RON Freethy's apologia under the remarks of Jim Bonner (Letters, April 24), which drew attention to a somewhat questionable comment in Mr Freethy's article of April 16, is really not much better than his original comment.

In his article he reported that someone had seen a lesser black backed gull in Rishton Reservoir (nothing unusual in that) and then said: "I think this bird is on migration from Portugal to its breeding grounds at Walney Island."

Mr Bonner pointed out that there are few grounds for such an assumption and indeed more grounds for other possibilities. He is right. On a balance of probabilities, Mr Freethy's assumption is less likely.

Mr Freethy now says: 'This was a summary of these figures' (ringing returns from the British Trust for Ornithology). His article gave no such summary nor any figures - only his thought.

He now says his information (sic) is based on a scientific paper produced by the BTO. But he gave no information - just said that he thought something. And what paper was this? When did the BTO say that a gull on Rishton Reservoir was likely to be migrating between Portugal and Walney (not all that likely, as Mr Bonner rightly points out). Can we read this paper? When was it produced? Where is it?

Finally, in his apologia Mr Freethy refers to The Times published four days after his article (April 20). This was a Sunday and The Times is not published on a Sunday. Another mistake? Oops!

Really, Mr Freethy! Whenever you make mistakes why not admit them openly. Or better still check first.

DAN CROWLEY, Columbia Way, Lammack, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.