Wednesday 30 May 2012

A tiring 8 mile run to Lode this morning, coming back via Quy Fen and Allicky Farm.  Weather was dry and bright, but the grass was dewy.

The Moorhen was again seen sitting on a nest along Quy Water.  2 Great-Spotted Woodpeckers heard at Anglesey Abbey.  Several Swifts seen over Lode.

A few Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats heard.  In the fields after Lodestar a couple of Skylarks were seen, and in the ditch were a pair of Reed Buntings and a pair of Corn Buntings.

A Roe Deer and a Muntjac were seen.

Sunday 27 May 2012

Another hot day today.  I managed a 5.5 mile run at Brandon Country Park.

A Woodlark was seen in a newly cut area.  A Roe Deer and a Muntjac seen.

Saturday 26 May 2012

A hot day today for Cambridge parkrun.  Despite the heat I managed my best time of the year at 21'56".

A few Chiffchaffs heard singing.

Wednesday 23 April 2012

A 9.5 mile run this morning to Lode, White Fen Drove, Quy Fen and Allicky Farm.  Weather was dry but the grass was a bit dewy in places.

Moorhens with chicks along Quy Water and another sitting on a nest.  An almost full grown chick was on the pond just before Quy Fen.

A Hare was seen along White Fen Drove

Sunday 20 May 2012

Wimpole 10k this morning at Wimpole Hall (National Trust).  Weather was quite cold.  The course was a bit muddy in places especially on top of the hill at Cobb's Wood.  A tough hilly course with a steep climb between 1 and 2 km.  A pleasant route then either along the edge of or through woodland to the 7km mark,  The course then opened out onto the parkland starting with a steep grassy downhill section.  At 9km the finish was sight but the route teasingly veered away along the avenue (which used to be bordered with elms before dutch elm disease struck several years ago).  I had energy left for a final sprint to the finish for a time of 47'14" and 48th place out of 440 runners.

Wednesday 16 May 2012

I ran the 8-mile Horningsea route this morning.  Normally I run this anti-clockwise but did it the other way round today.  On the way back came through Quy Fen rather than past Allicky Farm.  Rather cold this morning, but not too muddy.  Time was 1 hour 08'09".

A Fox was seen along the Honey Hill byway.  A few Whitethroats seen or heard.  Reed Warblers were heard in the reeds at Quy Fen.

Sunday 13 May 2012

A trip to Brandon Country Park today.  Weather was dry and it was quite warm at times.  I basically ran the blue cycle route with a few little additions. Total distance was about 7 miles.  Finished off with kettlebelling and boxercise in the orchard picnic area.

A Green Woodpecker was seen and a few Chiffchaffs heard.

Saturday 12 May

A good parkrun this morning.  The course was still a little muddy in places, but not too bad.  A respectable time of 22'03".

A few Chiffchaffs heard and a Buzzard was soaring over at the finish.

Tuesday 8 May 2012

A bright evening after all the recent rain, so I went out for a run as soon as I got home.  I set off for Wilbraham Fen, with no set route in mind.  After running down the main central path I crossed the wheat fields along the footpath near the windmill and came back to the start along Little Wilbraham River.  I then headed back down the central path and returned to Quy via the Six-Mile Bottom road.  A total distance of 9.2 miles.

A Buzzard flew up close along the hedgerow in d'Engaynes as I arrived.  In the main fen were Reed and Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings, 2 Cuckoos and a Short-Eared Owl.  Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Yellowhammers were seen or heard too.

When I got back to Quy there was a Hare on the cricket pitch.

Saturday 5 May 2012

Fen Drayton Lakes 10k.  A revised route due to flooding, however a part of the course alongside the guided busway was flooded.

I started well but was out of energy by 3k.  This is after a kettlebell class and a boxercise class in the week.  Having slowed down at this stage a number of runners came passed me, including the 50 minutesd pacer at around the 7K mark (but he was running ahead of that time).  A decent final 2k saw me finish up with a time of 48'03", well down on my planned sub-45 time.

Not much opportunity to spot many birds, but a few Swifts seen flying around.

Wednesday 2 May 2012

A 10 mile run this morning to Oily Hall.  The weather was slightly drizzly at the start and fairly cool.  The ground was muddy in places, especially at the start of Anglesey Abbey woods and along the bridleway.  A reasonable time of 1 hour 29'20".

A few House Martins seen over Station Road and a couple of Swallows.  A Heron flew up from the river at the start of Quy Water.  2 Green Woodpeckers were seen at Lode Mill and another at Frolic Farm.  A Great-Spotted Woodpecker was seen along the track to the Lodestar fields.  A male Kestrel was here too.

A total of about 5 Roe Deer were seen this morning.

Monday 30 April 2012

Due to continued heavy rain in recent days I ran the mainly road route to Bottisham and Lode and back along the old railway track.  A fairly slow 47'33".

A couple of House Martins seen in Vicarage Meadow and some more in Lode. 

A Collared Dove was seen nesting where a telegraph cable met the wall of a cottage in Lode.  I have seen the old nest there before, but this is the first time I've seen the bird on the nest.

Saturday 28 April 2012

Parkrun this morning.  Heavy rain before the start had eased off to a light drizzle by the time the run started.  The course was very muddy though, with large puddles.  Considering the conditions, my time of 22'22" was reasonable.

A few Chiffchaffs heard.