Raggytash, are you saying that the difference between the photo of T**** and the photo of the bird is that one is just one prize cock whereas the other is a prize cockatoo?

Herring gulls are actually regarded as a vulnerable species, believe it or not. When one nicks your ice cream or your cod in batter it's only being a gull, and we have sort of encouraged 'em with our slack attitude to leaving waste lying around and chucking 'em titbits.

Down on Bude canal people feeding the ducks cause a frenzy. Mallards are aggressive birds which land on water with a spectacular splash. But the black-headed gulls are amazing to watch - they land so delicately that they hardly cause a ripple. Dammit, I love 'em all, and they are dinosaurs, don't forget! Been down there this afternoon. Gorgeous sunny day with the mercury up around fifteen.