Tuesday 19 March 2013

An 8-mile run to Horningsea this morning.  The weather was very misty but not too cold.  The tracks were quite muddy in places.

Not a lot of wildlife to be seen today due to the mist, but a Grey Heron was seen flying low passed Horningsea and a Green Woodpecker was seen along the bridleway.  Several Chaffinches around and a lot of Rooks in Quy.

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.

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Early morning run through Little Wilbraham Fen. Weather was cool and bright. The conditions through the fen were not good. The grass (and nettles!) have grown quite long along the central track, and this was very dewy this morning. A good time of 1 hour 8 minutes for the 7 and half mile run.

A few House Martins and Swallows seen in Quy. Fledgling Rooks were on the ground at Vicarage Meadow and through the trees alongside the park.

At Wilbraham fen, a female Marsh Harrier was sitting in a tree in the middle of the reedbed. A few Whitethroats and at least 3 Chiffchaffs were heard. Reed and Sedge Warblers heard.

2 Hares were seen in the field just before Little Wilbraham village.

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.

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 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.

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.