We travelled up the M5 today on our way to Yorkshire. We usually stop at Michael Woods Services North Bound. I have noticed that Black Headed Gulls make their living by scavenging in the car park. In the past I have been pretty sure, but not certain, that a few Common Gulls (Larus canus) were amongst them. Well, that was confirmed today, I took my first ever decent photos of this species as two came in to scavenge crumbs from a sandwich. Pretty good to be able to do a bit of bird photography in the Motorway services, it broke up the journey quite well. 

Just as interesting was one of the Black Headed Gulls, wearing an aluminium split ring. I took as many photos of the leg ring, from as many angles as possible and was able to work out sequence of letters and numbers. Also, I could make out the words Hels which I am assuming is Helsinki and also 2001 which I am taking as the year that it was ringed. I will obviously send the information to the BTO and I look forward to having all of this confirmed.