Wednesday 13 March 2013

A steady 10k run to Lode as I'm feeling a bit under the weather.  It was cold and frosty, although it was quite a bit warmer coming across the Lodestar fields.

A Jay was seen in Station Road, Quy and a Moorhen and Coot were at the pond.  Along Quy Water there were several Mallards and Moorhens.  " Green Woodpeckers flew across the track at Lode Mill into the grounds of Anglesey Abbey.

2 Reed Buntings were in the ditch after the Lodestar fields.  A flock of about 15 Lapwings flew over the railway track.  Yellowhammers, Wrens, House Sparrows, various Thrushes and Chaffinches were also seen.

Sunday 13 November 2011

My longest run ever today of 14.7 miles. I started out towards Lode Mill with the intention of doing the 10 mile loop past Oily Hall and the polo club. When I got to the end of White Fen Drove I decided to extend the run through White Fen and down Swaffham Bulbeck Lode to the River Cam. When I got to the Cam I was still feeling good so decided to carry on down to Clayhithe and then on to Baits Bite Lock to come back through Honey Hill.

The weather was dry and bright and quite warm. It was a very enjoyable run in around 2 and quarter hours.

The Swan family (with 3 young) were on Quy Water. 2 Jays seen just before Anglesey Abbey. As I turned into White Fen Drove a Heron was seen in the middle of the field off to the left.

Along Swaffham Bulbeck Lode a Merlin darted across the lode just in front of me and a bit further on a female Marsh Harrier was seen hunting along a ditch in the field to my right. The Harrier swooped down into the ditch so I stopped for a minute or so but she didn't reappear. Obviously a successful catch.

Several Swans seen on the Cam and at just before Clayhithe there were a several Coots. Having crossed the bridge to the towpath to Baits Bite Lock 3 Little Grebes were seen diving for food.

A Green Woodpecker and a Kestrel were also seen. Several Goldfinches again just before the A14 bridge.

Saturday 1 October 2011

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

Several Coots on the lakes.

Saturday 3 September 2011

Cambridge Parkrun this morning. Weather was dry and cool. Feeling tired after long run on Friday morning, so only managed a time of 22'34".

Some Coots and a pair of Swans with 2 large Cygnets on the lake by the visitor centre.

Saturday 2 July 2011

Parkrun. A warm morning but I still managed my third PB in a row with a time of 22'20".

Family of Mute Swans and Coots with young seen on the lake before the start of the run. 3 Chiffchaffs heard.

Wednesday 29 June 2011

Lode 10k this morning. Weather was dry and bright but rather windy. Felling a bit stiff after long run at the weekend, so not a quick run (54'20").

Family of Swans were in the same place on the bank of Quy Water. Several Swifts were feeding along here. A little further on there was a family of fledged Blue Tits and in the woods at Anglesey Abbey a Blackcap was singing.

A Mallard with very small ducklings was on the bank of Bottisham Lode. At the bridge 6 Swallows, including young birds, were flying around. A Jay was seen again along the track to the Lodestar fields and at the end of the track there was a Hare.

No sightings of Lapwings since the large flock seen a week or so ago. They must have moved on now after breeding. A male Yellowhammer was almost camouflaged as it sat on a falling tree along the railway line.

A Chiffchaff was singing at Quy Hall, and a Coot with a chick was on the pond. The highlight of the day was a lovely Barn Owl in Station Road. This was a very pale, ghostly white bird.

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Lode 10k. Weather was dry and bright, but the grass was dewy.

A Buzzard was flying low over Quy Park. 2 Coots with a large chick were on Quy Water just through the first gate. The Swan family were resting on the bank a bit further on. Usual sightings of House Martins, Swallows and Swifts.

A Jay was along the track to the Lodestar fields. On the grass field there was a flock of about 15 Lapwings. A couple of Skylarks and a Reed Bunting over the sugar beet field.

Saturday 11 June 2011

A new PB at Cambridge Parkrun this morning. I kept up with the 22.5 minute pacer for the first 2k or so then gradually dropped back to finish in a time of 22'50".

Before the run a large carp was seen from the visitor centre.

4 Chifchaffs heard and a Cetti's Warbler was singing in the bushes at the northern end of Deep Pool. Several Coots on the lakes some with young.

Thursday 17 March 2011

The 5.5 mile Bottisham, Lode Mill route this morning. Weather was quite cold and misty with a steady light drizzle. Feeling tired this morning so a slow time of 52'19".

A Great-Spotted Woodpecker drumming loudly at Lode Mill. The bird was seen at the top of a poplar tree. Yellowhammer again at the bend in the bridleway.

2 Coots on Quy Water heading toward the pond and a Kingfisher flew across the pond to sit in an overhanging tree. Heron flew over Stow Road and over the park. A Song Thrush was on the grass in the park.

Tuesday 1 February 2011

7 miles this morning to Bottisham, Lode and up to the start of White Fen Drove. Cold and frosty and a biting wind on the way back. Quite light this morning with a red sky early on.

3 Herons evenly spaced along Bottisham Lode, also a Kingfisher was seen sitting on a fence that goes down to the water's edge. The Kingfisher flew off along the lode as I passed. A Skylark was seen in the usual field.

A Green Woodpecker was heard across the fields towards Lode Mill. A Coot was on the pond in Quy.