Stowaway discovered in Lyme Bay

[BlueChip]

Returning from a week in the West Country and crossing Lyme Bay on Friday afternoon under spinnaker, about half way across we discovered a stowaway on board. An exhausted racing pigeon had taken residence on the pushpit, and as the boat rolled in the swell the bird rolled the other. I was a bit worried about a vomiting pigeon but it seemed to have his (?) sea legs ok.

After a bit it flew under the spray hood and perched on one of the winches - and there it stayed for the rest of the passage - all through dropping the spinnaker, putting out the genoa, motor sailing for a bit and eventually dropping the mainsail as we anchored just before midnight in the lee of Hurst Point. It was quite tame and didn't mind a bit when we picked it up and moved it to get to the sheets

We tried feeding it with muesli and milk but this was obviously a very discerning bird because it wouldn't eat or drink a thing and at the end of a weeks cruise we didn't have much else on board apart from Scotch and Fray Bentos and I wouldn't share those with this sort of bird.

We went to bed about one leaving the pigeon with its head tucked down.

At first light we heard him walking around for a bit and when we got up at about 7 he had gone - he'd left us a few presents though.

It was quite touching to think that we may have saved his life. I have had birds land on deck before, but never had one stay for so long

 

[AuntyRinum]

Once had a racing pigeon stay with us for three days from Celtic Sea to Brittany.

 

[tonyran]

Do you always leave the winch handle on the lazy winch?

 

[KREW2]

had a pigeon land on foredeck 3 miles out of poole harbour looked a little tired, stayed with us till we reached Alderney, took off and seemed to be heading back to the UK, dumb bird

 

[LadyInBed]

Had them hitch a ride a couple of times enroute to Cherbourg and one the other week to Alderney.
Often wondered if they should be declared.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[tugboat]

Many years ago a pigeon came aboard our tanker near Singapore, stayed with us all the way up the Malacca Strait, across to Sri Lanka, across the Arabian Sea and eventually left us in the Persian Gulf. His victualling bill was horrendous! The Chief Steward threw a fit! We named him (the pigeon, not the Chief Steward, he already had a name) Walter after the Motorman, whose gait was remarkably similar. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Just thought you'd like to know /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[allanc]

I'm no enthusiast for these landing on my boat and once had to shout 'Bang' as three determindly circled. However, can't help but feel sympathetic for a tired bundle of feathers huddled under the sprayhood. They need water. Fill a plastic tumbler and one will nearly drain it. What's left will wash off the little presents.
Allan

 

[Pie]

We had a hitcher a while back. It slept, drank, shitted everywhere then flew off once in harbour. Best crew we've had!

 

[Cornishman]

Dumb bird? Not at all. Many yotties do similar, don't they?

 

[Neraida]

We rescued a Storm Petrel last year that had become water logged and was being mobbed by seagulls (didn't know what the thing was until asking on here) , was such a relief to not find it on the boat the next morning.

 

[BrendanS]

Posted on this several years ago, but was highly amused by the bumble bee that hitched a ride from Poole to Solent. It didn't land on boat, just rode the air wave in front of boat for a while before deciding I wasn't headed exactly where it wanted to go. Never seen one that far out at sea before, and never seen one 'ride' a boat, so posted to see if anyone else had experienced it. Guess he was the bumble bee equivalent of Christopher Columbus, and explains why new islands get inhabited with animals and insects

 

[doris]

It will have it\'s neck wrung

when it finally gets home because it will have been so slow in the race that it will be deemed to be useless. No sentiment in the pidgeon fancier's world.

 

[Sonnamara]

Thats funny - we had a racing pigeon land on board our boat whilst crossing Lyme Bay from Dartmouth on Friday afternoon too - he had the same id tags on his legs as yours - same one?? Ours stayed on board for about 2 hours before flying off to the south west at about 7pm.

He seemed to quite enjoy brioche and water but seemed a bit too tired to manage much!

 

[AuntyRinum]

That's strange! We named our pigeon (the one from Celtic Sea to Treguire) Walter as well. Even entered him in the log book by that name as a crew member.
Mind you we were two handed, tired and going slightly barmy.

 

[tugboat]

>going slightly barmy<

Ahhaaaa - a kindred spirit /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[snowleopard]

Last year one boarded us as we were coming home across the channel. He stayed with us till in sight of the Devon coast. I did consider attaching an invoice to his leg ring.

Years ago one joined us at the start of an atlantic crossing. He settled into the winch handle locker and lived on muesli. In the end we had to evict him as we were heading away from land. He was with us for 3 days.

 

[Kilter]

We had a pigeon land on the boat once while we were on passage...he was delicious!

 

[Kilter]

More seriously though the pigeon racing people told me that the best thing to give them (the pigeons) is dry rice and water with some sugar in.

 

[rwoofer]

Here was our stowaway we had for half the journey to Cherbourg earlier in the season.

He must have circled the boat about 100 times over 2 hours before he came in for the landing. Had a bit of a drink, a couple of droppings and a few hours rest and flew off before we reached Cherbourg.

Anyone know what he is?

 

[AuntyRinum]

It looks like a Stint feeling very sorry for itself.