Grey Heron/Corr réisc (Ardea cinerea)

Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com

The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged predatory wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more northern parts migrate southwards in autumn. A bird of wetland areas, it can be seen around lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and on the sea coast. It feeds mostly on aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water or stalking its prey through the shallows.

Standing up to a metre tall, adults weigh from 1 to 2 kg (2.2 to 4.4 lb). They have a white head and neck with a broad black stripe that extends from the eye to the black crest. The body and wings are grey above and the underparts are greyish-white, with some black on the flanks. The long, sharply pointed beak is pinkish-yellow and the legs are brown.

The birds breed colonially in spring in "heronries", usually building their nests high in trees. A clutch of usually three to five bluish-green eggs is laid. Both birds incubate the eggs for a period of about 25 days, and then both feed the chicks, which fledge when seven or eight weeks old. Many juveniles do not survive their first winter, but if they do, they can expect to live for about five years.

The main call is a loud croaking "fraaank", but a variety of guttural and raucous noises are heard at the breeding colony. Grey herons have the ability to live in cities where habitats and nesting space are available. In the Netherlands, the grey heron has established itself over the past decades in great numbers in urban environments. In cities such as Amsterdam, they are ever present and well adapted to modern city life. They hunt as usual, but also visit street markets and snackbars. Some individuals make use of people feeding them at their homes or share the catch of recreational fishermen. Similar behaviour on a smaller scale has been reported in Ireland (Dublin, Galway and Cork). (wikipedia)

This was my first foray out with the Sony system (A9ii with 200-600mm lens) after switching from Canon. A lot to learn but I'm liking it so far.

Taken in: Ireland / Leinster / Bull Island (show map)

Taken on: December 26, 2022

Tags:

Bird

Herons

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

Corr réisc

Europe

Ireland

Dublin

Dublin Bay

North Bull Island

Mark

Camera

Sony

200-600

200-600 G OSS FE 5.6-6.3

a9ii

books

Birds of Ireland

Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide

Freshwater Birds of Ireland

Shorebirds of Ireland

web

Carmo

CarmoPolice

CarmoPolis

Carmody

Mark Carmody

markcarmodyphotography

markcarmodyphotography.com

SON0410 « less

Sets appears in: • Birds of Ireland

Groups appears in: • Wildlife Photography • Ireland more » • Field Guide: Birds of the World • Birds in Flight! • Birds/Aves • The Flickr Irish! • Birding & Butterfly Enthusiasts • Birds , Birds Birds • Bird Fanatics! (No Limits) • Birds of Britain and Ireland • Birds of the Western Palearctic (WP) • World Wide Photographers • A Guide To The Birds Of Europe • Bird and Nature Photography • El Paso Joe's Place - NO invite needed - Just great photos • Irishwildlife • Born Free, Living Free • N A T U R E [no limits] • NATURE'S BEST • Wildlife Of Great Britain and Ireland. • Birds and Wildlife UK • The Coolest Damn Cool Photographers in the World • Birding In The Wild • Irish photographers. • Oiseaux d' Europe • Sony Alpha World • Avian Photography • The Birds Of Flickr • Birds Birds Birds ! (Check out the new discussion) • Sony Alpha Bird Photographers • Sony Alpha Community • Big Garden Birdwatch • Nature-Irish Nature(No man made items to be seen) • BirdWatching Magazine • BBC Springwatch (Official) • BirdTrack • Birds of Europe • Best Bird Photographers • Irish Birds in Flight • European Birds and Wildlife • Ireland's Wildlife • BirdWatch Ireland • Atlas photo group • Avibase • East Cork Bird Trail • Irelands Wild Atlantic Way • The Wonder of Waterbirds • Birdingmaps « less

Camera: Sony ILCE-9M2, f/8.0, 1/1600 sec, 600mm, ISO 500 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony ILCE-9M2
Lens:	Sony FE 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 G OSS (SEL200600G)
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/1600)
Focal Length:	600mm
ISO:	500
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Capture One 21 Macintosh
Show full info

Stats: 790 views

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: