Sunday 16 September 2012

Another 17km run to Clayhithe and Baits Bite Lock with Joanna this morning.  Today we took the footpath across the fields to Clayhithe as the ground has now been compacted enough.

A Kingfisher was seen flying from across the fields on the west side of the river and then down the river towards the lock.  2 Cormorants seen flying along the river too.

Monday 27 August 2012

A bank holiday run with Joanna to Clayhithe and Baits Bite Lock on the River Cam.  A distance of 17km.  From Horningsea we ran along the road to Clayhithe as the field (where the footpath goes) was recently ploughed.

Moorhens and Cormorants seen along the river.

Wednesday 2 November 2011

An 8 mile run this morning to the end of White Fen Drove. Weather was dry and bright. Mornings are lighter again now that the clocks have gone back. Although the run didn't seem particular fast, and was relatively effortless, I managed a new PB for this course of 1 hour 3'44".

The adult Swans and 3 young were o Quy Water feeding with the domestic white geese from the village pond. This is the second time now that I've only seen 3 young with the adults. I presume the other 4 have "left home" rather than died or been attacked. This view could be true as I saw a youngster (1 of the 4 missing?) on Bottisham Lode.

11 Moorhens counted today on Quy Water, 3 more on Bottisham Lode and 3 at the start of the track to the Lodestar fields. A Kestrel and a Jay were also seen and a Heron was on Bottisham Lode.

Several House Sparrows were heard in Mill Road, Lode and there were several Jackdaws and Starlings here.

5 Skylarks seen just before the bridleway. Here a Cormorant flew over. A Barn Owl was perched at the entrance to its barn in Station Road.

Wednesday 5 October 2011

10k Lode route again this morning. Weather was dry, overcast and windy. Mornings are getting noticeably darker now. I did some speed work in the first half of the run and achieved my best time to Lode Mill of 15'29". I was tired for the second half and had a head wind, but managed to finish in a good time of 50'08".

A Heron flew up from the bank of Quy Water. 11 Moorhens seen along Quy Water this morning and another 3 on Bottisham Lode and 3 in the field at the start of the track to the Lodestar fields. 2 Roe Deer were seen in a field towards White Fen.

4 Swallows flew over at the end of the sugar beet fields, making slow progress in the wind. A Jay and a Kestrel were seen along the old railway line.

A Cormorant flew over Main Street in Quy.

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.

Friday 2 September 2011

A 10.5 mile run today to Clayhithe and along the River Cam to Baits Bite Lock. Weather was dry but rather cool. Time was 1 hour 32'14".

There were a lot of House Martins feeding high above Vicarage Meadow and a few in Station Road. A Green Woodpecker was heard along the track to Allicky Farm.

Along the 2 mile stretch of the River Cam there were 19 Moorhens, of which 6 were juveniles. I also saw a Cormorant perched in the top of a dead tree. Just after Horningsea I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker walking along a tree branch and a Grey Heron standing on the tow-path just before Baits Bite Lock. A Mute Swan was on the Cam at the lock.

Just after crossing the river a single Goldfinch was seen and at the bridge over the A14 another flock of 14. A Green Woodpecker here too.

Thursday 9 June 2011

The same 8 mile route as Tuesday. Weather was cool, dry but mostly cloudy. A better time today of 1 hour 6'53".

On Quy Water there was a Mallard with 6 small ducklings and another one with 6 almost fully grown. A Cormorant flew over. A Blackcap was singing in the woods at Angelsey Abbey. A little further on a Heron flew up from Quy Water.

At the Lodestar fields there was a Lapwing and in the fields beyond a pair of Reed Buntings and a Skylark.

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.

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.

Friday 26 November 2010

A good run this morning on a cold frosty morning. The temperature was around -2 to -3. I ran the same route as yesterday, but set off later (having driven Joanna to Stansted Airport). It was already starting to get light, but Jupiter could still be seen well over the A14. A very quick time this morning of 45'55".

A group of House Sparrows were heard in a garden in Albert Road and just before "The Missing Sock" 2 Muntjacs ran across the road, narrowly avoiding an oncoming car.

Lots of Blackbirds around and at the end of the old railway line there were several Fieldfares. A Cormorant flew over the old railway line and 2 more over Station Road. At the start of the bridleway there was a flock of around 20 Starlings. Just before Station Road a Buzzard was seen flying away across the field.

4 Moorhens again at the pond.