Tuesday 26 March 2013

This morning's run was again along the Lode 10k route but with the addition of White Fen Drove.  Just under 8 miles in 1 hour 6 minutes.  The weather was cold and windy.  The tracks were not too muddy as the ground was frozen.  The wind appears to be drying out the tracks a bit.

2 Mute Swans, 2 small ducks (probably Teal) and several Moorhens and Mallards were seen along Quy Water.  3 Green Woodpeckers were seen or heard (in the horse field at Quy Water, at Lode Mill and along White Fen Drove).

Several Reed Buntings seen along Quy Water and White Fen Drove.  There were 2 Grey Wagtails at Lode Mill and 2 Kestrels at the Jack of Clubs.  It's good to see the birds pairing up for Spring.  A Grey Heron was seen along Bottisham Lode and a Buzzard flew over the railway track.

Several Tits, Yellowhammers, Blackbirds, Chaffinches and Dunnocks seen too as well as a Song Thrush and Fieldfare.

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.

Thursday 15 September 2011

A good run along the Lode 10k route this morning. Weather was dry and bright but cold. At least the wind has died down now. I managed to knock over a minute off my PB for the route with a time of 49'40". For the last mile and three quarters I quickened my pace to my 5k race speed.

Along Quy Water there were a few Mallards, the Swan family and 11 Moorhens (5 juveniles). At the horse fields at the start of Quy Water there were 2 Green Woodpeckers. Just before Anglesey Abbey woods a Kestrel flew over and a Bullfinch flew into the woods. 2 Squirrels seen in the woods too. A little further on a Heron took off from the water and another Green Woodpecker was seen just before Lode Mill.

Another Heron was standing alongside a ditch near the track to the Lodestar fields. Through the poplar trees along the track I heard another Green Woodpecker and a Jay.

2 Skylarks were seen over the sugar beet fields and along the track at the end about 15 Partridges flew up. 2 more Squirrels were along the old railway line. In Station Road there were a few House Martins and a Swallow. 4 more House Martins at Vicarage Meadow.

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.

Thursday 9 June 2011

The same 8 mile route as Tuesday. Weather was cool, dry but mostly cloudy. A better time today of 1 hour 6'53".

On Quy Water there was a Mallard with 6 small ducklings and another one with 6 almost fully grown. A Cormorant flew over. A Blackcap was singing in the woods at Angelsey Abbey. A little further on a Heron flew up from Quy Water.

At the Lodestar fields there was a Lapwing and in the fields beyond a pair of Reed Buntings and a Skylark.

Tuesday 1 March 2011

7.5 mile route to Bottisham, Lode as far as the start of White Fen Drove. Back via Lode Mill and the railway line. Weather was mild and dry. Time was 1 hour 6'21".

Along Bottisham Lode there were 5 Moorhens, 2 Green Woodpeckers, a Heron and 2 pairs of Mallards (one of which had a domestic white drake). A Yellowhammer was heard in the bushes opposite the lode and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in the bushes opposite the cottages.

Song Thrushes and Wrens heard singing again this morning.

11 October 2010 - Grand Rapids, MI

Our run of around 6 miles centred on Richmond Park in the NW suburbs of Grand Rapids. Setting out along Bristol Ave NW we turned into Richmond St NW passed the Washington Park Memorial Gardens then entered Richmond Park. House Sparrows and American Robins were seen along Richmond St. In Richmond Park we ran around the edge of the pond, which had many Mallards, Canada Geese and Ring-Billed Gulls.

We then turned onto Tamarack Ave and then right onto Sylvia St. This residential area became more industrial as we turned left onto Alpine Ave. Here we headed up to the railway line and turned left onto Parnell Ave just before the railway bridge. This road took us along beside the railway line into Walker township and back to Bristol Ave. More Robins were seen here as well as Mourning Doves and Blue Jays.

Turning left on Bristol Ave took us passed more industrial units then the West Catholic Central High School. As we crossed a small stream, just before the high school, a Great Blue Heron flew out. At the side of the road a bit further on was a roadkill Opossum.

Having completed the circuit we headed back down Richmond St again to the park where we headed into the woods at the edge of the park. This took us a steep hill and then back down again into the park. From here we headed home and saw a male Red Cardinal in a garden in Bristol St.

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.

Monday 14 June 2010

A 10k run to Lode today. Fairly tiring, as still not back into shape. A quick start to Lode Mill and a finish time of 54'30".

A Grey Heron was at the pond in Station Road. Mallard with young duckings along Quy Water and a bit further on a Moorhen chick. Song Thrush and Chiffchaff singing at start of Anglesey Abbey Woods. Along Bottisham Lode Whitethroats, Yellowhammers and Sedge Warblers singing, also a Pied Wagtail was seen. A lot of Swallows, House Martins and Swifts in the usual places. A Swift was seen visiting its nest in a cottage roof in Mill Road, Lode.

Friday 28 May 2010

The 10k route to Lode again today. Weather conditions were much the same as Tuesday, perhaps slightly more breeze. A good time of 53'47".

Several House Martins in Vicarage Meadow, including birds nesting on the new houses. 2 Swifts and many more House Martins in Station Road. No sign of Swifts in Mill Road, but several House Martins in Lode and 2 Swifts over the village. Swallows at the end of Fen Road.

A Buzzard was again seen just before Anglesey Abbey, also a Lapwing in the field here. 2 More Lapwings in a field along Bottisham Lode and a Grey Heron. 2 Chiffchaffs heard in Anglesey Abbey woods. Many Wrens heard. Mallard with at least 3 ducklings on the pond in Quy.

Thursday 13 May 2010

A short run to Lode Mill (4.6 miles) after a break of almost 2 weeks due to a thigh injury. Although walking has become easier now the running was still quite difficult, hence a slow time of around 45 minutes. Weather was cold and frosty, but quite a bit of warmth in the sun in a cloudless sky. Currently experiencing the coldest May nights for 15 years.

3 Goldfinches in Station Road a couple of House Martins here and 3 in Vicarage Meadow. A Garden Warbler was heard singing along Quy Water just before Anglesey Abbey. The Mallards on Quy Water still have 4 (now quite big) ducklings. Whitethroats and Wrens also seen and heard.

Wednesday 28 April 2010

A gentle run to Lode Mill with Joanna this morning. Weather was dry, bright and cool. Distance 4.6miles in around 48 minutes.

A Swallow over the house as we set out. 6 House Martins in Station Road today and 6 Whitethroats heard singing. A fairly large carp was in Quy Water near the mill. A Green Woodpecker in the grounds of Anglesey Abbey by the mill and a Muntjac in the grounds near the house. Another Muntjac was seen in Station Road. A Reed Bunting along Quy Water and 2 Lapwings flying around the field bordering the Anglesey Abbey woods. A Mallard duck on Quy Water with 4 ducklings.

Tuesday 26 January 2010

I started out as early as I could (6.55) but it was still fairly dark. I chose a route going out that was safe enough to run. This morning's run took me into Bottisham then along to Lode. I ran right through Lode and 3/4 of a mile the other side into the fen along Bottisham Lode. I then turned back to Lode and went passed Lode Mill and back along Quy Water. Total distance was 11.8km (time 69.5 minutes). The footpath along the river on the way back was very muddy and this sapped was little energy was left in my legs!

A Long-Eared Owl flew across the Newmarket Road just in front of me. Along Bottisham Lode there were 4 Moorhens, a lot of Fieldfares, a Reed Bunting and a Kestrel. Quy Water had 2 Mute Swans a couple of Mallards and in the field next to Anglesey Abbey (which was water-logged) there were about 30 Black-Headed Gulls and a similar number of Rooks.

Tuesday 1 December 2009

A cold frosty morning - the first frost of the year. This made the road section very slippery so the time was never going to be good - 43'30" for the usual Lode Mill circuit.

Mallards, and Mute Swan family (2 adults and 3 young) along the river plus several Moorhens (6 together at the back entrance to Anglesey Abbey).

Blackbirds, a Robin, Kestrel and Green Woodpecker seen along the old railway track.




Mallard along Quy Water