I remember a Chiffchaff spending the entire journey to the Scillies perched on the optics in the bar aboard the Scillonian one year. Had it been something rarer I think I would be inclined to count it?

Just watched it Craig, brilliant. Just shows you how valuable those floating islands are as a resting point and providing food for the rest of the journey for a while range of birds.

Reminds me of a conversation some birders were having a few weeks ago in Cornwall whilst watching the Grey Catbird. I didnt catch it all but words to the effect of ship assisted migrating birds being valid sightings or not. I remember thinking to myself... I dont do listing but if I saw a rare bird on a ship or knew it had been seen on a ship prior to land, Id certainly tick it.

There is a great video doing the rounds on youtube at the moment. Simply type in Migrating Birds on Merchant Ships and its the first one to show up - has a picture of a Long-eared Owl on the menu page.

Sit back and enjoy 10 mins or so of real entertainment.