Sunday 21 April 2013

Good conditions this morning. I ran the 10 mile route along Heath Road to the Wilbrahams and back through Teversham Fen.  Apart from one short stretch along Little Wilbraham River where the path was still flooded it was pretty dry.

There were a lot of birds in the hedgerows along Heath Road, including a Corn Bunting, Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers, Chaffinches, a Meadow Pipit, Linnets and 2 Wheatears.  A Buzzard was seen here too and a Hare.

A Chiffchaff was heard on arrival in Great Wilbraham and 2 more at Little Wilbraham Fen.  4 Swallows were seen and a male Marsh Harrier was soaring over the reedbeds at Teversham Fen.

Sunday 31 March 2013

Today I ran the basic 14.2km Heath Road route, I didn't want to endure the slippery mud of Teversham Fen again.  Conditions were much the same as Friday.

A Buzzard flew over the Newmarket Road at Bottisham.  Again several Yellowhammers and Chaffinches and 2 Hares seen in a different field. 3 Kestrels seen in various places.

Friday 29 March 2013

I tried a new route today, taking the Heath Road byway from just past Bottisham to Great Wilbraham.  This is a really good wide grassy track with some nice up and down hills.  The track was pretty dry.  The planned route was 14.2km but when I got to Little Wilbraham I decided to extend the run through Teversham Fen, making the total distance 16.4km (just over 10 miles).  This latter part of the run was very muddy and almost impassable in one place where the Little Wilbrham river had overflowed over the path.  Despite the mud this is a very scenic route along the meanders of this chalk stream.

Along Heath Road there were several Yellowhammers and Chaffinches.  2 Hares were seen just after the 6km mark.  At Teversham Fen 2 Teal flew up from the stream and a Kestrel and male Marsh Harrier were seen.

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.

Sunday 26 June 2011

A new route this morning. Initially I intended to run about 8 miles to Horningsea and Fen Ditton, but at Horningsea decide to go a bit further and run up to Clayhithe and back along the River Cam to Baits Bite Lock. Then when I got back to Feb Ditton I decided to extend the route again to go along the edge of Little Wilbraham Fen and back along the Six Mile Bottom road to the Missing Sock and Albert Road. The total distance was 13.5 miles in a time of 2 hours 1'40". The weather was warm and dry, but with enough cloud for it not to be too warm.

A Heron was standing on the bridge in Station Road. Several Whitethroats and about 3 Chiffchaffs heard. A Kestrel, 2 Green Woodpeckers and lots of Skylarks seen too. Swallows were seen along the Cam and a Hare was along the track round Fen Ditton.

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.

Wednesday 13 April 2011

A 9.5 mile run this morning to Little Wilbraham Fen. Weather was bright and cool. Time was 1 hour 20'54". I felt pretty comfortable throughout the run. A pair of Pied Wagtails were seen on Man Street Quy and another 1 in Albert Road. A Green Woodpecker flew along the driveway to Quy Park. A Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were all seen over the fen. A few Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs were heard singing. Along the track at the far end of the reserve were 2 hairs and a male Linnet. In the field just before the Six Mile Bottom road there were a couple of skylarks.

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.

Friday 25 March 2011

Little Wilbraham Fen again this morning, but a slightly different route. On reaching the Fen, I ran down the centre of the Fen to L. Wilbraham, then back past the windmill along the left hand path then crossed Engaynes Field again to the right hand side of the Fen. I ran down the track towards L. Wilbraham again and turned left just before the end to reach the Quy to Six Mile Bottom road. From here the route was back over the A14 and into Quy via Albert Road. Whether was cold but warm in the sun. The grass was little frost in places early on. Legs felt comfortable on the run, but some back ache. Time of 1 hour 15'25" for 8.5 miles.

2 Marsh Harriers over the reed beds, several Lapwings and a few Hares again. A Muntjac was seen in the same place as Wednesday. A Chiffchaff was heard singing here too. On the final lap a Green Woodpecker was heard. Heading back to the road there were 2 Skylarks and another 3 along Albert Road.

Wednesday 23 March 2011

Been forced to take a break for a few days by a stinking cold! Ran a loop of Little Wilbraham Fen this morning. 7.5 miles in 1 hour 13'14". Weather was mild but cloudy. Great Spotted Woodpecker heard drumming by the Wheatsheaf pub in Quy. A Cormorant flew over. Muntjac along L. Wilbraham River, 5 Hares along the footpath leading back into the fen and a bit further on there was a Fox. Several Yellowhammers seen along the hedgerows bordering the footpath. 2 Moorhens were seen in a ditch just before the first farm. At the end of the fen, just before the boardwalk a Buzzard was sitting on top of a bush, but flew away as I approached. Otherwise lots of Pigeons, Corvids, Blackbirds and Chaffinches about.