It emits a unique digitalised radio signal which was picked up by Spurn Bird Observatory the following morning, as it headed inland.The timings show it crossed the North Sea in less than eight hours, flying at an average 27mph, with the help of a south-easterly wind.
Nick Whitehouse, Spurn Bird Observatory committee member, said:"We have several good examples of birds that have been tagged on the continent and are now flying close enough to the receiver to pick them up."It gives you much more detail about the journey."Once we get that ping and the data downloads automatically, it is stored on a central database and that information goes back to the tagging team.
But while anyone can host a receiver the fitting of the tiny nanotags is strictly controlled by the British Trust for Ornithology and can only be done by specialists with experience in bird ringing."We are trying to encourage universities and other natural history organisations to host a receiver,” added Mr Whitehouse.