Saturday 27 February 2010

My longest run so far. 10.5 miles to Bottisham, Swaffham Bulbeck, along Swaffham Bulbeck Lode to White Fen, then across White Fen , along Bottisham Lode to Lode Mill and back to Quy along the old railway line. A nice scenic run , whether was quite warm but rather windy. The head wind was noticeable when I turned for home at White Fen. Rather muddy on the off-road stretches, particularly along Swaffham Bulbeck Lode. I think next time I will try the other bank as the north side where I ran today was not only muddy, but had a 6-foot high bank so I had no views of the lode. My time was a respectable 1'39:30, slightly behind my target time for 10 miles.

Not a great deal of wildlife seen. 2 Kestrels a few Red-Legged Partridges and several Tits (including a couple of long-tailed), Chaffinches and Blackbirds. A Jay was seen just before Swaffham Bulbeck also a couple of Mistle Thrushes. 2 Grey Squirrels seen.

http://gb.mapometer.com/en/running/route_419164.html

Wednesday 24 February 2010

We did the same run as yesterday. It was quite a bit warmer this morning, so no frost and hence was rather muddy along railway line and particularly the bridleway. Pushed on ahead of Joanna from Lode Mill and did the final 2 miles in a pretty quick time.

Plenty of Tits, Chaffinches and Blackbirds around. 4 Partridges between Bottisham and Lode. A single squirrel along the railway line and a few rabbits. A moorhen was seen at Lode Mill and a Coot was on the pond again. Also a Kestrel in Station Road, Quy.

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Ran with Joanna today through Bottisham, Lode and back past Lode Mill and along the old railway line. Cold and frosty this morning. The roads were a little slippery in places, but fortunately the railway track wasn't too muddy as the ground was frozen. Distance 9km.

Song Thrush singing at Lode Mill. Also saw several Blue Tits and Great Tits, a Long-Tailed Tit, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Dunnocks, Robins and Blackbirds. A few Fieldfares in the field near Lode Mill. Many Jackdaws, Rooks, Woodpigeons and Collard Doves. A Coot was on the pond along Station Road, Quy.

Sunday 21 February 2010

A visit to Brandon Country Park with Joanna again today. Early snow turned to rain and so the tracks were pretty slushy. We did the Blue Cycle Route with the additional 2.7km loop at Mayday Farm.

3 Muntjacs seen on the journey to Brandon and another during the run, also a single doe Roe Deer. Also saw a couple of squirrels. Marsh Tits were heard as we set off past the Orchard car park. 2 hen Pheasants flew off from a recently felled area. A party of Great Tits and Blue Tits were seen at Mayday Farm and several more at the feeders at the car park, together with Coal Tits, Chaffiches a Robin and a Nuthatch.

Thursday 18 February 2010

Cold and misty this morning. Ran to Bottisham, Lode and back past Lode Mill and along the old railway line. It started to snow when we were at Lode Mill. The snow was fairly heavy for about 10 minutes then it stopped. Distance 9km.

Not too much to see in the mist, but 4 Song Thrushes singing (2 in Quy, 2 in Lode). A single Grey Squirrel along the railway line.

Tuesday 16 February 2010

A run along the cycle path to Bottisham around the village and back again this morning. Distance 4.5 miles. Some stiffness in my right leg.

Not really a wildlife friendly route, but 2 singing Song Thrushes in Main Strret, Quy.

Monday 15 February 2010

An early start this morning (6:37). Very cold at first but warmed up once the sun came up. Ran to Bottisham and Lode and then out through Lode to White Fen. Then back to Quy via Lode Mill. Most of the route was on road. The grassy stretch along White Fen Drove and the old railway line back to Quy were not muddy this morning as the ground was frozen. Total distance was 9 miles in a time of 1'24:50.

Plenty of wildlife seen this morning. At least 7 Song Thrushes heard signing at various points around the route. Also 3 pairs of Red-Legged Partridges. Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Kestrel and 2 Moorhens along Bottisham Lode. 2 Yellowhammers and a Kestrel along White Fen Drove. 6 Roe Deer on White Fen and another couple at the other end of the adjacent field. Grey Wagtail at Lode Mill. 4 Grey Squirrels along the old railway line. A lot of snowdrops in the old moat round Quy Hall.

http://gb.mapometer.com/en/running/route_401415.html

Tuesday 9 February 2010

A light dusting of snow this morning, but not too cold. I ran the 4.3 mile Lode Mill route today in a fraction under 40 minutes. Some stiffness in the legs today. As usual rather muddy through the trees at Anglesey Abbey, but not as bad as usual due to slight frost.

A couple of Red-Legged partridges flew up as I ran along Quy Water and 100m further on about 12 more. A Buzzard in the trees at the edge Anglesey Abbey, flew from its perch to another tree nearby. Song Thrush singing just passed Lode Mill and a Mistle Thrush in the field there with about 4 Fieldfares. Also in the field near the mill with several Black-Headed Gulls was a 1st winter Common Gull. 3 Grey Squirrels along the railway track.

Sunday 7 February 2010

Ran the same route as last Sunday - the Blue cycle route at Brandon Country Park plus a 2.7 km extension. Started out with Joanna, who decided to run the first 2km far too quick. At Mayday Farm she decided not to do the full extended route so I continued alone whilst she went on the basic 10k route. The weather was not so good this week, there was drizzly rain for the first 4km. With the incentive of possibly catching up with Joanna I pushed myself to run a bit faster than normal. It wasn't until about 1km from the finish that I caught sight of Joanna up ahead and managed to catch up with her 500 metres from the finish. Completed the run of just over 8 miles in 1 hour 16 minutes.

A Goshawk seen at Mayday farm and a Nuthatch near the feeders at the visitors centre.

Thursday 4 February 2010

A 9km run this morning along the Bottisham-Lode-Lode Mill-old railway line route. A fairly mild morning (5⁰C) and dry after the rain of night before. A reasonable time of around 53 minutes, despite feeling tired from the start. I think I managed to keep a reasonable pace for the second half.

Quite a few birds seen today - highlights were a Jay flying into the woods at Anglesey Abbey, a Green Woodpecker in Station Road, 2 Red-Legged Partridges along the bridleway and singing Song Thrushes in Lode and Station Road.

Tuesday 2 February 2010

I ran my usual 4.3 mile Lode Mill run this morning. A bit tired after the weekend and had to cope with a head wind all the way back along the old railway track. Pretty muddy and slippery through the trees along Quy Water at Anglesey Abbey, but a bit warmer than recently. Approximate time of 42 minutes.

Again not many birds around, but about 50 Jackdaws in Station Road.

Sunday 31 January

Brandon Country Park - A very pleasant 8+ mile run around the Blue Cycle Route with an additional 2.7k loop at Mayday Farm. The weather was slightly cold but sunny. The ground was in good condition for running. I ran the 8 mile route with Joanna and did a few extra there and back branches to allow her to catch up, so total distance run was 8.5 - 9 miles. No tiredness felt, in fact had energy to spare for last 2km.

The forest was very quiet as far as birds were concerned. One small flock of Great Tits otherwise Marsh Tits seen at Orchard car park and Coal Tits on the feeders at the visitor centre. A Muntjac was seen near the Orchard car park.

Blue Route - http://gb.mapometer.com/en/running/route_358519.html
Add-on - http://gb.mapometer.com/en/running/route_358540.html