Any walker, cyclist or driver will notice when the greylag geese and black-headed gulls return to Kroppkärrsjön (Karlstad/Sweden) in spring. That’s when the lake comes alive—not just with the raucous calls of laughing gulls, but also with the gentle procession of geese parading their young along the shoreline path. Sometimes, they even cross the road in search of what they must believe to be greener pastures.

But there’s also a quieter, more hidden side to the lake. To discover this more secretive side, you need a bit of patience—and a little luck. Sometimes, it means being as silent as a shadow.

Then, if you’re fortunate, you might spot a marsh harrier circling overhead, or catch a glimpse of a roebuck nibbling at spring’s first green shoots. And with even more luck, you may see an Eurasian bittern flying low across the lake—likely marking its territory, its booming call echoing across the water.