A droprig by Hågån during the night caught two classical sounds from horror movies, a tawny owl calling and a screaming fox, in between the two a beaver splashing around. Håga, Uppsala. April 8, 2023. Photo copyright: Bryan Joyce

The stuff of horror movies...

[Strix Aluco]

Recorded about an hour before midnight in Meri-Rastila, Helsinki. 30th of August, 2023.

Kattuggla med syrsor efter regn

In February/March the owls are starting to call once again. Quite a lot of rodent activity on the snow so perhaps this will be a good breeding year. All owls are found in the close vicinity of Uppsala, and they are ordered from small (pygmy owl) to big (eagle owl).
Pygmy Owl - recording ends with the so-called autumn call
Tengmalm's Owl - recording ends with the autumn call
Tawny Owl - only the call, not the song
Ural Owl - starts with the male's defensive call, then both the female and male while mating, finally when male delivers food to the female and young in mid-May
Eagle Owl - male calling

Owls in Uppsala

It is very rare to have fledged young Tawny Owls already in mid-April in Uppsala. Probably lots of rodents in the near vicinity. In this recording you can hear the noise of river Hågaån in the background. After a while the owlets are discovered by Blackbirds with their distinctive owl warning calls. Kvarnbo, Uppsala. April 24, 2024. 

Warm Audio 84 + Zoom F3

Record-early Tawny Owlets

Year 2025 promises to be an excellent year for owls in Uppland. During the whole winter there have been lots of mice and the last two weeks you can hear Tawny Owls "everywhere". (Photo Peter Trimming)

Balingsta, Uppland. February 8, 2025.
Tascam FR-AV2 + mikro-Usi as tree ears

Tawny Owls on the rise

Always a bit horrifying to hear Tawny Owls calling up close. Listen after 2 minutes or so...

Storön, Gysinge, Uppland. March 1, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272

Tawny Owls courting

Owls and foxes have an excellent breeding year so far this year. I hear Tawny Owls almost "everywhere" and this male and female were courting each other last night and paired at least twice (the high-pitched chirping). 

Uppsala. March 19, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272

Pairing Tawny Owls

I will soon stop recording Tawny Owls but they seem to everywhere this year. I do hope for a great breeding year.

Uppsala. March 26, 2025.
Zoom F3 + Clippy EM272

Terrifying calls of Tawny Owl

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 #kattuggla