Birds and mammals in the forests of Uppsala wolves

Siggefora wolf territory

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

Shortly after the encounter with the car in the picture one of the roe deer pass by my drop rig and calls.

Håga, Uppsala. May 7, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 as tree ears

Roe Deer call

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

My intention was to record Black-throated Diver but you do not always get what you want. A Wren spent most of the morning in direct vicinity of the microphones. Sometimes it is good to record 32 bit float...

Mälsjön, Uppsala. May 27, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272 as tree ears

Wren taking the scene

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

This dawn chorus is just a few km away from the previous dawn recording. The bird fauna is not as rich here since many big clearcuts have destroyed the forest landscape. Despite this an interesting soundscape starting off with a Roe Deer and Woodcocks, when it is all quiet midnight you may hear a Tengmalm's Owl and a Great Grey Owl before the dawn chorus kicks in with Cuckoos, Curlews, Willow Tits, Jays, Lesser Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and more.

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

Dawn chorus at a forest clearcut

Curlew has almost vanished as a breeding bird in Uppland but still a few pair linger on in boreal forest mires. I have for a long time wanted to record this disappearing song. This morning I was lucky!

Svinasjön, Uppland. June 8, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM 272 as tree ears

The most beautiful song of all - Curlew over the mire

I have not heard that many recordings of begging Great Grey Owl chicks. This recording is from 1.54 AM when the male comes with a rodent to the two (at least) young roughly 2 weeks old. You can also hear the lower frequency begging call of the female. The young beg with "calls without vowels".

Uppland. June 8, 2025.
Mixpre 3ii + Wildtronics Stereo Parabole

Great Grey Owl begging calls from young

Woodpeckers' begging calls are often quite similar to each other but the Grey-headed young beg with some kind of mix between a machine and a reptile. Somewhat scary :) In the background you will hear the "classic" begging calls of Great Spotted Woodpecker young.

Uppland. June 8, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272

The strange begging calls of Grey-headed Woodpecker

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

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

Siggefora wolf territory

Bo Söderström