Several species of geese can be found in the wild in the Isle of Man. Some are migratory visitors, whereas others are present year round. The picture is often confused by feral, previously domesticated, birds being seen alongside those that are genuinely wild. I'm going to take a look at the main species that can be found here and where in the Island that you're likely to see them.
The Greylag Goose (Anser anser) is the largest and most widespread native goose in Europe, known for its gray plumage, orange beak, and pale pink legs. Commonly found in wetlands, lakes, gravel pits and agricultural fields, these social birds graze on grasses and grains. The Greylag Goose is a familiar sight in the British Isles during winter and its loud, honking calls are often heard as flocks take to the sky in characteristic V-formations. It is also considered the wild ancestor of most domestic geese breeds.
The Greylag goose is not native to the Isle of Man, although it was noticed that some birds had become resident and were breeding here in the 1970's. From that time, their numbers have increased and they are now found in large numbers, especially in the north of the Island. Their numbers are so great that they are proving problematic for farmers as they eat crops and they are also thought to be impacting conservation projects.
The resident feral population of Greylag Geese is joined in the winter by wild geese from the Arctic and European continent. They are a magnificent sight as they fly over the northern plain between the Ballaugh Curraghs and the Point of Ayre, which are areas often frequented by the birds, although they can be found in other areas such as the Malew plain too.
For more information about the Greylag Goose on the Isle of Man, see the Isle of Man Today article about their increasing numbers and the ManxBirdLife response to the piece. Of course, for more general information the Manx Wildlife Trust has a useful page.
The Canada goose (Branta canadensis) is one of the most recognizable and widespread geese in the world, known for its black head and neck, white cheek patch and brown body. Originally native to North America, this species was introduced to the British Isles around 300 years ago, where it has since thrived in parks, lakes and agricultural areas. Canada Geese are highly social and often seen in large, noisy flocks. They are known for their impressive flight formations and have an omnivorous diet, which often includes grass, grains, and aquatic vegetation but can also include insects, crustaceans and molluscs.
In 2021, there were thought to be at least 25 resident breeding pairs of feral Canada Geese on the Isle of Man. They can often be seen in Ramsey harbour or along the River Sulby, but are also found in Castletown Harbour and at the Point of Ayre gravel pits. Like the Greylag Goose, Canada Geese are fiercely territorial when nesting and so should not be approached at these times. They nest between March and June and typically produce 5-6 eggs in a single brood.
The Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) is a striking bird with a black-and-white face, silver-gray back, and black neck and breast. These geese breed in remote Arctic regions, including Greenland and Svalbard, and winter along the coasts of northern Europe, including the UK, Ireland and Isle of Man. They favour coastal grasslands and estuaries, where they graze in flocks. They fly in packs or long lines and produce barking honks that are quite short in duration but build up to quite a noise from a flock. For an example of this sound see the RSPCA Barnacle Goose facts website. The Barnacle Goose was once thought to hatch from barnacles due to medieval myths, which contributed to its name, or to form on trees like fruit. These theories persisted for hundreds of years and for a time it was considered fine for clergy to eat Barnacle Goose during Lent as they were not thought to be born from the flesh. For an interesting article on these myths see the Country Life piece entitled 'Barnacle Geese: The curious tale of the bird which people believed grew on trees'.
There are several (around eight in 2021) Barnacle Geese thought to be resident on the Island, which are again believed to be feral. Overwintering Barnacle Geese can be seen in fields, rivers, harbours and on the coast of the Island. If you want to make sure of a sighting, the Manx Wildlife Park also has a few!
The Brent goose (Branta bernicla), also known as the Brant Goose, is a smaller, dark goose with a black head and neck, contrasting white throat patch, and a compact body. These geese are migratory, travelling thousands of miles between their Arctic breeding grounds and wintering areas along European coasts, including parts of the UK, Ireland and Isle of Man. Brent Geese are often seen feeding on seagrasses, algae, and coastal vegetation in estuaries and salt marshes. When in flight they can look more like a duck, as they have compact bodies and quick wing beats.
Brent Geese avoid rocky terrain and so favour the area of Langness and Derbyhaven on the Isle of Man. They can be found overwintering here between September and May each year and, as they have to feed according to the tide, should be viewed with binoculars as getting close may disturb them and cause a loss of feeding opportunities. See more about these birds at Biosphere Isle of Man and the Manx Wildlife Trust.
That's a quick overview of the main geese species to be found in the Isle of Man. None are native, but we do have a some feral residents to see all year round. The real action happens during the winter, however, as geese migrate here from afar, to overwinter. On writing this blog, I realised that all the species I've featured have Branta as the first part of their Latin name, apart from the Greylag Goose, which has Anser. I looked this up and the Anser genus are the grey geese, whereas Branta geese are known as black geese, due to having a significant area of black in their plumage.
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