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.

Friday 26 October 2012

A chilly and windy morning run to Bottisham and Lode.  It was dark at the start.  The clocks go back this weekend, so at least the mornings will be lighter for the next few weeks.  Despite the railway track being churned up the ground was generally quite dry.

A few Blackbirds heard and seen, and 2 Wrens heard at Quy Hall otherwise not much else.

Friday 24 February 2012

I decided to start running the Lode 10k route again this morning, now that it's light well before 7.  Weather was fairly mild.  The course was a bit muddy in places, especially along Quy Water through the woods at Anglesey Abbey.  My time was reasonable for the time of year, although well down on my PB, at 54'12".

A Green Woodpecker was heard at the horse field. The Swan family were on Quy Water.  Just before Anglesey Abbey I saw a Heron and another one along Bottisham Lode.  A Jay was seen at Lode Mill and another along the old railway line.

5 Moorhens were seen along Quy Water up to the Mill and another 3 along Bottisham Lode.  A Wren was heard singing along Quy Water.  A Great-Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming in a house garden in Lode.  A Song Thrush was singing in the trees opposite the cottages on Fen Road. A pair of Kestrels were seen near the Jack of Clubs farm.

A Buzzard was flying over the Lodestar fields and a Reed Bunting was in the usual ditch between the 2 fields.  3-4 Skylarks were seen here and another 5-6 along the old railway line and bridleway.  One of the Skylarks was singing high above the field clearly displaying.

A Long-tailed tit, a few Yellowhammers and Goldfinches (Station Road) were also part of an impressive bird list today.

Wednesday 26 October 2011

Another late start so again just a short run to Lode. Weather was dry but quite cold. After a steady start for the first 3/4 of a mile I picked up the pace to finish in a PB of 36'03", over a minute quicker than previous best.

A Heron was again seen along Quy Water. At the start of Anglesey Abbey woods a Sparrowhawk dashed across the river. Today I counted 10 Moorhens along Quy Water, with another 2 at the mill pond and 3 at the Station Road pond. Several Blackbirds and Wrens heard in the woods at Anglesey Abbey.

12 Partridges were in the field at the start of the bridleway, a bit further on a Buzzard flew out from the oak trees. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard in Station Road and just before the crossroads another flew down the road.

Friday 23 September 2011

An 8 mile run to Horningsea this morning. Weather was dry and fairly bright after the sun had come up. Noticeably darker at the start now that the days are getting shorter. A very good time with a PB of 1 hour 5'27".

Not a lot of interesting birds around this morning. A Wren flew across the track right in front f me towards Honey Hill and the flock of Goldfinches were in the usual place at the bottom of the bridge over the A14. Otherwise plenty of Woodpigeons, Corvids and Gulls.

Tuesday 24 May 2011

A dry bright but windy morning. I ran the Lode 10k route again today. A little slower than the last time at 54'45".

A Grey Heron was seen along Quy Water just before Anglesey Abbey and another in the usual spot along Bottisham Lode, just before the bridge. Several House Martins in Station Road and a few more in Mill Road. No sign of Swifts in Mill Road though.

2 Pairs of Reed Buntings in the usual place and 2 Skylarks here too. 2 Roe Deer were in a field towards Angelsey Abbey.

2 Chiffchaffs heard and several Wrens and Whitethroats.

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Lode 10k this morning. Weather was bright and reasonably warm. Feeling fairly tired this morning. Time was 53'48".

4 House Martins and 2 Swifts over Vicarage Meadow, about 8 House Martins and 2 Swallows in Station Road and 5 Swifts and about 10 House Martins in Mill Road. A Grey Heron seen along Quy Water just before Anglesey Abbey and another along Bottisham Lode. A Kestrel flew over the Lodestar fields. Here there were

also 2 Lapwings. Along the ditch between the 2 fields after Lodestar were a pair of Reed Buntings and at the far end another female. A Skylark was singing over the right-hand field.

Along the railway track a Hobby was seen. Several Wrens heard singing this morning and 2-3 Chiffchaffs. In Station Road there were 3 Goldfinches and in Stow Road 2 Greenfinches.

Sunday 17 April 2011

A 7 mile run this morning along my usual 10k route through Lode, but coming back through Quy Fen. Weather was dry, bright and quite warm.

A single House Martin (my first this year) was inspecting an old nest in Station Road. A single Swallow was by the cottages along Fen Road, Lode. Further down Fen Road a Sparrowhawk flew along the side of the road and then circled around by the bridge at the start of White Fen Drove.

A couple of Lapwings were seen in the usual fields. A Green Woodpecker was heard along the track to Quy Fen and another at Quy Fen itself. A Buzzard flew over Quy Fen and another over the bridleway. A Heron flew over Station Road in Quy.

Several wrens and Whitethroats were heard along the route.

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.

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.

Thursday 24 February 2011

7.5 miles this morning through Bottisham and Lode to the start of White Fen Drove. Not too cold this moring and dry. Very muddy from the Lodestar fields to the end of the bridleway. Feeling very exhausted this morning especially after 5 miles, however time of 1 hour 06'54" was not too bad.

A few Song Thrushes heard singing and two seen chasing in Lode. A Buzzard was sitting on a fence post along Bottisham Lode. 2 Greenfinches seen at the end of the bridleway and another was singing along Station road. Green Woodpecker seen flying away. 5 pairs of Partridges seen and a group of 4. Wrens were heard singing. A Cormorant flew over Lode and a small group of about 4 House Sparrows were seen in Lode.

In the usual feilds after the Lodestar, there were 3 Skylarks and a Reed Bunting along the ditch. Along the railway line a Sparrowhawk flew low along the bottom of a hedge.

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 30 September 2010

A cold morning. Many places, particularly through the woods at Anglesey Abbey, were rather muddy. The grass along White Fen Droveway was very wet. I set out to do the 10k route, but when I got to White Fen Drove decided to do the extra couple of miles. At 1 hour 11'42" the time was not quick.

Pigeons and Corvids were again the main bird sightings. About 4 Moorhens seen/heard. Several signing Wrens heard. A male Kestrel was sitting on a telegraph pole along Fen Road, but flew off as I ran past. A Jay was seen along White Fen Droveway and another along the railway track. 10 Roe Deer in 4 small groups seen along White Fen Drove. On the return to Quy a Grey Heron was sitting on the bank of Quy Water at the start of the footpath.

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 29 June 2010

A gentle 4 mile run with Joanna to Lode Mill this morning. We had some rain overnight and there was some light rain as we ran down Station Road. The temperature was comfortably cool.

A mother Swan with 2 fairly large cygnets was on the pond in Quy (the male bird was shot a few weeks ago - so she's done well to bring up 2 young). 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers together along the Bridleway. 3 Roe Deer were in a wheat field along the railway track. A Chiffchaff and several wrens heard. 3 Kingfishers were sitting in a dead tree along Quy Water at the start of Anglesey Abbey woods.





Looking back to Quy from Anglesey Abbey. The Kingfishers were in the tree (overhanging the water) in the centre of the picture.

Friday 18 June 2010

10k run to Lode this morning, coming back via the alternative route. Weather was cool with a light drizzle. The grass was drier this morning as there was no dew. I decided from the start to try for a quick time and made good progress to Lode Mill. I managed to keep up the effort to finish in a good time of 53'22", my fastest non-competition 10k.

Chifchaff and Wrens singing at the start of Anglesey Abbey woods. Several Swallows, Swifts and House Martins all around. Along the track after White Fen Drove there was a Roe buck. I then heard and subsequently saw a male Great Spotted Woodpecker, immediately followed by hearing a Green Woodpecker. Heading back to the railway track (between 2 Barley fields) there were 4 Skylarks and again a pair of Reed Buntings. Another Chiffchaff was heard just before the railway track, At the end of the bridleway were 4 Goldfinches including recently fledged birds.

Saturday 12 June 2010

A couple of weeks off for Holiday then a bad cold. Cambridge Parkrun this morning. Still blocked up with cold so had trouble breathing. Managed a decent time though of 24'33". Weather was quite cool.

Chiffchaffs and Wrens heard singing and a Great Spotted Woodpecker heard calling.

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.

Tuesday 27 April 2010

A morning run to the end of White Fen Drove (7.8 miles). The weather was bright and sunny and fairly warm by the end. The paths were dry, despite the rain at the weekend, but the grassy stretches were dewy. Time 1hr15'03".

4 House Martins in Station Road Quy and 2 Swallows a further 3 Swallows in Lode, 1 in the usual place at the cottages and 2 at the start of White Fen Drove. At least 8 Whitethroats seen/heard in various places and about 3 Chiffchaffs. A Grey Wagtail was at Lode Mill. A mle Linnet was just passed the farm on White Fen Drove. A Green Woodpecker seen towards the end of White Fen Drove, also a single Roe Deer here. Several Wrens, Yellowhammers, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Great Tits singing. A few Goldfinches and Greenfinches seen. A Heron was flying near Quy Water, a Kestrel was near the old station in Lode and a Jay along the old railway track.

The grassy stretch of White Fen Drove.

Monday 19 April 2010

A 10k run this morning to the start of White Fen Drove. Weather was cloudy and cool. Still no rain so the tracks remain dry. Some stiffness in the legs this morning. Time 56'20".

A Reed Bunting was seen along Quy Water just before Anglesey Abbey. 2 Jays seen a bit further along in the woods and a Green Woodpecker just before Lode Mill. A Kestrel and a Lapwing were seen along Fen Road. A Swallow was flying along the lode just before White Fen Drove and another was on the roof of the cottages again. Lots of Wrens singing this morning also Song Thrushes and a few Yellowhammers. 2 Goldfinches in Station Road, Quy. Several Moorhens along Quy Water.