Tuesday 20 December

Bottisham, Lode to the start of White Fen Drove this morning.  Very dark for most of the run, and cold (but not freezing).  Time was 1 hour 02'04".

Again not a lot to see apart from Blackbirds and the odd Fieldfare.  About 30 Jackdaws were roosting in a tree in Station Road.

Tuesday 29 November 2011

My route this morning was through Bottisham to Lode and then back across the Lodestar fields.  7.3 miles in 1 hour 1'41".  Weather was dark until Lode then dull and very windy, not cold though.

Blackbirds seen in the early gloom.  A Song Thrush heard in Lode.  Along Bottisham Lode there was a Kestrel and a Heron.  After the sugar beet fields 2 Roe Deer were seen across the next field.

A Jay was seen along the old railway line.  Over 100 Jackdaws and a few Rooks were flying along Bottisham Lode towards Lode, and another smaller group of about 40 Jackdaws and Rooks were in Station Road, Quy.

Friday 25 November 2011

Lode 10k again this morning.  Weather was dry and cool.  The ground was wet as there had been quite a bit of overnight rain.  A gentle run today in 53'07".

11 Moorhens and the 5 Swans seen on Quy Water.  At least 50 Jackdaws in Mill Road. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard and then seen at the top of a tree along Bottisham Lode, opposite the cottages.

2 Herons seen just before the bridge over Bottisham Lode.

A large group of Fieldfares were seen just before the old railway line.

Tuesday 15 November 2011

A fairly gentle Lode 10k this morning in a time of 52'51".  Weather was dull and grey but not too cold.

About 50 Jackdaws were in the trees in Station Road near the pond.  Swan family (+3) were on Quy Water in the woods at Angelsey Abbey.  8 Moorhens seen along this stretch today.  A Green Woodpecker was heard in the woods.

In Mill Road a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard.

A Heron and a male Kestrel were seen along Bottisham Lode.

Wednesday 2 November 2011

An 8 mile run this morning to the end of White Fen Drove. Weather was dry and bright. Mornings are lighter again now that the clocks have gone back. Although the run didn't seem particular fast, and was relatively effortless, I managed a new PB for this course of 1 hour 3'44".

The adult Swans and 3 young were o Quy Water feeding with the domestic white geese from the village pond. This is the second time now that I've only seen 3 young with the adults. I presume the other 4 have "left home" rather than died or been attacked. This view could be true as I saw a youngster (1 of the 4 missing?) on Bottisham Lode.

11 Moorhens counted today on Quy Water, 3 more on Bottisham Lode and 3 at the start of the track to the Lodestar fields. A Kestrel and a Jay were also seen and a Heron was on Bottisham Lode.

Several House Sparrows were heard in Mill Road, Lode and there were several Jackdaws and Starlings here.

5 Skylarks seen just before the bridleway. Here a Cormorant flew over. A Barn Owl was perched at the entrance to its barn in Station Road.

Friday 8 April 2011

A break for a few days following food poisoning! A short 4.8mile run this morning to Little Wilbraham Fen. Weather was bright, but quite cold. Mist was hanging over the reedbeds. My time of 41'14" was good. Along the cycle path leading to Newmarket Road a pair of Jackdaws came out of what looks like a Kestrel nestbox. A Buzzard was sitting in tree in the middle of the reedbed. Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers were seen. Wrens and a possible Cetti's Warbler were heard. At the start of the track leading to the Six Mile Bottom road a Green Woodpecker was heard. At the end of the track a Lapwing was seen and a Skylark was singing. Just before the bridge over the A14 a Sparrowhawk flew past.

Thursday 6 January 2011

A 7.5 mile run this morning, through Bottisham and Lode, then through the fen to the Lodestar fields and back along the railway track.

Very dark this morning and cool and dry.

Too dark to see anything on the first half the run, but Blackbirds and Robins heard. Just enough light to see a Grey Heron along Bottisham Lode and a Reed Bunting in the usual ditch past the Lodestar fields. A large group of Jackdaws over Station Road.

Thursday 18 November 2010

My route this morning was through Bottisham and Lode to the start of White Fen Drove, then back along the old railway line. Set off before sunrise but quite a bit warmer this morning. 7.4 miles in 1 hour 5'30".

A few early Blackbirds in Quy and Bottisham. About 30 Jackdaws heading over Lode, following by a larger mixed flock of Jackdaws and Rooks. 2 Herons in the usual places along Bottisham Lode. A flock of about 18 partridges was flushed by the first Heron. Also along Bottisham Lode a male Kestrel was seen just before the bridge. A Green Woodpecker was in a grassy field along the track to Quy Fen. Another Heron was at the pond in Quy.

Tuesday 16 November 2010

A cold and frosty morning. Not so muddy today due to the frost, apart from a few places. I ran 8 miles to the end of White Fen Drove and back. After my face had warmed up (after about 1 mile) it was a pleasant run, particularly at about 5 miles where the route heads back to the railway track. Here the sun had just risen over the trees and was lighting up the white frost fields.

Large number of Jackdaws and Rooks in the field along Quy Water again. There were also 2 Herons along Quy Water just before Anglesey Abbey, one of which stayed just ahead of me all the way to the mill pond. Another Heron just before White Fen Drove and as I turned into the drove another was heading towards me across the fields. A covey of 11 partridges in a field along White Fen Drove.

As I headed back over the bridge there were Redwings, Fieldfares and 3 Long-Tailed Tits. At the end of the avenue of poplars there was a Buzzard. Along the railway track were more Long-Tailed Tits and a Fox was walking down the track by the gate towards Quy Water. A Kestrel was seen along the bridleway.

Wednesday 10 November 2010

A 10k run this morning. The weather was cold but dry and a little windy, however there were a few spots of rain towards the end. Not a quick time at 58 minutes. Very muddy through the trees at Anglesey Abbey.

2 coveys of Partridges were seen with about 12 at Quy Water and around 18 along Fen Road. A large flock or Rooks and Jackdaws in the field just before Anglesey Abbey. 2 Herons seen along Bottisham Lode, opposite the cottages and near the bridge by White Fen Drove. Previously I have assumed that these double sightings represent the same bird flying on ahead of me, but today the 2 came together. Another Heron was at the pond in Station Road. Also in Station Road a Wren was singing away.

A Buzzard was low overhead along the railway line.

Thursday 7 October 2010

An 8 mile run this morning down White Fen Drove. A cold morning with mist over the fields near Quy Water. Still a bit dark when I set off as sun had not quite risen. I avoided the grassy section by returning along the road to Lode. Off-road the route was quite muddy in places. Finished in a time of 1 hour 7'30".

In the dim pre-dawn light several blackbirds were seen or heard. Mallards and Moorhens were flushed from Quy Water. A Grey Heron was in the field along Bottisham Lode, and in the lode itself on the return leg. Another Grey Heron was seen flying over Stow Road in Quy on the way back. 4 Roe Deer were in the field just before White Fen Drove, another was seen at the far end of the field next to the Crane farm and 2 more in a field along the railway track.

Over 300 corvids (mainly Jackdaws and several Rooks) flew towards Lode and several more were sitting on electricity cables along White Fen Drove.

A Green Woodpecker was seen along the bridleway and a Cormorant flew over. A Swallow flew over Vicarage Meadow.

Thursday 23 September 2010

The usual 10k run again today. Left home at 6.30 still quite dark, but light enough to see where I was going. Weather was cool and windy, but a light drizzle at times. A slow time today of 55'50".

Several Mallards at the start of Quy Water, flushed noisily from the water as I ran past in the dull light. 6 Moorhens on Quy Water today and 2 on Bottisham Lode. The Grey Heron was i its usual spot along Bottisham Lode, and a Kestrel was hunting here too.

3 Wrens heard along Quy Water and 1 seen at the end of the bridleway. A Green Woodpecker seen and Great-Spotted heard. Just past the half-way point a flock of about 50 Jackdaws and Rooks flew over, heading away from their nighttime roost.

Wednesday 15 September 2010

The usual 10k run again this morning. Weather was dry and bright but with a cold wind. Generally fairly dry underfoot, but a few muddy patches. A good time of 52'54".

Several Jackdaw seen on chimney pots in both Station Road, Quy and Mill Road, Lode. Several Moorhens along Quy Water. Grey Heron seen along Bottisham Lode and another at the pond in Quy. 4 Roe Deer in a field to the North of Bottisham Lode. 3 Skylark in what was the barley field. Green Woodpecker seen on the track heading to the railway line. 2 Song Thrushes in Station Road.

Monday 26 July 2010

A gentle 10k run with Joanna this morning. Some ominous grey clouds produced only a few spots of rain at the start, otherwise it was dry and cool.


A Grey Heron was seen flying off along Quy Water and further on was sitting on top of a tree. 4 separate sightings of Moorhen chicks - 2 almost full-grown along Quy Water, A mother brooding some very small chicks along Bottisham Lode and then further along another single almost full-grown, followed by 2 almost full-grown.

Some large fish at Lode Mill. About 12 Jackdaws on rooftops in Mill Road.

A Kingfisher flew along Bottisham Lode and a male Kestrel was seen hunting. At least 4 Skylarks in the Barley fields and a male Reed Bunting.

A Green Woodpecker was along the bridleway. Very few Swifts and House Martins seen today.

Wednesday 24 March 2010

This morning's run with Joanna was to Bottisham and Lode and back along the old railway track. From Lode Mill I ran back down Mill Road and back again to let Joanna catch up. Total distance of 9.6km. Weather was quite warm, but cloudy and windy.

Skylarks singing along Newmarket Road and the Bridleway. Song Thrushes singing in Lode and Station Road, Quy. 1 Wren singing in Station Road. A Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming again at Lode Mill. At the end of the bridleway there were a few Goldfinches and a Greenfinch. 4 Partridges seen along Albert Road and Jackdaws carrying nesting material into a chimney in Station Road.

Tuesday 23 February 2010

Ran with Joanna today through Bottisham, Lode and back past Lode Mill and along the old railway line. Cold and frosty this morning. The roads were a little slippery in places, but fortunately the railway track wasn't too muddy as the ground was frozen. Distance 9km.

Song Thrush singing at Lode Mill. Also saw several Blue Tits and Great Tits, a Long-Tailed Tit, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Dunnocks, Robins and Blackbirds. A few Fieldfares in the field near Lode Mill. Many Jackdaws, Rooks, Woodpigeons and Collard Doves. A Coot was on the pond along Station Road, Quy.

Tuesday 2 February 2010

I ran my usual 4.3 mile Lode Mill run this morning. A bit tired after the weekend and had to cope with a head wind all the way back along the old railway track. Pretty muddy and slippery through the trees along Quy Water at Anglesey Abbey, but a bit warmer than recently. Approximate time of 42 minutes.

Again not many birds around, but about 50 Jackdaws in Station Road.

Thursday 28 January 2010

I'm pleased to say that after my lazy time over Christmas I've got back into the routine of running in the mornings.

9km this morning through Bottisham and Lode and back passed the mill along the old railway track (which is consierably less muddy than along the riverbank). A time of 54 minutes was not quick but OK for early in the morning, before breakfast.

Very quiet in respect of birds, in fact virtually nothing until Station Road in Quy. Here there were some Jackdaws, Blackbirds and a Kestrel.

Thursday 10 December 2009

The usual run to Lode Mill this morning. The weather was cool and windy. It was again rather muddy underfoot due to overnight rain. Time achieved was 39'30".

A large flock of over 100 Rooks and Jackdaws in Station Road. A few Fieldfares and Redwings along the old railway line, also about 5 Red-Legged Partridges.