Tuesday 29 June 2010

A gentle 4 mile run with Joanna to Lode Mill this morning. We had some rain overnight and there was some light rain as we ran down Station Road. The temperature was comfortably cool.

A mother Swan with 2 fairly large cygnets was on the pond in Quy (the male bird was shot a few weeks ago - so she's done well to bring up 2 young). 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers together along the Bridleway. 3 Roe Deer were in a wheat field along the railway track. A Chiffchaff and several wrens heard. 3 Kingfishers were sitting in a dead tree along Quy Water at the start of Anglesey Abbey woods.





Looking back to Quy from Anglesey Abbey. The Kingfishers were in the tree (overhanging the water) in the centre of the picture.

Saturday 26 June 2010

Parkrun today in 24'14". Stiffness in the calves prevented a faster time. Weather was fairly warm.

At least 3 Chiffchaffs heard.

Thursday 24 June 2010

A slow 10k this morning in 58'17". I appeared to have little energy this morning. The weather was fine, sunny but not too warm. The grass was dewy.

A Kingfisher was seen flying away from Quy Water, just before Anglesey Abbey. Plenty of House Martins and Swifts in Station Road and in Lode. Swallows at the cottages in Fen Road, Lode and at the end of the bridleway. A Grey Heron was seen along Bottisham Lode and a Hare was running along the bridleway. A Green Woodpecker was along the track by the poplar trees. Song Thrush singing in Lode. Finally 2 Partridges were in Station Road near the pond.

Tuesday 22 June 2010

A late evening run today to the end of White Fen Drove. The weather had cooled down a lot after a very warm day and was very comfortable for running. 7.9 miles run in 1 hr 07'39".

Several House Martins in Station Road Quy and several screaming Swifts in Mill Road, Lode and a few in Station Road on the way back. A Grey Heron along Bottisham Lode and a Kestrel was sitting half way up an electricity pylon along White Fen Drove. Whitethroat and 2 Skylarks between the barley fields. A Brown Rat was seen at the pond in Quy.

The Cranes (captive) along White Fen Drove were quite vocal this evening. There are a number of species one was making an Ow-Wow-Wow call.

Monday 21 June 2010

A slower 10k to Lode this morning. Suffering from some stiffness in the calves for the first half, fortunately this eased off for the latter part. Final time of 56'30" reflects the early problems.

A fledged Song Thrush seen in Quy. A few Swifts and House Martins seen, but only 4 Swallows. 6 Moorhens along Quy Water and another one with 2 young along Bottisham Lode. 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers together along the bridleway and a flock of about 10 Goldfinches. A Sedge Warbler was heard along the ditch heading back towards the railway line and a Buzzard flew out along the track just before the railway line.

Saturday 19 June 2010

Another Parkrun and another PB. I had a quick start (1st km 4'40" and managed to keep up the pace). Got to the finishing straight with plenty of time to spare, so didn't bother with a sprint finish. Finished in a good time of 23'39".

A Turtle Dove was heard purring on the first main lap of the lakes.

Friday 18 June 2010

10k run to Lode this morning, coming back via the alternative route. Weather was cool with a light drizzle. The grass was drier this morning as there was no dew. I decided from the start to try for a quick time and made good progress to Lode Mill. I managed to keep up the effort to finish in a good time of 53'22", my fastest non-competition 10k.

Chifchaff and Wrens singing at the start of Anglesey Abbey woods. Several Swallows, Swifts and House Martins all around. Along the track after White Fen Drove there was a Roe buck. I then heard and subsequently saw a male Great Spotted Woodpecker, immediately followed by hearing a Green Woodpecker. Heading back to the railway track (between 2 Barley fields) there were 4 Skylarks and again a pair of Reed Buntings. Another Chiffchaff was heard just before the railway track, At the end of the bridleway were 4 Goldfinches including recently fledged birds.

Wednesday 16 June 2010

An 8 mile run to the end of White Fen Drove. I came back a different way to normal by carrying straight on after returning down White Fen Drove towards Quy Fen, and joined the railway line further down.

Weather was cool with some breeze. The grass (quite long in places) was dewy. My time was 1 hr 08'18".

Again lots of Swallows, House Martins and Swifts around. A Grey Heron seen along Bottisham Lode and (another) was flying passed the end of White Fen Drove. A Pied Wagtail also along Bottisham Lode. Along the new route back 2 Reed Buntings were seen and 2 Skylarks.

The field boundaries along White Fen Drove had many Poppies.

Poppy

Monday 14 June 2010

A 10k run to Lode today. Fairly tiring, as still not back into shape. A quick start to Lode Mill and a finish time of 54'30".

A Grey Heron was at the pond in Station Road. Mallard with young duckings along Quy Water and a bit further on a Moorhen chick. Song Thrush and Chiffchaff singing at start of Anglesey Abbey Woods. Along Bottisham Lode Whitethroats, Yellowhammers and Sedge Warblers singing, also a Pied Wagtail was seen. A lot of Swallows, House Martins and Swifts in the usual places. A Swift was seen visiting its nest in a cottage roof in Mill Road, Lode.

Saturday 12 June 2010

A couple of weeks off for Holiday then a bad cold. Cambridge Parkrun this morning. Still blocked up with cold so had trouble breathing. Managed a decent time though of 24'33". Weather was quite cool.

Chiffchaffs and Wrens heard singing and a Great Spotted Woodpecker heard calling.