Sunday 30 October 2011

An 8.5 mile run at Brandon Country Park mainly along the Blue Cycle Route with an extension at Mayday Farm. The weather was dry and fairly warm with quite a strong breeze. I started at Mayday Farm for a change having had a 2 mile walk around the area first birdwatching. The birdwatching was a bit disappointing with not a lot to see. The usual top spots around water holes were birdless and the water had dried up.

Some of the paths were closed (But the sign said this did not include weekends) as there is currently a lot of tree felling going on. At Mayday farm as you head along the yellow bird trail the view is quite different with the trees ahead all cut down.

Mainly Pigeons, Corvids and Gulls seen, although I did see a large flock of Chaffinches and a mixed group of tits with a Coal Tit. A Green Woodpecker was seen near the large (dried up) pond at Mayday Farm.

Wednesday 26 October 2011

Another late start so again just a short run to Lode. Weather was dry but quite cold. After a steady start for the first 3/4 of a mile I picked up the pace to finish in a PB of 36'03", over a minute quicker than previous best.

A Heron was again seen along Quy Water. At the start of Anglesey Abbey woods a Sparrowhawk dashed across the river. Today I counted 10 Moorhens along Quy Water, with another 2 at the mill pond and 3 at the Station Road pond. Several Blackbirds and Wrens heard in the woods at Anglesey Abbey.

12 Partridges were in the field at the start of the bridleway, a bit further on a Buzzard flew out from the oak trees. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard in Station Road and just before the crossroads another flew down the road.

Monday 24 October 2011

A late start so just a short run to Lode (just under 5 miles). Weather was dry and not as cold as recent mornings. Wind was strong though.

A Barn Owl was seen in the usual place in Station Road. Along Quy Water a Heron was seen and the Swan family (only 3 young seen today). Moorhen sightings were down due to the low light, especially through the woods, but 6 seen today.

A couple of small flocks of Fieldfares seen. A Kestrel and a Green Woodpecker seen along the old railway line.

Saturday 22 October 2011

Another good Parkrun this morning. A record attendance of 324. Finished in a time of 21'40", 10 seconds down on last week's PB. This week's effort was more tiring.

2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers heard.

Wednesday 19 October 2011

Lode 10k this morning. Weather was dry but cold and windy. Not too dark this morning as the half-moon was bright in the cloudless sky, before the sun came up. A slower run than recent ones in a time of 52'13".

Twelve Moorhens seen along Quy Water and 2 more just after the mill. Along Fen Road a Heron and Kestrel were seen and a Green Woodpecker heard.

The right-hand sugar beet field has now been harvested and the left-hand one has been started. A large group of Partridges in the field after the sugar beet fields. Another Green Woodpecker was seen along the track to the old railway line.

2 Pied Wagtails were on a house roof in Station Road.

Monday 17 October 2011

Another dry, bright and cold morning. A later start today so a shorter run of 4.8 miles to Lode and back. A good time of 37'20".

The Swan family were feeding on Quy Water in the woods at Anglesey Abbey. 15 Moorhens seen along this stretch this morning. Many of then were on the path and jumped into the water as I ran past. Another Moorhen was at the mill pond.

A Kestrel was seen along the bridleway.

Saturday 15 October 2011

A dry, bright but cold morning. A very good Parkrun in a new PB time of 21'30".

Thursday 13 October 2011

An evening run again along the Lode 10k route. Weather was dry after light rain for most of the day. Another quick run with a new PB of 48'24" (15'29" again to the Mill).

A Heron and 10 Moorhens seen along Quy Water. Another Heron and a Kestrel along Bottisham Lode. A Green Woodpecker was heard at Anglesey Abbey.

I saw my first Fieldfare of the winter fly across the track leading to the old railway line and a Jay was sen a bit further on.

Wednesday 12 October 2011

8 mile Horningsea run this morning. Left home before sunrise so still fairly dark at first. Weather was not too cold but again quite windy. A reasonable time of 1 hour 6'04".

A Fox ran across the road just before the turning to the Honey Hill bridge over the A14. A Muntjac was seen just after Allicky Farm. Surprising the Muntjac didn't run away even though I was less than 5 Metres away as I ran past. It must have felt safe with the ditch between us!

On the bird front not a lot seen. A couple of Jays and the usual Pigeons, Corvids and game birds. Of interest though were some Reeves Pheasants at Allicky Farm. The Quy village news had noted that there were some about.

The Swan family were swimming under the bridge away from the pond towards Anglesey Abbey.

Monday 10 October 2011

An early evening run straight after work today. Just enough time for the Lode 10k route before it got too dark. Weather was warm but very windy. I made good time to Lode Mill (15'31") and with 2.5 miles to go found myself maintaining a good pace and not feeling tired. I managed to keep this up (and even increased the pace slightly) to the end to finish in a PB of 48'50", 50 seconds quicker than previous best.

The Swan family were on the pond in Station Road. Today's Moorhen count along Quy Water was 12. 3 or 4 White Pheasants were at the edge of the woods at Anglesey Abbey, a batch of these must have been released for the shoot.

2 groups of Partridges seen.

Friday 7 October 2011

8 mile run to Horningsea this morning. Today I ran in the opposite (i.e.clockwise) direction than usual. Left home before sunrise so light was quite dim, not too cold though. A PB time for this route of 1 hour 5'11".

Not many birds seen mainly Pigeons, Corvids, Pheasants and Partridges. I did however see a Kestrel flying across the fields just before the Horningsea to Fen Ditton road.

Wednesday 5 October 2011

10k Lode route again this morning. Weather was dry, overcast and windy. Mornings are getting noticeably darker now. I did some speed work in the first half of the run and achieved my best time to Lode Mill of 15'29". I was tired for the second half and had a head wind, but managed to finish in a good time of 50'08".

A Heron flew up from the bank of Quy Water. 11 Moorhens seen along Quy Water this morning and another 3 on Bottisham Lode and 3 in the field at the start of the track to the Lodestar fields. 2 Roe Deer were seen in a field towards White Fen.

4 Swallows flew over at the end of the sugar beet fields, making slow progress in the wind. A Jay and a Kestrel were seen along the old railway line.

A Cormorant flew over Main Street in Quy.

Monday 3 October 2011

Lode 10k this morning. Weather was dry, bright and fairly warm. A tiring run in a time of 52'43".

The Swan family were on Quy Water. A Great-Spotted Woodpecker was heard in the trees on the other side of the horse field. A Cormorant flew over just before Anglesey Abbey. Another high Moorhen count on Quy Water of 13. I think I heaed a Chiffchaff in Mill Road just after the mill,

A Heron was along Bottisham lode. A Green Woodpecker was seen along the track to the Lodestar fields and at least 3 Skylarks were over the Sugar Beet fields.

Saturday 1 October 2011

Parkrun this morning. A tiring run in a good time of 22'02".

Several Coots on the lakes.