Wednesday 28 March 2012

Lode 10k route this morning.  Weather was dry, bright but cold.  There was some frost on the grass.  The ground was very dry as we have had no rain for some time.  First run after the Sandy 10 mile on Sunday so I took it easy.  Time was 55'42".

5 Moorhens on Quy Water.  2 Lapwings, 2 Skylarks and a Reed Bunting in the field after Lodestar.  A Chiffchaff was heard at Quy Hall.

Sunday 26 March 2012

A very good run in the Sandy 10 mile race today.  Weather was cool and foggy.  A 7 minute improvement on last year to set a new PB of 1 hour 15'41".

The first mile was done in 7'13", the next mile which included the steep uphill section through the woods at the sand hills was 7'48".  I continued to do each mile in under 8 minutes.  The 8th and 9th miles are downhill, so I picked up some speed here.  Very tired for the last mile.

Friday 23 March 2012

A slow run round the Lode 10k route this morning.  Weather was foggy and fairly cold at first.  It warmed up as the sun started to burn through the fog.  Time was 56'12".

A single adult Swan was at the start of Quy Water, together with 2 Canada Geese.  5 Moorhens seen along the stretch to the mill.

A male Kestrel was seen at the Jack of Clubs.  2 Green Woodpeckers were at the end of the track leading to the Lodestar fields.  A Lapwing was seen over the field beyond Lodestar and a singing Skylark was heard.

Tuesday 20 March 2012

An 8-mile run this morning to the end of White Fen Drove.  Weather was dry but cool.  A slow time of around 1 hour 9 minutes as still tired from the weekend and last night's circuit training.

The 2 Swans were on Quy Water. A Green Woodpecker was heard in the distance in the woods at Angelsey Abbey and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers hard drumming.  A Muntjac was seen at the start of the wood and a Jay too.

Another Jay was seen at the Lodestar fields and a Reed Bunting and 2 Skylarks in the usual field.

Sunday 18 March 2012

We ran in the Lode Muddy Marvel today, a run of about 5.2 miles from Lode Mill to Quy Fen.  Unlike yesterday's parkrun, today's run was far from muddy.  A good time of 39'49".

Saturday 17 March 2012

Cambridge parkrun this morning.  Heavy rain started just before the run, but this has eased to a light drizzle by the start.  The course was therefore quite muddy.  A good time considering the conditions of 22'38".

Wednesday 14 March 2012

I managed an earlier start today so I was able to run just under 10 miles to Oily Hall.  Weather was dry and not too cold.  Finished in a decent time of 1 hour 27'02" a new PB for this course.

6 Moorhens were seen along Quy Water and the adult Swans were mating just before Lode Mill (quite a romantic spot!).  No sign of last year's youngsters now.  A Green Woodpecker was heard in the woods opposite Anglesey Abbey.

A Heron was seen flying off along Fen Road.  A Buzzard was over Oily Hall and 3 more seen later between the old railway line and Quy Fen.  3 Roe Deer were also at Oily Hall.

2 Reed Buntings and 2 Skylarks in the usual place.  Several pairs of Partridges about.

Monday 12 March 2012

An 8-mile run to the end of White Fen Drove this morning.  Weather was foggy and fairly cold and damp.  A slow time again of 1 hour 8'30".

Despite the fog some decent sighting today.  The adult Swans were on Quy Water, no sign of the juveniles.  A Kingfisher was perched in the hedgerow, just after the second kissing-gate along Quy Water.  5 Moorhens seen this morning.

A Great-Spotted Woodpecker was drumming along Fen Road, opposite the cottages.  Along the grass track section of White Fen Drove there was a pair of Little Owls.

2 Reed Buntings seen along the ditch after Lodestar and a few Yellowhammers seen.

Saturday 10 March 2012

Cambridge parkrun today.  Weather was dry and fairly warm.  My best time at Cambridge this year at 22'34".  The run was quite tiring, especially the 4th km.

Thursday 8 March 2012

An 8-mile run this morning to the end of White Fen Drove.  Fairly cold due to strong wind.  It was also very muddy in places.  A slow time of 1 hour 8'52".

The 2 adult Swans were on Quy Water, along with 5 Moorhens.  A Green Woodpecker was heard at Anglesey Abbey.

A Little Egret was in Bottisham Lode.  6 Roe Deer were in the field at the corner of Fen Road and White Fen Drove and another 2 at White Fen.  A Pied Wagtail was on the lawn of the crane farm.  3 Green Woodpeckers were seen along the track to the Lodestar fields in the poplar trees.  In the fields after Lodestar were 2 Skylarks, 2 Reed Buntings and a Lapwing.

Tuesday 6 March 2012

Another cold morning - Lode 10k route again.  After heavy rain on Sunday and Monday the path along Quy Water at Anglesey Abbey was quite muddy in places.  A slow time again of 54'42"

The 2 adult Swans were seen on Quy Water, 1 juvenile was just before the mill and another was seen on the way back at the pond. 

A Buzzard was perched in a tree along Fen Road.  A flock of about 300 Fieldfares were on the grass at the Lodestar fields. 2 Skylarks seen today.  3 Long-Tailed Tits seen along the old railway line.

Friday 2 March 2012

A cold and misty Lode 10k run this morning.  It was so misty across the Lodestar fields that I missed the bridge over the small ditch by about 50m and had to back-track along the ditch.  A slow time of 55'50".

Not much to see this morning obviously, but I did see a Kingfisher at the pond in Station Road.