Birds
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea · Stârc cenușiu
A tall grey wading bird that stands motionless in shallow water waiting for fish.
At a glance
- Status in Romania
- Resident
- Habitat
- Wetland
- Activity
- Morning · Daytime · Evening
- Diet
- Mainly fish, also frogs and small mammals.
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN)
- Photography difficulty
- Easy to observe
Identification
Large, grey above and white below, with a black stripe over the eye and a dagger-like yellow bill. Flies with its neck pulled in.
Habitat
Rivers, lakes, fishponds, marshes and ditches.
Approximate range in Romania
When it is active
Morning · Daytime · Evening
Diet
Mainly fish, also frogs and small mammals.
Behaviour
Hunts by standing still or wading slowly, then striking quickly.
Seasonality in Romania
- JanPresent
- FebPresent
- MarPresent
- AprPresent
- MayPresent
- JunPresent
- JulPresent
- AugPresent
- SepPresent
- OctPresent
- NovPresent
- DecPresent
Existing monthly estimates are retained for reference, but have not yet been verified against a Romanian source and are excluded from seasonal filters. Unconfirmed months do not imply absence. * Event timing retained from the earlier entry, not yet source-verified.
Breeding
Nests in colonies in tall trees or reedbeds.
How to find it
Fishponds and quiet riverbanks, often easiest early in the morning.
Photography
General guidance based on the species’ behaviour, not a report of Nick’s personal field experience.
- Difficulty
- Easy to observe
- Starting shutter speed
- For take-off and flight, start at 1/2000 sec or faster.
- Ethics
- Keep away from colonies.
Practical starting points, not fixed rules.