Local birdlife. Mr Trump and prizes and guns. Drinking in Manchester.

The other day I saw swifts or swallows - I wasn’t close enough to see clearly and, besides, I’m not sure I’d know the difference - massed on a telephone wire. Were they waiting to migrate to wherever they go for the winter?

Then I frightened a pheasant and caused it to fly up onto someone’s roof.

Today it was the turn of the heron, in the ford near one of the millponds, an unusual place to see him. 

As I approached for a closer photo he took off, demonstrating his huge wingspan for me. 

Right, that’s the bird-spotting done for today.

Here’s a Ben Jennings cartoon about Mr Trump and his claims to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.

The progress towards peace in Gaza still seems to take staggering steps forward, only to be knocked backwards by one or other party disagreeing with details or simply not being fully involved in discussions. 

Maybe Mr Trump should turn his attention inwards in the USA and do something about guns. Here’s a report of a shooting in a Mormon church in Michigan. Of course, we’ll never find out what the shooter had against the Mormons as he was shot dead by the police.

Here’s a little item about Manchester city centre pubs, not necessarily the cheapest places to go drinking but often picturesque:- 

 “Manchester is packed full of some of the oldest pubs in the UK, and whilst there’s nothing we love more than a pint, a Guinness is even better. Luckily for us, there are plenty of amazing Irish pubs offering the black stuff, and one is The Shamrock in Ancoats – which has been officially given a new name.

As work now begins on a  £1.8 million refurbishment of The Shamrock, it will now be called ‘The Spinners Rest‘, after owners Joseph Holt invited locals to make the choice. The name was selected through a public vote and pays tribute to the mill workers who once lived and worked in the area.”

I wonder how long people will continue to call it The Shamrock though.

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!