Tuesday 24 August 2010

A cold but bright and dry morning. A gentle 10k with Joanna this morning.

About 50 House Martins in Station Road and almost as many in Lode. A Grey Heron again along Bottisham Lode. 2 Reed Buntings seen between the barley fields (which have now been harvested), but no sign of any Skylarks. A flock of about 15 Goldfinches seen and a Green Woodpecker heard.

Friday 20 August 2010

A slow 10k this morning - not feeling 100%. Time was just over 57 minutes. Weather was dry and cool.

House Martins and Swallows in the usual places. A Buzzard flew out of the bushes along Quy Water. A bit further on at the start of Anglesey Abbey there was a Jay and a little further on a Grey Heron. Another Heron seen along Bottisham Lode. 2 Skylarks between the barley fields. One of the fields has started to be harvested. A couple of small groups of Goldfinches seen. A Green Woodpecker heard along Station Road.

Tuesday 17 August 2010

8 miles this evening. Started off fairly warm, but started to rain 2 miles from home. Turned into a heavy shower when I got to the railway line and this continued all the way home. Time was not too bad at 1 hour 8'22".

Harvest has started, but still much left to do.

Not many birds about. Several House Martins and Swallows seen, but just 1 Swift. Most of the Swifts have now already left for Africa. A Grey Heron seen along Bottisham Lode. A Jay was seen at the end of White Fen Drove and another along the bridleway.

2 Skylarks and a Reed Bunting between the barley fields.

Monday 16 August 2010

A gentle run to Lode this morning. Weather was dry but cold and a bit windy. 4.6 miles in around 47 minutes.

Not many birds seen this morning. Plenty of House Martins in Station Road though (about 50). A Green Woodpecker along the railway line and about 10 Goldfinches feeding on thistles along Quy Water. The water level at the mill was very low. There were quite a few fish here.

Saturday 14 August 2010

A PB in the Parkrun this morning of 23'01". A quick start in 4'39" and I managed to maintain the pace throughout the 5k, although I was feeling tired for the last 2k.

Wednesday 11 August 2010

An evening run today. Weather was dry and fairly warm. 8 mile run down White Fen Drove. Started out quick with a time to the Lode Mill checkpoint of just 15'55" (a new record). A headwind along Fen Road used up a lot of my energy, but managed to finish in a good time of 1 hour 05'52" (my second best time).

Several House Martins in Station Road. 2 Kingfishers seen 1 at the pond in Quy and 1 along Bottisham Lode. A green Woodpecker heard in the horse fields at the start of Quy Water and 2 seen on the way back along the bridleway. 6 Partridges at the entrance to the crane farm. 4 Skylarks over the barley fields. 3 Greenfinches at the end of the bridleway.




The spindly old oaks along the bridleway.


















The end of the bridleway, where it joins Station Road.

Monday 9 August 2010

10k this morning. Weather was dry and fine. A reasonable time of 55'01".

House Martins in Vicarage Meadow, Station Road and Lode. Several juvenile Moorhens seen along Quy Water and Bottisham Lode. Mute Swan flew towards me along Quy Water.

10-12 Swallows at the cottages along Fen Road, Lode. Several Chub in Bottisham Lode. Skylarks seen over the barley fields. A group of about 50 finches along the track parallel to the railway track.

Wednesday 4 August 2010

8 mile run to the end of White Fen Drove in a good time of 1 hour 6'55". There was a light drizzle as I left but this cleared up half way along Quy Water. The ground was obviously wet underfoot.

A Kingfisher was sent at the start of Quy Water and another just before the turn to White Fen Drove. 2 Green Woodpeckers were seen too. Along Bottisham Lode a Hare was in the road and a Roe Deer in the field on the northern side of the road. A Grey Heron was in its usual place in the lode.

About 10 Swallows at the Crane farm and 2 Red-Legged Partridges were seen along White Fen Drove. 2 Reed Buntings (pair) between the barley fields at a Skylark.

In Station Road there was a flock of about 20 House Sparrows and probably close to 100 House Martins. Finally a Pied Wagtail was seen in Vicarage Meadow.

Wednesday 28 July 2010

8 mile run this morning to the end of White Fen Drove. A slow time of 1 hour 10'50".

Usual bird sightings.