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 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 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.

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.

Tuesday 30 October 2012

A slight variation on the Bottisham and Lode run which involved setting out through Quy and past the church to Newmarket Road.  Rather than 9k this run was just over 10k.  A reasonable time of 52'42".  With the end of BST it was lighter than previous mornings.  I managed to trip over the gate along the railway track this morning, landing on my face in the mud.  Fortunately the ground was quite soft.  A cut knee and hand were my only injuries.

A lot of birds seen in Lode this morning.  Near the old hall (awaiting renovation into houses) their was a Chaffinch, Long-Tailed Tit and a few House Sparrows.  4 Swallows were perched on wires in Mill Road (my latest ever Swallow sighting).  Just past Lode Mill 2 Muntjacs ran from the field into the trees.

Sunday 27 November 2011

A gentle run around the Blue Cycle Route at Brandon Country Park.  Weather was dry.  It was quite warm in the sun but there was a strong cold wind blowing.

Redpolls and a Great Spotted Woodpecker seen at Mayday Farm.  At the Orchard Car Park there were lots of Chaffinches and a few Bramblings.

Another area has now been felled, just near the Country Park.

Friday 15 July 2011

Another slow run along the Lode 10k route, around 56 minutes (I must get my stopwatch sorted before the next run!), Weather was dry, bright, quite warm and quite windy.

Barn Owl again seen in Station Road - what a lovely sight. Several House Martins and a few Swifts in Quy and Lode. Family of Swallows sitting on telegraph cables by the cottages along Fen Road.

Moorhen with young chicks on Quy Water and 2 with young chicks along Bottisham Lode plus 3-4 single adults along the lode. A Jay was seen just before Lode Mill.

Reed Buntings and Skylarks again just after the Lodestar fields and another Skylark singing over the barley field along the railway line. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen along Bottisham Lode and a very vocal Green Woodpecker along the bridleway. Also along the bridleway a covey of 12 Red-Legged Partridges flew away into the field.

Along the track parallel to the old railway line there were lots of small birds, including: Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Blue Tits and 2 Long-Tailed Tits.




Lode Mill

Sunday 27 March 2011

Brandon Country Park blue cycle route with the extra loop at Mayday farm. Weather was dry, bright and quite warm. Lots of birds about today especially finches (Chaffinches, Bramblings and Redpoll). Chiffchaff heard. Green Woodpecker seen and heard.

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.

Tuesday 22 February 2011

5.5 mile route to Bottisham and Lode this morning. Weather was cool and dry after a few initial spots of rain. The ground was wet though and very muddy along the railway track and bridleway. My legs were feeling tired after the weekend. Time was 50'03".

A couple of Song Thrushes heard, several Blackbirds and Chaffinches. A Grey Heron flew over Vicarage Meadow. Lots of Snowdrops at the start of the bridleway and thousands at Quy Hall. Buds are starting to come out on the hawthorn bushes.

Sunday 20 February 2011

A new route round Brandon Country Park today. Starting from the usual place we initially crossed the road and followed the Blue cycle route to High Lodge. From here we took the Green cycle route passed "Go Ape" and along the eastern edge of the forest crossing the road again at Mayday Farm. We then took the Blue route back to the country park car park via the short cut. Total distance of 9.1 miles.

Several Chaffinches seen and a Coal Tit heard.

Thursday 3 February 2011

Not too cold this morning, with just a little touch of frost in places. A head wind coming back though. Much lighter this morning, even before 7. Same run as Tuesday except I came back via Lode Mill rather than the Lodestar fields.

Plenty of birds around today. A pair of Partridges flew across Albert Road. There seem to be more Blue Tits, Great Tits and Chaffinches preparing for Spring. A lovely male Sparrowhawk was sitting on a post by the bridge near Lode station. He flew off along the lode towards the mill as I went past.

2 Herons in this lode this morning. A few Starlings on the telegraph wires in Mill Road also Collared Doves and Jackdaws. More Doves and Jackdaws in Station Road, Quy.

A couple of Song Thrushes heard today.

Tuesday 25 January 2011

Due to the overnight ran I kept to the road this morning, running the 5.2 mile loop round Bottisham. Weather was dry and not too cold. The sky was clear so quite light in the moonlight. Time was 45'55".

Not the best route for seeing birds, but a male Chaffinch was seen along Newmarket road just before Quy.