Open Sky
Kestrel in flight
Wildlife in Romania
Wildlife photography, built around the field.
See the photograph. Learn how it was made.
Wildlife photography by Nick Ungureanu, with the field stories, settings and lessons behind each frame.
Photography
Selected Photography
Above the Ridge
Deer at first light
Among the Summer Fruit
Woodland bird
Quiet Profile
Greylag goose
Morning Pair
Mallards on still water
The Lookout
Bird on a weathered perch
Latest Field Breakdown
Behind this frame
Two hours of waiting for a few seconds of display.
OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II · 400mm · 1/6400 sec · f/6.3 · ISO 10000
The lesson: get your exposure right before the moment happens, because the moment will not wait for you.
See how this photograph was madeWhat to look for this month
What to look for in November
A practical monthly field guide to wildlife worth looking for in Romania right now — where to search, what behaviour to watch for and how to photograph it responsibly.
Based on source-verified seasonality data for Romania. How this guide works
Reference photo: Andreas Trepte / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.5
Featured this month
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnus · Lebădă de iarnă
- Why now
- Present in November
- Where to look
- From late October to February, check large lowland wetlands and nearby farmland, where flocks feed by day.
- Best time
- Morning, Daytime, Evening
- Watch for
- Take-offs from the water and flocks flying between resting and feeding areas.
- Photography
- Moderate · 1/1600 sec or faster for flight.
Rough-legged Buzzard
Șorecar încălțat
Present only in the cold season, mainly from November to March, across the country except the mountains, and more often in lowlands with less snow.
Meadow · Moderate
Reference photo: James St. John / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Eurasian Spoonbill
Lopătar
SOR records arrival from February or March and departure in late autumn, October–November.
Wetland · Moderate
Reference photo: Andreas Trepte / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.5
Common Blackbird
Mierlă
Present in November
Forest / Urban · Easy to observe
Syrian Woodpecker
Ciocănitoare de grădini
Present in November
Urban / Meadow · Easy to observe
Reference photo: אריה טננבאום / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5
White-throated Dipper
Pescărel negru
Present in November
Mountain / Wetland · Moderate
Reference photo: Alun Williams333 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
What do you want to do?
Field Notes
Practical Field Notes and Guides
Romania's Vultures Are Coming Back: Why Their Return Matters Far Beyond Our Borders
Romania lost all four of its breeding vulture species. Two separate projects are now bringing Griffon and Cinereous Vultures back — and why it matters beyond our borders.Read the story
When the Water Returns: Rainwater, Temporary Ponds and the Future of Văcărești's Wetlands
Rainwater, temporary ponds and the NATALIE pilot in Văcărești — what the return of water could mean for the wildlife I photograph there.Read the story
Pheasants in Romania: Two Metres from a Wild Pheasant in the Fog at Văcărești
Pheasants in the fog at Văcărești: four hours on the ground, a dozen birds on a walking trail and one that came within two metres.Read the story
Finding the White-throated Dipper on the Dâmbovița, at Rucăr
A bird I first saw in a YouTube Short, found on the river behind my in-laws’ house: a distant record photograph in August, then photographs of the bird at close range on 18 October.Read the story
Nature in Bucharest: Văcărești, Petricani and the future of Valea Saulei
Urban biodiversity, the people behind its protection and how to visit without disturbing wildlife.Read the story
Wildlife Photography and Mental Health: Time Outside the Pressure
Corporate pressure, finding calm outdoors, and why an outing still matters even without a good photograph.Read the story
Images Too Noisy? High ISO in Wildlife Photography
ISO 10000 before and after Lightroom editing, with an honest look at noise and colour.Read the story
Getting Close Without Disturbing Wildlife
Fieldcraft and ethics: how to get close to wild animals without changing what they do.Read the story
How I Photographed This Swan
Settings, soft morning light, and two hours of patience behind one display.Read the story
Photographing Birds at Sunset
Shutter speed, ISO limits and timing in the last fifteen minutes of light.Read the story
Bird Photography: A Complete Guide from the Field
Gear, places, getting close, and settings for small birds and birds in flight.Read the story
Why I Photograph Wildlife — and How to Start
Why the waiting is the point, and a beginner’s route into wildlife photography.Read the storyField tools
Plan your next wildlife outing
Use seasonal wildlife guidance or build a complete field plan with weather, light and photography conditions.
Wildlife Encyclopedia
Wildlife Encyclopedia
A practical species guide for wildlife photographers in Romania.
Where to look · When to go · Behaviour · Photography · Ethics
Gear Reviews
Equipment tested in real conditions
Cameras, lenses and equipment reviewed after real use in the field, starting with the OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II.
Explore Gear ReviewsOn the Channel
Watch the hides, not just the shots
Films about the long waits, quiet wins, and equipment behind the photographs.
Watch on YouTube