After 35 years working for the Swedish Television as a nature photographer and film maker, I have now slowed down somewhat and plan to offer my knowledge and expertise to you who appreciate wilderness, wildlife, forest and mountains. I am a very active ornithologist, predator tracker and film maker and like to show you, within reasonably time, what professional's nature enthusiast get to experience.

If you like to watch or photograph birds, as capercaillie (on lek), black grouse (on lek), great grey owl, hawk owl, Tengmalm's owl, Siberian jay, grey-headed woodpecker, black woodpecker and great snipe, you are welcome to visit my personal locations and blinds in the mountains of Vålådalen, Jämtland. In the surrounding forest and alpine areas I have, Bo Kristiansson, put out about 50 nesting boxes strategically placed for hawk owl, Tengmalm's owl and few for the great grey. Best time for woodpeckers and jays are towards the end of winter and for capercaillie and black grouse, at spring break-up, when lek activities starts in forest and bogs. Owls are calling during mid-winter months, but it is more pleasant to see and photograph them in late May or early June when owls are in full activity feeding young's.
Beginning of June is the best time to photograph great snipe and red-necked phalarope. I have several warm winter blinds built on photogenic locations where you will have a great opportunity to see and photograph lynx and wolverine. With exceptional luck there is also the possibility to see a brown bear walking by. Golden eagle nest on several locations in the region. We will not visit any nesting sites which can result in disturbance. But you will see eagles. For the bird photographer I have built a modest nature park in local habitat with nesting sites for small birds.

I will work for several weeks with small groups.

Weeks 9 - 15. Winter weeks tracking wolverine and lynx. We travel with snow-scooter and sleigh in the best Swedish lynx and wolverine habitats. We spend some nights in comfortable heated blinds. Owls and woodpeckers are also on the program. A day visit to the beautiful Lundörrspasset with magnificent views for photography. We are pulled up to the pass with snow-scooter, make camp and experience wonderful mountain surroundings with virgin forest, golden eagle, Siberian jay, coal tit, crested tit and spend time in the grey-headed woodpecker blind. One night is set aside listening for owls and the possibility to hear screaming lynx, as we are in the cats mating season. We travel during the night with snow-scooter and sleigh with stops for campfire and grilling.

Weeks 14 - 18. Black Grouse, Capercaillie courtship lek is on the program with snow-white mountain scenery as backdrop. Searching for wolverine on mount Ottfjället. The nights are now long. In blinds for exciting chance to see wolverine, lynx and brown bear, which has left the winter den. Visit to the mountains and Lunddörrspasset and looking for Tengmalm's, hawk, great-gray owls and Siberian jays.

Weeks 19 - 23. Everything is now exploding in the owl forest. Ring ouzel, bluethroat sings on mount Välliste and the dotterel has arrived. Second to none photography! We will also visit an old genuine virgin forest near mount Hottögsfjället and overnight in the alpine. Also more time will be spent in the blinds. Now it is light day and night. If we are lucky a brown bear will show up as they are common in the mountain terrain. Crane and whooper swan can be seen with mountain peaks in the background.

June 1 - June 5. Everything is now exploding in the owl forest. Ring ouzel, bluethroat sings on mount Välliste and the dotterel has arrived. Second to none photography! We will also visit an old genuine virgin forest near mount Hottögsfjället and overnight in the alpine. Also more time will be spent in the blinds. Now it is light day and night. Crane and whooper swan can be seen with mountain peaks in the background.

June 7 - June 12. Bird watching week. Dotterel, bluethroat, Lapland bunting, ring ouzel, red-necked phalarope, great snipe, great-gray owl, hawk owl, Tengmalm's owl and many more.

15 juni - 30 Juli. Film week. We'll practice "proffesional" film making using a "simple" non-linear video editing software suite. How does one work with composition, panning, zooming etc. We'll shoot during the day, and edit in the evening. We'll try to do themed films, like say "the mountain", "flowers" or "landscapes". Birds, animals and sceneries will be the objects of attention.

Maybe the weeks will not be exactly as above. We must adjust for weather, wind and what nature has to offer. Likewise we can not guarantee to see the big predator's brown bear, wolverine and lynx, as we are not feeding animals, but chances are good to encounter them in the wild.

f you like to take the family and some are not photographers we can give you a reduced price, so all in your family can come along for a reasonable price.
If you have a caravan and like to stay overnight we have campground with service house for 15 Euro per night.

From the 1st. of February our camp is open for guiding and service. You can choice your own agenda if you like for photographing owls, or concentrate on leks with displaying capercaillie and black grouse males. Everything can be arranged for your enjoyment.

If you like to fish for one or several days in prime trout water, our fishing guide Markus is available. Fishing tackles to rent.

We better not forget our fantastic "gourmet" kitchen where Britta and Marie can prepare and cook the best wild menus of capercaillie and elk. This is an experience by itself. Accommodations are "Brittas boarding-house" Vålågården in East Vålådalen. Here we have our base camp for food, packed lunch, thermos, rooms, showers and so on.
Likewise we have the possibility for film and slide shows. I will talk about my many meetings with brown bear, wolf, wolverine and lynx.

Furthermore you have the option to travel with reindeer sledge (renrajd) to visit a unique wilderness area where we can find tracks of wolverine and lynx. (not included, but can be arranged)
Don't forget to bring bathing suits. Maybe we bathe (outdoors, wooden bath tub, water warmed by means of fire) in the evening accompanied with the calling sounds from Tengmalm's owl.

Where is Vålådalen located? At the road's end in the middle of fantastic alpine surroundings of Ottfjället, Lundörrspasset and Vålådalen mountains.

How do I get there? If you don't like to drive take the overnight train from southern Sweden to Stockholm-Östersund-Undersåker. We will meet you with private car at Undersåker train station, or take the regular tourist bus to our base camp at East Vålådalen. You can also fly from Östersund/Åre airports with pick up at the airport.

Welcome
www.valabild.com
www.valagarden.se

For the above "weeks" you pay 850 Euro.
Included are 5 days for room/board on Vålågården, bedding, transportation, guiding, film shows and access to blinds.

Alt:
One day/night 160 Euro for room/board, guiding, transportation and blinds.
One day/night 80 Euro for room, guiding, transportation and blinds. You supply your own food and bedding.
Camping with caravan 15 Euro per night.

• If you like to book space especially for the nature filming school, please phone as space is limited.
• Please phone for cost for your own photography projects for one or more days of elk, reindeer, beaver, birds or other wildlife.

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Species list from Vålådalen of wildlife observations:

• Siberian Jay
• Greyheaded Woodpecker
• Threetoed Woodpecker
• Black Woodpecker
• Eagel Owl
• Hawk Owl
• Great Grey Owl
• Tengmalm´s Owl
• Black Grouse
• Capercaillie
• Hazel Hen
• Great Snipe
• Pine Grosbeak
• Ptarmigan
• Golden Eagle
• Wooper Swan
• Elk/Moose
• Reindeer
• Wolverine
• Lynx
• Brown bear
• Red fox
• Red Deer
• Red squirrel