Grey Heron

Description:

Large predatory wader, up to 1m tall, but medium-sized heron. Mainly grey upperparts and white underparts; long white neck with black stripes. This heron sports yellow eyes and long spear-like bill; it also has a black crown whose lower line remains above the eye (this last characteristic is irrelevant in Europe; but important to differentiate it from Black-crowned Heron in Africa...)

Habitat:

I saw a small group of grey herons flying low over the mixed lowland forest and ponds in a protected marshy area of Etournel. Etournel marshes are located on the border between France and Switzerland, in rural lands close to Geneva suburbs, in the valley of lake Geneva. These marshes are very close to banks of river Rhône; and are protected under the Natura 2000.