Shorebirds

Lapwing and Bittern

Great Snipe

Common Snipe and Bittern

Jack snipe must be one of the most difficult bird songs to record. Spent three hours by the wetland and it sang a total of three 2-second long sequences during this time. If the parabolic dish is slightly off, nothing is recorded. Not the best recording but still something! It is the tail feathers that make this strange sound/song. April 27, 2023. Tierp, Uppland. Photo: Allan Drewitt

The notoriously difficult Jack Snipe

Just before dawn, the Woodcock ends the night. Nåsten, Uppsala.  May 3, 2023. Photo by Craig Nash.

The Woodcock

Perhaps a galloping horse is not the best metaphor. Slightly better the ultrasound of baby heartbeats. Regardless nobody knows for sure whether the call is produced vocally or mechanically. Common Snipe produce their bleating vocalisations as air rushes past their outer tail feathers but Jack Snipes are reported to occasionally produce the galloping call from the ground, so perhaps vocally? Extremely difficult to make field recordings of. Unlike the Common Snipe displaying constantly, the Jack Snipe only made two calls during two hours and it is oh so quiet. 
Älvgärde, Uppsala. May 2, 2024

Lewitt 440 Pure in ortf + Mixpre 3ii

The sky horse - Jack Snipe!

Last time we were in Stekenjokk was six years ago. Now we revisited a favorite lake of ours with 12 different wader species breeding. At least four pairs of Dunlin breed here, otherwise difficult to find as a breeding species in Sweden. Quite a windy recording but this is difficult to avoid in the mountains.

Stekenjokk. June 28, 2024.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272

Dunlins on their breeding grounds

Woodcocks are still roding in the forest despite a rather late date in the summer. 

Siggefora, Uppsala. July 10, 2024.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272

Woodcock roding

At dawn first a Common Sandpiper displayed close to my drop rig and a few moments later a Green Sandpiper took over the scene.

Dalälven's NP, East-Central Sweden. May 13, 2022.

Sandpiper encounter

A Common Snipe perched on top of a pine and had its so called "ground display" when two Capercaillies decided to take breakfast on that particular pine top! They have a lek in the nearby forest. After a while the Capercaillies realise that I am directly below the tree and decide to take off. The first male has some "grunts" when taking off. An older gentleman perhaps?

Långhällsmossen, Uppland. April 24, 2025.
Mixpre 3ii + Wildtronics stereoparabole

Common Snipe disturbance

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

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

Shorebirds

Bo Söderström