echo bouncing off the forest edge.

Håga, Uppsala. July 1, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 as tree ears

Roe Deer in our garden

Field sound recordist and archivist of vanishing sounds in natural Iandscapes. Highly commended in the Sound of the Year Awards 2024 - Best Natural Sound.

Bo Söderström

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