Wolves & Lynx

Birds and mammals in the forests of Uppsala wolves

Siggefora wolf territory

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

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

Humans smell a lot and this pack of wolves stopped in their tracks to inspect the droprig recorder I put high up in a spruce. Siggefora, Uppland. September 8, 2023.

Panting wolves inspect the droprig

Lousy recording of a calling male lynx. Uppland. February 12, 2023.

Lynx

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

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

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

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

Wolf howling at dusk

Bo Söderström