🍺 Potters Wheel and Bank Statement, double Wetherspoon delight in Swansea! Both busy. A few geezers in the first, where the Gower Power was fine but didn't quite taste its 5.5%. In the second, where large women abounded, the Weizen Up, a festival beer from Brewster's, was too sweet to be authentic.

🍺 No Sign Bar, Swansea: heritage pub, once frequented by Dylan Thomas - in his time it may have been more noted for wine than beer. Narrow frontage, then an interior (with floorboards and flagstones) that goes on and on and on... The Gold from the Gower brewery was unremarkable but in good nick.

🍺 Queens Hotel, Swansea: busy corner pub across the dual carriageway in the Maritime Quarter. Young folk (some discussing football) sit mainly at tables, oldies perch at the bar. The Frolic from Barry's new Nash Point brewery (ridiculously small print on the pump clip!) is pleasantly hoppy.

I never got to the Vetch Field, but heard that it became quite dilapidated in its final years. The new stadium is impressive, and just about walkable from the city centre. Alas, no birding for me today.

⚽️ Swansea City 2 Norwich City 1: Swansea's stadium is my 70th of the 92 current PL/ EFL grounds. The sleek Swans, top of the Championship, were given a few scares by the chirpy Canaries (clad in Mynah black) who took a first half lead, the hosts then stepping up to score twice early in the second.

We gave it a real go last five, but by then the game was lost. That's now one win in nine. I can't see EFL clubs queueing up to recruit Mr Agutter.

⚽️ Sutton Utd 0 Boreham Wood 2: predictable outcome against the league leaders who are undefeated this season. We played some slick football, but posed little goal threat between the opening and closing five minutes. We do lack a proven goalscorer. The rest of the league play tomorrow.

🐦‍⬛ Portland Bill today: I was lucky enough to arrive at the observatory soon after this young Red-backed Shrike had been ringed. I saw it again when released in a nearby field, as well as a skulking Dartford Warbler. Ravens and Swallows flew above. Over the sea were Gannets, Shags and Razorbills.

Today is the 117th consecutive day somewhere in the UK has recorded a temperature of 20°C or higher. The 11th of June was the last time we didn't reach this threshold. Fresher air comes in on Wednesday allowing temperatures to fall, and likely to stay just below 20°C.

I can't believe there's much substance to this. Agi's record since arriving at Sutton isn't particularly impressive. That may change, but until it does I can't see him going anywhere (unless things actually get worse).

🍺 Pelican, Addlestone, Surrey: inter-war pub beside the River Wey Navigation (no pelicans seen). Several customers were sitting by the river on this barmily balmy October evening. A bunch of lads played pool. Taylor Landlord is hardly an exciting option these days, but theirs was in decent nick.

Definitely not normal!

Did you notice that it felt more like July than October this afternoon? Temperatures were widely several degrees Celsius above average today, particularly in the south. Here are today's provisional top temperatures 🌡️👇

The UK drought continues…Alexandra Lake (puddle) Wanstead Flats!

🍺 Last Jar, Blackheath: busy, back-street micropub of a size that tests the definition. The Abbeydale Moonshine was in good form. Affable tattooed guy at bar. The cob selection included cheese and black pudding.

🍺 Britannia, Blackheath, W Mids: busy (aren't they all?) Wetherspoon pub, a brisk twelve-minute walk from Rowley Regis station. The Salted Caramel Porter from Theakston (it seems part of their festival) was full of flavour, but I don't think I'd want another one. 🤢

⚽️ Kidderminster Harriers 1 Sutton Utd 1: much-improved from Wednesday (and with a much-changed starting XI), we gifted them a goal through a goalkeeping error in the first half but finished much the stronger, equalising in the 88th minute. Still 11th.

🍺 Society, Birmingham: modern hall with bench seating, street food counters and a bar run by Vocation brewery, similar to outlets in other large cities. Their hoppy Bread & Butter was a pleasant livener. One of those annoying cashless venues where one's invited to add a tip when paying at the bar.