Lebanese authorities believed they had captured an Israeli 'spy vulture' - before realising the bird had simply been tagged by conservationists.

The bird of prey was found in the town of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon this morning having flown over the border from Israel.

Lebanese media reported that the vulture was captured and tied to a tree amid fears it was carrying spy equipment.

Lebanese authorities believed they had captured an Israeli 'spy vulture' - before realising the bird (pictured) had simply been tagged by conservationists

But it was later released when the device it was found to be carrying turned out to be a transmitter after the bird was introduced into the wild to boost dwindling numbers in the region.

Tags on the bird's leg showed it came from Israel while its honing device originated from Tel Aviv University, according to Haaretz.com.

The vulture, which had a 6ft 5ins wingspan, was set free in an Israeli nature reserve in Golan Heights recently and was spotted less than three miles from the border when it was captured.

According to Haaretz, local reports said: 'It would not be the first time residents of south Lebanon have found birds – including birds of prey – that serve Israel for research purposes.

The bird was later released when the device it was found to be carrying (right) turned out to be a transmitter after it was introduced into the wild to boost dwindling numbers in the region. A tag (left) showed it had come from Israel

'After examining the bird to make sure it was not carrying listening or spy equipment it was returned to nature.'

Israel's Nature and Parks Authority said that vulture was spotted on the outskirts of Bint Jbail, some 2.5 miles from Israel's northern border on Monday.

The Jerusalem Post reports that a similar Israeli vulture was captured in the southern Lebanon village of Kfar Kila three months ago.