A SALTY SELFIE

Last November, the crew of Espirit d’escales cast off from Plymouth, Massachusetts, and motored south through the Cape Cod Canal, headed to Bermuda. After three days of relatively calm New England fall weather, we learned a series of cold fronts would be passing over us, starting the following afternoon. At about the same time, a small sparrow landed in the cockpit and made itself at home. The bird provided a bit of entertainment to the four crew, then stretched its wings, lifted off and flew away.

About 30 minutes later, the bird reappeared in our wake, flying in a more erratic manner. After a few failed attempts to land aboard in the gusty conditions and confused sea state, the bird, while practically flying sideways, crashlanded on our deck.

We offered the bird water and nuts, which were refused, and then it immediately took flight once again. Flying a few laps around the boat, looking for alternative landing sites, the bird suddenly banked sharply and flew directly through an open hatch into the aft head.

We slowly opened the head door and offered more fresh water and nuts, but largely left our new passenger to itself and used the forward head in the meantime. Sometime around midnight, a member of the crew used the aft head, and after washing his hands picked up the hand towel before realizing the bird had made itself a nest there!

The following day, the bird flew out the head porthole and into the cockpit. It landed on Tim, our captain (left), who decided to document the occasion.