A woodcock which was tagged in the Isle of Man last month as part of a scheme to learn more about the birds’ migratory habits has now been tracked as far Russia.

And statistics show it has covered an amazing 2,000 miles on its migratory flight.

The story of the bird being tagged was reported in the Isle of Man Courier on Friday

Research scientist Chris Heward from the UK Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust caught and equipped the bird with s solar-powered tag so its travels could be monitored using computer tracking.

On a recent visit, Mr Heward caught and ringed a total of six birds in the west of the island, one of which was also fitted with the tag, funded by the Manx Game Preservation Society.

Chairman Alan Jackson said: ’Whilst Chris was here he gave a very informative talk to members about migrating woodcock as well as others that remain in the bBritish Isles to breed. Since then, anyone interested can follow the route and fortunes of our tagged bird by logging on to the trust’s website where one can see the astonishing journey this bird has undertaken.

’Chris told his audience that prior to migrating, woodcock can increase their body weight by as much as 25 per cent and they ususally fly until their reserves are used up; they then stay in an area for a few days putting on weight before flying on again.’

So far, the bird, which was named Phynodderee after the mythical Manx sprite, has flown to southern Sweden , where she remained for just over a week before heading on to Latvia then to northern Russia.

Anyone who wishes can track the bird’s progress at www.woodcockwatch.com/our-birds/phynodderee/

Research by the UK Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust aims to halt the decline in the population of the woodcock, which is a wading bird that migrates to breed in the forests of Scandinavia, central Europe and Russia, but moves south again in winter. Some remain resident in Britain, France and Spain and there are a few in the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands.