Thursday 25 April 2013

Due to overnight rain I avoided the potentially muddy areas and ran the 9km route through Bottisham to Lode Mill and back along the old railway line.

A Collared Dove was seen sitting on a nest on the side of a house in Lode at the same spot as last year.  Several firsts for the year today:
- Several Whitethroats heard (1 seen);
- Blackcap heard, where the track from Lodestar joins the old railway line;
- A male Bullfinch seen along the old railway line;
- 2 House Martins in Vicarage Meadow.

I also saw or heard, a Kestrel, 2 Swallows, several Yellowhammers, Chaffinches, Long-Tailed Tit, Geat Tits, Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, House Sparrows, Chiffchaffs and Skylarks.

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. 

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.

Thursday 15 April 2010

Today's run was to the end of White Fen Drove (7.8 miles). Weather was dry, but rather cold. Paths remain dry as we have had no rain this week. Time taken was 1hr 12 minutes.

A pair of Mallards on Quy Water has ducklings. A pair of Bullfinches seen along Quy Water just before Anglesey Abbey, there was also a Sparrowhawk here at the edge of the woods. A Jay was seen just before Lode Mill and another 2 at the end of White Fen Drove. 2 Golden Plovers flew over as I was running along Fen Road, Lode. A Kestrel in Fen Road and a singing Chiffchaff. Several Moorhens around.

4 pairs of partridges in White Fen Drove and 2 pairs of Roe Deer.

Monday 22 March 2010

I ran on my own this morning. Went along Quy Water to Lode Mill then out along Fen Road and White Fen Drove, then retraced my steps to the mill where I came back along the old railway line. Fairly warm this morning. Still not over my weekend stiffness hence a slower time than previously. 7.8 miles in 1hr 15'30".

Male Bullfinch and a Heron seen along Quy Water. A Green Woodpecker heard in the woods at Anglesey Abbey and another one seen just before Lode Mill. Lots of wrens singing and several Yellowhammers. A few singing Song Thrushes too, including one in its usual spot along Station Road, Quy. Another Heron seen along Bottisham Lode and a single Roe Deer, also a Lapwing flew over. A Kingfisher between the old station in Lode and the mill. A small flock of Goldfinches seen in White Fen Drove.





The rear entrance to Anglesey Abbey along Quy Water (no public access)

Sunday 10 January 2010

Still some snow on the ground, but the paths and roads are not icy. Therefore set out on a gentle run to Lode Mill with Joanna. A Buzzard flew across the road in front of us in Station Road, Quy. At the Mill I decided to push on alone along my 10k route.

On the way back I decided to extend the run by heading for Quy Fen rather than following the old railway line, to take advantage of the lack of mud. This extended the run to just over 10.6k. http://gb.mapometer.com/en/running/route_333017.html

2 Herons seen (Quy Waters and Bottisham Lode) also a Little Grebe in Bottisham Lode. A female Bullfinch was seen near Quy Fen.