A single Iceland Greylag Goose, named 'Diana' was marked in east Iceland in July 2014 as part of a pilot project by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) in collaboration with Arnór Þórir Sigfússon (Verkís) and Halldór Walter Stefánsson (East Iceland Natural History Institute). The goal is to determine within-winter connectivity between feeding areas and roosting areas. In addition, location data will shed insights into migration strategies and the location of the breeding quarters in Iceland.
In July 2016, seven more Iceland Greylag Geese were marked at five locations in northern Iceland, and in July 2017, three more were marked there. Maps showing the locations of the marked geese are given below. Simply click on the time period link.
- 20-27 July 2017. Three Iceland Greylag Geese were marked at three locations in northern Iceland during the summer moult.
- 20 October 2016. Skuli arrives in Orkney. The other five GPS-tagged geese remain in Iceland.
- 8 Oct 2016. Linda is shot by hunters in Skagafjörður, close to where she was caught.
- 18-22 July 2016. Seven Iceland Greylag Geese were marked at five locations in northern Iceland during the summer moult.
- 9 Dec 2015. The last signal is received from Diana. It is not known if the tag stopped working, or Diana was shot. However, Diana is never seen alive again.
- 3 Dec 2015. Diana remains to the west of Berwick-on-Tweed, on the England/Scotland border.
- 21 Nov 2015. Following northerly winds and snow, another surprise. Diana flies even further south to the west of Berwick-on-Tweed, on the England/Scotland border.
- 7 Nov 2015. Surprisingly, Diana leave Caithness (Scotland) and flies further south to Easter Ross (Scotland), roosting at Loch Eye and feeding in local cereal stubble fields.
- 28 Oct 2015. Diana moves to Caithness (Scotland), where she spent the whole of the previous winter.
- 25 Oct 2015. Diana arrives on Orkney (Scotland). Some of the data times of the migration are missing so it is not possible to determine the crossing time.
- 24 Oct 2015. Just before midnight, Diana leaves the breeding grounds in Iceland and heads south east towards and out across the Atlantic Ocean on autumn migration.
- Apr to Oct 2015. Diana remains in the eastern lowlands of Iceland and attempts to nest. However, after several eggs are laid, the nesting attempt is abandoned.
- 17 Apr 2015. At 04h30, Diana begins her spring migration back to Iceland, arriving back in the eastern lowlands at 20h00
- Nov 2014 to April 2015. Diana remains in the vicinity of Loch Calder (Caithness, Scotland).
- 29 Oct 2014. Diana moves south west to Loch Calder (Caithness, Scotland).
- 23 Oct 2014. Diana heads south, arriving on the island of Sanday (Orkney, Scotland) by 3pm.
- 22 Oct 2014. By 9am, Diana is heading east then south over the ocean and arrives on Papa Stour (Shetland, Scotland) at 6pm. She overnights there.
- 21 Oct 2014. Diana heads south east out over the Atlantic Ocean towards the Faroe Islands. She arrives at 9pm and roosts on the sea.
- 2 Aug to 20 Oct 2014. Diana remains in the eastern lowlands (Iceland) close to the area of capture.
- 30 July 2014, Diana, an adult female, is caught during the annual wing moult near Egilsstaðir in eastern Iceland.
WWT are extremely grateful for the support given during fieldwork in Iceland by the catching team from the East Iceland Natural History Institute and from Landsvirkjun. Our thanks also go to Skotvís for their support. Skotvís have named the Greylag Goose 'Diana'.
Data and map may not be used without prior written consent of WWT/Arnór Þórir Sigfússon.
© 2016-2020 WWT/Arnór Þórir Sigfússon