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HMS Tyne's unexpected visitors
19 May 2016
Two unexpected visitors took shelter on HMS Tyne during dense fog in the Celtic Sea.
The fishery protection squadron ship was 50 nautical miles from land when it welcomed two birds not normally spotted on ships at sea.
A Little Egret kept the fog lookout company on the fo’c’sle as visibility reduced to just a few hundred yards while the bridge team was joined by a Barn Swallow.
Each year swallows migrate over 6,000 miles from South Africa
The Barn Swallow didn’t stay too long – completing a few laps of the bridge before departing to continue its journey.
Each year swallows migrate over 6,000 miles from South Africa and have been found as far afield as the Falkland Islands where Tyne’s sister ship HMS Clyde is based.
The birds’ visit came as Tyne returned to fishery duties following two weeks of Operational Sea Training.