We also haven't addressed the possibility that the Renton gull was
vehicle-assisted.

Seriously, I always wonder at the lengths we go to in determining the
origin of an individual bird. Once we get a few of them - like Tufted
Duck - all of a sudden, they are all legitimate, no consideration of
escapes, hybrids etc. If we start seeing a run of uncontested pure
GBBG in the future (proof that they DO sometimes wander), what will
that do to this bird? What if we have a hybrid bird that appears 100%
pure, but has the stomach shape gene (or whatever) of another species?
How many of our "valid" records are invalid on that basis? While I
respect the views and experience of some of the nay-sayers, I agree
that it is statistically far more likely that this is a pure bird than
a hybrid. But I hope it sticks around long enough for those closer to
it to see more change in plumage.

Better than a good detective novel - even without a conclusive ending.

Bruce Whittington
Victoria BC
mailto: fieldnat at pacificcoast.net