Cruising Birds

[pitre]

Have just returned from a Baltic Cruise. During one of our days at sea I noticed a small flock of what appeared to be pied wagtails. These kept on flying with the ship and then settling on the ship's superstructure. During one of these settlings a Robin landed on the deck. These birds were following the ship going North towards Russia hardly migrating ! Does anyone have an explanation for this phenomenon or seen asimilar event ?

[RoyW]

Probably tired migrants that realised the ship was somewhere that they could land. Small migrants are often attracted to ships if there is no land in sight.
If the choice is to head in the wrong direction because this means finding 'land', or to keep going until exhaustion means you crash into the waves below, many birds will alter their heading.

[RobS]

Some tired migrants going north, land on the Pride of Bilbao in the Bay of Biscay. If you go on it (actually finishes about now) they have pictures of the waifs and strays seeking refuge.

Unfortunately the ship is heading to Bilbao when they land on it so they have to start all over again - sort of Groundhog Day for the avian community.

Rob S