Habitat:
freshwater wetlands, floodplain meadows and lakes

Activity period :
Primarily active during the day, with peak activity in the morning and late afternoon.

Identification and description:
The greylag goose (Anser anser) is a large migratory waterfowl (75–90 cm in length, 130–160 cm wingspan), distinguished by its smoky-grey plumage, orange bill and pink legs. Found across freshwater wetlands, floodplain meadows and lakes of Europe and Asia, it feeds on grasses, aquatic seeds and mollusks. Highly social, it forms large flocks during migration and wintering. Breeding begins in late February when monogamous pairs perform head-bobbing displays and honking calls. The female lays 5–7 eggs in a ground nest lined with vegetation near water, which incubate for 26–28 days. Precocial goslings leave the nest soon after hatching, grazing and seeking cover alongside parents. In flight, geese famously adopt V formations to conserve energy on long-distance migrations.

Recommended lens:
400 mm – adjust based on distance, desired framing (portrait or habitat), and approach conditions.

Photography tips:
To photograph the greylag goose, position yourself low near feeding grounds at dawn or dusk for warm, directional light. Use a 400–600 mm telephoto lens on a monopod to minimize shake, and set aperture to f/8–f/11 for adequate depth of field. Select a shutter speed of at least 1/1000 s to freeze walking or flying movements. Engage continuous autofocus (AF-C) tracking, and shoot in RAW to maximize post-processing flexibility and recover details in highlights and shadows.