Herring Gull

Green ring with white 4 alpha-numeric code (starting letter A') (on right tarsus).

note 1 : used codes from 2001-2006 were : ACA*, ACC*, ACE*, ACF*, ACG*, ACH*, ACJ*, ACK*, ACL*, ACM*, ACN*, ACP*, ACR*, ACS*, ACT*, ACU*, ACV*, ACX*, ACY*, AEA*, AEC*, AEE*, AEF*, AEG*, AEH*, AEJ*, AEK*, AEL*, AEM*, AEN*, AEP*,
AER*, AES*, AET*, AEU*, AEV*, AEX*, AFA*, AFC*, AFG*, AFH*, AFJ*, AFK*, AFL*, AFM*, AFN*, AFP*, AFR*, AFS*, AFT*, AFU*, AFV*, AFX*, AGA*, AGC*, AGE*, AGF*, AHA*, AHC*, AHH*, AHJ*, AHK*, AHL*, AHM*, AHN*, AHP*, AHR*,
AHS*, AHT*, AHU*, AHX*, AJL*, AJM*, AJN*
note 2 : the "*" in the code means a number : 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0.
note 3 : birds are ringed as non-fledged chicks in a colony of about 300 breeding birds near the city of Kiel.

Green ring with a white 4 alpha code (an a 'dot' after the first letter) (on right or left tarsus).

note 1 : adult and juvenile birds are ringed at Texel (since 2006), Leiden (only in 2007), Vlieland (since 2007), and IJmuiden (since 2008).
* Texel adults will be ringed with starting-letter “M” or “F” followed by a “dot” and 3 characters. [ e.g. M.AAA ] . M stands for male, F stands for female. Chicks are ringed on Texel with starting letter “P” followed by a “dot” and 3 characters. [ P.AAA ] – Steel ring on tibia.
* Leiden birds are roof-nesting individuals and these will be ringed with starting-letter “K” followed by a “dot” and 3 characters. [ e.g. K.LAK ].
* IJmuiden birds will be ringed by with starting-letter “Y” followed by a “dot” and 3 characters. [ e.g. Y.AAA ] (irrespective of sex and age). – Steel ring on tarsus.
* Vlieland birds banded in 2007 and 2008 carry a PTT with a harness. see :    http://www.microwavetelemetry.com/Bird_PTTs/12g_specs.php#
F.AAB, F. AAA , F.AFB, F.AFF, F.AFH, F.AFJ, F.AFM, M.AFF, M.AFH, M.AFJ, M.AFL, M.ALA.

note 2 : Ringing site is Kelderhuispolder, Texel, The Netherlands.
note 3 : metal ring on right tibia, colour ring on left tarsus.
note 4 : rings should read upwards (some errors were made), the inscription is read three times.
note 6 : the letters used are A ,B ,C ,D ,F ,G ,H ,J ,K ,L ,M ,N ,P ,R ,S ,T ,U ,V ,W ,X ,Y ,Z.
note 7 : as material PMMA is used and details on how these rings hold (colour, inscription, general wear) and e.v damage to the gulls is most welcome.
note 8 : although these are in fact 2 ringing schemes, the records can be sent to the single address above (Kees Camphuysen) for immediate processing, to avoid a further increase in HG programmes…
note 9 : any sightings please do report the condition of the bird, the type of area or terrain the bird is in (is it feeding??) and any (digital) images would be greatly appreciated.
note 10 : The M.xxx and F.xxx series for mature LBBGs and HGs is continued ; The P.xxx series is now exclusively used for fledglings HGs (that do not travel far south) because of an unfortunate overlap with a Spanish scheme in 2006.

Green ring with a white 4 alpha-numeric code (starting letters 'AZ').

note 1: used codes during 2008-2011: AZ00-AZ53.

Green ring with a white 2 alpha code (on left tibia).

note 1 : all rings are of the same design, with the letter repeated round the ring, so that the letters read horizontally on a standing bird. See image.

note 2 : birds are ringed as breeding adults on Skomer Island, Wales, as part of long-term population monitoring dating back to the 1970s

note 3 : Only the 20 letters A, B, C , D, F, H, I, J, K, L, N, O, P, S, T, U, V, X, Y, Z are used, since the others are too large (W , M) or too likely to other letters (E, G, Q, R).

note 4 : 

Blue ring with a white 4 alpha code and metal ring.

note 1 : an alternating dot is placed  in between the letters. If possible, please note the position of this dot as well as the direction in which the ring was read (up/down).
THe M-serie from 2021 has no point !

note 2 : used codes are : AAAA up to ZZAZ, and AAOA up to ZZOZ, always with the letter "A" or “O” at the third position. For example: F.YAK,KA.AD, AL.OF or CRO.Z

note 3 : the letter E, I, J, O, Q, V, W, and X have not been used as FIRST letter.

note 4 : in most cases the ring must be read upwards. Preferably the blue rings were placed at the right tarsus and the metal rings at the left, but there are exceptions.

note 5 : a few  look-alikes with yellowish legs (hybrids as well as pure Yellow-legged Gulls) were cr-ringed as well.

note 5 : 

Blue ring with an orange 3 alpha code.

Blue ring with a yellow 3 alpha code.

note 1 : 

Pale-blue ring with a black 4 alpha or 4 alpha-numeric code (starting letter 'J').

note 1 : used codes for the pale-blue rings are : J601-J700.

note 2 : used letters for the dark-blue rings are: A, C, G, E, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, U, V, X, Y, Z.

Dark-blue ring with a white 4 alpha-numeric code (starting letter'J').

note 1 : used codes for the pale-blue rings are : J601-J700.

note 2 : used letters for the dark-blue rings are: A, C, G, E, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, U, V, X, Y, Z.

note 3 :

Dark-blue ring with white 3 alpha code (on right tarsus).

note 1 : some 200 birds are ringed in the framework of a wildlife rehabilitation centre near Hastings, East Sussex.

Blue ring with a white 4 alpha-numeric code (starting letter 'V' and a 'dot' after the first letter)

note 1 : used codes are : V.000 - V.OZZ.

note 2 : only a few birds are ringed in Denmark.

note 3 :