Tuesday 9 April 2012

An afternoon run today (after a visit to the dentist).  I ran the Lode 10k route.

This afternoon I saw my first Swallow of the year over Quy Water just before Anglesey Abbey and a bit further on by the bridge into Anglesey Abbey my first Kingfisher of the year.  I saw a Jay here too.

Tuesday 6 November 2012

This morning I ran along Colliers Lane to Anglesey Abbey and back through Bottisham, going to the end of the village rather than taking Bell Road.  The weather was cold and frosty.

There were 3 Hares in the field at the start of the road from Lode to Bottisham and a Great-Spotted Woodpecker flew onto a telegraph pole at the farmhouse on the left hand side of the road opposite the small spinney.

Friday 1 June 2012

A run along the Lode 10k route this morning.

A Kingfisher flew along Quy Water in the woods at Anglesey Abbey.

Wednesday 2 May 2012

A 10 mile run this morning to Oily Hall.  The weather was slightly drizzly at the start and fairly cool.  The ground was muddy in places, especially at the start of Anglesey Abbey woods and along the bridleway.  A reasonable time of 1 hour 29'20".

A few House Martins seen over Station Road and a couple of Swallows.  A Heron flew up from the river at the start of Quy Water.  2 Green Woodpeckers were seen at Lode Mill and another at Frolic Farm.  A Great-Spotted Woodpecker was seen along the track to the Lodestar fields.  A male Kestrel was here too.

A total of about 5 Roe Deer were seen this morning.

Sunday 22 April 2012

I ran the Lode 10k route in a good time of 48'37".  I set a new PB to Lode Mill of 15'19".  Weather was dry and cool.

A Swan was on the riverbank at the start of Quy Water.  A Blackcap was heard at the start of Anglesey Abbey woods. 2 Bullfinches were seen in the bushes along Bottisham Lode.

A Green Woodpecker flew out from the trees along the track to the Lodestar fields and another was feeding on the grass towards Quy Fen.  2 Reed Buntings, 2 Skylarks and 2 Lapwings were seen in the field after Lodestar.  The Lapwing were seeing off a couple of Crows.

A Jay was seen along the old railway line.  A Swallow was seen over Bush Farm in Station Road.

A few Chiffchaffs heard. 

Wednesay 11 April 2012

Lode 10k route again this morning.  Weather was dry but rather cold.  Heavy rain in recent days has left the course quite wet in places.  The grass was wet and dewy.

2 Green Woodpeckers at Angelsey Abbey and 2 Chiffchaffs heard here too.  A flock of about 20-25 Fieldfares were on the Lodestar field.  2 Reed Buntings and 2 Skylarks in the next field.  Another Green Woodpecker was seen just before the old railway line.  2 Stock Doves were in the field along the old railway line.

On returning to Station Road, one of the Swans was seen swimming along Quy Water.

Tuesday 3 April 2012

Lode 10k this morning.  Weather was dry and cool.  My fastest time this year at 53'00".

Chiffchaffs were heard at Anglesey Abbey at the start of the woods and near Lode Mill.  1 Green Woodpecker seen.  A male Kestrel was seen at the Jack of Clubs.  2 Roe Deer were in the fields along Fen Road.

A few Yellowhammers seen too.

Tuesday 6 March 2012

Another cold morning - Lode 10k route again.  After heavy rain on Sunday and Monday the path along Quy Water at Anglesey Abbey was quite muddy in places.  A slow time again of 54'42"

The 2 adult Swans were seen on Quy Water, 1 juvenile was just before the mill and another was seen on the way back at the pond. 

A Buzzard was perched in a tree along Fen Road.  A flock of about 300 Fieldfares were on the grass at the Lodestar fields. 2 Skylarks seen today.  3 Long-Tailed Tits seen along the old railway line.

Monday 27 February 2012

A run to the end of White Fen Drove this morning, in 1 hour 7'21".

The 3 young Swans were at the start of Quy Water and the 2 adults were right at the other end just before Lode Mill.  It looks like they have finally cut the ties ready to start the next brood.  A dead Rat was on the riverbank. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was hear drumming at Anglesey Abbey.

A Kestrel was seen along Fen Road.  A Lapwing was in the field after Lodestar.

Wednesday 29 February 2012

Lode 10k this morning.  Weather was mild but dull.  The ground was damp due to overnight rain.  A slow time today of 54'12".

A Kingfisher was seen at the pond in Quy.  The 3 young Swans were again at opposite ends of Quy Water from the adults.  A Heron was at the start of Quy Water and another along Bottisham Lode.  9 Moorhens seen along Quy Water this morning. 

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming at Anglesey Abbey and another in Lode village. 

A large flock of 30 or so Lapwing were circling over the fields passed Lodestar and 3 Lapwing were flying around the field itself.  3 Reed Buntings seen in the ditch today and at least 2 Skylarks, with 1 singing. 

A Sparrowhawk flew along the track parallel to the old railway line.  A Green Woodpecker was seen along the old railway line.  Several Yellowhammers seen and heard.

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.

Sunday 11 December 2011

A late morning run along the Lode 10k route.  Weather was cool and windy and there was some rain at times.

The 5 Swans were on Quy Water.  A Treecreeper flew across the river at the start of the Anglesey Abbey woods and was then seen climbing a tree.

A Green Woodpecker was seen along Fen road and another along the track parallel to the old railway line.  A male Kestrel was also seen along Fen Road perched on a telegraph wire over Bottisham Lode and another(/the same?) male seen just after the sugar beet fields.  A Heron was standing at the far side of the right-hand sugar beet field.

Sunday 4 December

Lode 10k route.  Weather was dry and not too cold.  A decent time of 50'42".

Only 2 Moorhens seen along Quy Water this morning.  A large flock of at least 100 Fieldfares passed over just before Anglesey Abbey and a smaller group were along the track to the Lodestar fields.

A Heron and a Kestrel were seen along Fen Road.

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.

Sunday 13 November 2011

My longest run ever today of 14.7 miles. I started out towards Lode Mill with the intention of doing the 10 mile loop past Oily Hall and the polo club. When I got to the end of White Fen Drove I decided to extend the run through White Fen and down Swaffham Bulbeck Lode to the River Cam. When I got to the Cam I was still feeling good so decided to carry on down to Clayhithe and then on to Baits Bite Lock to come back through Honey Hill.

The weather was dry and bright and quite warm. It was a very enjoyable run in around 2 and quarter hours.

The Swan family (with 3 young) were on Quy Water. 2 Jays seen just before Anglesey Abbey. As I turned into White Fen Drove a Heron was seen in the middle of the field off to the left.

Along Swaffham Bulbeck Lode a Merlin darted across the lode just in front of me and a bit further on a female Marsh Harrier was seen hunting along a ditch in the field to my right. The Harrier swooped down into the ditch so I stopped for a minute or so but she didn't reappear. Obviously a successful catch.

Several Swans seen on the Cam and at just before Clayhithe there were a several Coots. Having crossed the bridge to the towpath to Baits Bite Lock 3 Little Grebes were seen diving for food.

A Green Woodpecker and a Kestrel were also seen. Several Goldfinches again just before the A14 bridge.

Thursday 10 November 2011

A rather tiring Lode 10k this morning. Weather was dull with grey skies, but not cold. A Reasonable time of 51'58".

13 Moorhens along Quy Water, with 2 more just after the mill. The Swan family (2 adults, 3 young) were on Quy Water just after the bridge at the back entrance to Anglesey Abbey.

House Sparrows were again heard from bushes on both sides of Mill Road.

A Kestrel and Heron were seen along Fen Road. A Skylark was at the sugar beet fields. Surprised to note that the left-hand field has still not been completely harvested, just a strip near the road.

Along the track to the old railway line there was a Song Thrush, Jay and Green Woodpecker.

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.

Thursday 13 October 2011

An evening run again along the Lode 10k route. Weather was dry after light rain for most of the day. Another quick run with a new PB of 48'24" (15'29" again to the Mill).

A Heron and 10 Moorhens seen along Quy Water. Another Heron and a Kestrel along Bottisham Lode. A Green Woodpecker was heard at Anglesey Abbey.

I saw my first Fieldfare of the winter fly across the track leading to the old railway line and a Jay was sen a bit further on.

Monday 3 October 2011

Lode 10k this morning. Weather was dry, bright and fairly warm. A tiring run in a time of 52'43".

The Swan family were on Quy Water. A Great-Spotted Woodpecker was heard in the trees on the other side of the horse field. A Cormorant flew over just before Anglesey Abbey. Another high Moorhen count on Quy Water of 13. I think I heaed a Chiffchaff in Mill Road just after the mill,

A Heron was along Bottisham lode. A Green Woodpecker was seen along the track to the Lodestar fields and at least 3 Skylarks were over the Sugar Beet fields.

Friday 30 September 2011

Lode 10k this morning. Weather was dry, cool and misty - more so in Quy than Lode. An easy run this morning in 52'51".

A Heron flew up from Quy Water at the horse fields. A Little further on the Swan family were feeding. Another pair of Swans were just past the back entrance to Anglesey Abbey. Another double figure count of Moorhens on Quy Water this morning with 12 seen. At the edge of woods at Anglesey Abbey there were 2 white hen Pheasants.

At the start of Mill Road a lot of House Sparrows were heard calling on both sides of the road. A Jay was seen along the old railway line and 2 Cormorants flew over. A Green Woodpecker was heard along the bridleway.

About half a dozen House Martins were feeding over Vicarage Meadow.