Grouse

Birds and mammals in the forests of Uppsala wolves

Siggefora wolf territory

Capercaillie lek

Black Grouse and Raven

Black Grouse and Common Crane

Black Grouse lekking

This has been my nemesis bird. For three years I have been trying to record its song and today it happened. I was out in the forest to set up a hide for the Capercaillie lek in advance (will start in one month's time) when I flushed a hazel grouse. In the recording you will hear the contact call the first minute together with lekking black grouse in the distance. After one minute it starts to sing. In the end of the recording you will hear some kind of sub-song of the hazel grouse. Don't know if this has been recorded before. Other birds in the recording are mistle thrush, skylark, jay, raven, coal tit, crested tit, great tit and more. Älgpussen, Uppland. March 19, 2023.

Hazel Grouse in song, finally!

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

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

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

Clicks, Trill, Cork, Whetting, Flutterjumps and Infrasound

Bo Söderström