🐦⬛ Rainham Marshes today: about 16 summer-plumaged Bar-tailed Godwits, with a similar number of Avocets, foraged in Aveley Bay, as a Grasshopper Warbler reeled in the enclosed bay behind. The pools yielded a Spoonbill, a Great White Egret and a Ruff. Marsh Harriers and Swifts patrolled the sky.
'Why Does Cheap Beer Give You a Worse Hangover?' | Mathias Lentz graintoglass.substack.com/p/why-does-c...
One of those exceptional days that sometimes come along and make up for all the disappointing ones. I was with my U3A birding group, who may not all have fully appreciated the richness on offer.
🐦⬛ Pulborough Wild Brooks, W Sussex: brilliant day's birding, despite the blustery weather, as two Common Cranes then a White Stork flew over, the South Brooks yielded a pair of Black-winged Stilts (UK ✅️ for me) alongside two Greenshank and a Little Ringed Plover, and a Nightingale sang in full view.
The Half Moon, a well-known London pub and live music venue, has re-opened in Putney, following a full refurbishment beertoday.co.uk/2026/04/18/h... #pub #pubnews
I binned this for the CAMRA Members' Weekend in St Albans. Cathy and Bob did likewise. Looks as if we made the right call. 🙄
🍺 Brewhouse & Kitchen, Chelmsford: somewhat incongruously in a former Quaker meeting house, this eastern outpost of the enterprising B&K chain is on two floors (I sought refuge upstairs). Their Capital Session IPA (4.0%), brewed naturally on the premises, is nicely balanced.
🍺 Yard, Maldon, Essex: tiny, even for a micropub, now run by the WHARF brewery, whose easy-drinking Polly on the Shore was fresh as a sea breeze. I was the sole customer, ideal for soaking up the local knowledge of the chatty lady in charge.
24th v 23rd this coming Saturday. Keep those bath taps ready!
⚽️ Surrey Senior Cup semi-final, Farnham Town 0 Sutton Utd 0, Farnham won 4-2 on penalties. Stark contrast with October's two FA Cup games between these sides which produced 11 goals. Most of this one was played in the Farnham half, but, without a recognised striker, we barely got a shot on target.
Welcome to his nightmare… Trump’s shattering of the American Dream🤦🏻♂️
wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/2600184...
⚽️ Carlisle Utd 3 Sutton Utd 0: another underwhelming performance from us, barely managing a shot against the team 3rd in the table. They got all their goals before half-time. At least results elsewhere confirm that we'll be playing National League football again next season. Now 18th.
🍺 West Walls Brewing Co, Carlisle: despite a dark approach road, this vibrant taproom is a safe haven for all good drinkers. Smoker outside initially objects to being in my photo, but is only joking. Regulation bench seating, inner door disguised as bookcase. Their Low Rider is pleasantly quaffable.
🍺 Wheatsheaf, Wetheral, Cumbria: another lively village local, east of Carlisle, with local ales on handpump. Tartan carpet and big TV. The Monumental from the Kirkby Lonsdale brewery is just about my best beer so far this evening.
I know the T&L well!
I came back to Carlisle for some Lancaster beer! This is the Scott & Brassey, once the station buffet, and very likely a preemptive GBG tick. 🙂
🍺 Fetherston Arms, Kirkoswald, Cumbria: bustling, village pub with drinking and dining areas and a nice mix of locals. The Tirril Grasmere Gold is pleasant but unremarkable. I saw my first Swallow of 2026 on the walk here from the station (a bit longer than the 20 minutes mentioned in the GBG). 🐦⬛
RECORD HEAT ALLOVER EAST ASIA
Persistent endless record heat in China,Mongolia,Koreas,Japan,Vietnam,Cambodia,Laos,Thailand,Taiwan.
Weeks with hundreds of records broken and rebroken and the worst is not even close.
Tomorrow will be an absolute insanity.
A Red Kite over Big Ben this morning.
Close to extinction in Britain not so long ago, this is one of our most successful species recovery efforts to date.
We can do a lot more of this kind of thing, & @naturalengland.bsky.social we’re excited about new work in the pipeline for many others.
I'm leading a FREE Wild Pavements plant hunt as part of the Books in the Park festival in Beckenham Place Park, S London. Saturday 25 April at 11:30. Details and how to register for a place here 👇 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-... #urbannature #pavementplants #urbanplants
Netanyahu’s a corrupt war criminal who engages in mindless bloodshed to postpone his legal & political fate.
This disastrous war, in concert with the equally amoral Trump, has only hastened his comeuppance & empowered the barbaric Iranian regime.
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
26.5C (79.7F) at Kew this afternoon, the daily max record from 2011 is obliterated by 4.4C!
Only 1946 is known to have had a temperature hotter than this so early in year in London area…. 26.7C at Greenwich on 4 April 1946.
⚽️ Sutton Utd 0 Southend Utd 3: home woes continue. We held them at bay in the first half but, despite showing more attacking intent in the second, were thrice breached. That's four consecutive home defeats (aggregate 1-13 😯), yet we're undefeated in six away games (3 wins, 3 draws). 🤔 Still 17th.
🍺 Delighted to be back at the classic Odd One Out in Colchester, where the Cumberland Ale, from the reanimated Jennings brewery in Cockermouth, is excellent.
🍺 Fox Inn, West Mersea: traditional two-bar pub on the opposite side of town from the last place. Shotgun on wall. With lunch ending, most customers are in groups, but a lone Guinness-drinker at the bar is glued to his phone. My Captain Bob from Mighty Oak is a notch up on their beer at the Coast.
🍺 Coast Inn, West Mersea, Essex: maritime-themed, two-tier pub with a strong food trade and views over the Blackwater estuary. Noisy dogs and boating talk. The Gorgeous George, a brown bitter from Mighty Oak, is in decent order.
🍺 Ivy House, Alton, Hants: big, rambling Wetherspoon pub, embracing a C19th century buiding and modern extension, where tables were at a premium this Good Friday. A group of middle-class cultured types blocked a gangway. 🤨 The Lees Game On was in good nick but is essentially a dull beer.
⚽️ Aldershot Town 2 Sutton Utd 2: frenetic! Deservedly 2-0 down in 20 minutes, their second the 18th penalty against us this season, we rallied with two goals from midfielder Lewis Simper, his second only our 3rd penalty of the season. A player from each side was subsequently sent off.😯 We stay 17th.
🍺 Marquis of Granby, Old Harlow, Essex: C18th century building with modernised interior, quiet save for Planet Rock radio and a customer delivering a horse-racing monologue. The guvnor told me he's not shifting much cask ale; my Bishop Nick Ridley's Rite, cloudy but drinkable, was Hobson's choice.
I had to check my records when I got home to confirm that this visit re-completed Bedfordshire for me in the Good Beer Guide. 🙂