In late March, bitterns are migrating to their breeding grounds in Uppland. Their strange contact calls can be heard during night but they call so seldomly so perhaps you will only hear two or three calls before it is gone. Always a treat.
Håga, Uppsala. March 30, 2024

Night-migrating Bittern

Beware of the flying capercaillie, 5 kilos on the move, after less than a minute. Otherwise quite a strange mix of species this morning: bitterns, ural owls, and capercaillies... 
Fiby, Uppsala. April 23, 2024.

Lewitt 440 pure + Mixpre 3ii

A strange mix of bird species

I was out kayaking in Lake Tämnaren when I spotted a calling Bittern very close in a canal. Often when you hear a Bittern close up you hear the "inhalation" but I never before heard the ticking noise preceding the inhalation. I wonder if this is something all bitterns do before calling to increase the pressure!? In the background you hear Black Terns, probably the largest colony in all of Scandinavia with about 100 pairs.

Sörsjön, Tämnaren. June 8, 2025.
AudioTechnica BP4025 + Tascam FRAV2

Bittern calling 5 m away from the microphone

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

New tracks tagged #botaurus stellaris