Thursday 4 April 2013

Not quite so cold this morning and no sign of frost, so today I avoided the muddy route and ran the road-based Bottisham loop.  Decided to try for a faster run and managed to keep my pace below 5 minutes for each km.  Finished in a PB time of 41:35.

A few Fieldfares were in the bushes along the Newmarket Road.

Tuesday 2 April 2013

A very cold and frosty morning, so I took the opportunity to run along Quy Water to Lode.  The mud was frozen solid so a nice clean run along the Lode 10k route.

A Green Woodpecker was heard at Anglesey Abbey and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming near the bridge at the back entrance to the Abbey grounds.  2 Grey Wagtails were at Lode Mill.  A Kestrel and a Grey Heron were seen along Fen Road.  A few Fieldfares were along the track to the Lodestar fields and Skylarks were heard over the fields after the little bridge.

Tuesday 26 March 2013

This morning's run was again along the Lode 10k route but with the addition of White Fen Drove.  Just under 8 miles in 1 hour 6 minutes.  The weather was cold and windy.  The tracks were not too muddy as the ground was frozen.  The wind appears to be drying out the tracks a bit.

2 Mute Swans, 2 small ducks (probably Teal) and several Moorhens and Mallards were seen along Quy Water.  3 Green Woodpeckers were seen or heard (in the horse field at Quy Water, at Lode Mill and along White Fen Drove).

Several Reed Buntings seen along Quy Water and White Fen Drove.  There were 2 Grey Wagtails at Lode Mill and 2 Kestrels at the Jack of Clubs.  It's good to see the birds pairing up for Spring.  A Grey Heron was seen along Bottisham Lode and a Buzzard flew over the railway track.

Several Tits, Yellowhammers, Blackbirds, Chaffinches and Dunnocks seen too as well as a Song Thrush and Fieldfare.

Tuesday 5 March 2013

An 8 mile run to Horningsea today.  The tracks are still generally fairly dry, except the end of the bridleway.  Finished in 1 hour 08:30.

A Buzzard was seen perched in a tree at Honey Hill.  About 150 Fieldfares were in the field just before the pink house.

A Reed Bunting was in the ditch from Horningsea towards Quy Fen.  Just before Quy Fen 3 Roe Deer were in the field to the North.  A Hare was seen just passed Allicky Farm.

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.

Tuesday 20 December

Bottisham, Lode to the start of White Fen Drove this morning.  Very dark for most of the run, and cold (but not freezing).  Time was 1 hour 02'04".

Again not a lot to see apart from Blackbirds and the odd Fieldfare.  About 30 Jackdaws were roosting in a tree in Station Road.

Thursday 8 December 2011

9k run to Bottisham and Lode this morning.  It was dark for most of the run.  The weather was cold and dry.  The ground was a bit wet after overnight rain.  A course record time of 46'09".

Blackbirds seen and heard.  Along the old railway track I heard alarm calls and saw feathers coming out of the hedge followed by a Fieldfare and a Sparrowhawk.  4 Moorhens were on the pond in Station Road and lots of Mallards.  A little further on a Mistle Thrush was flushed by a cat at the bend in the road

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.

Friday 25 November 2011

Lode 10k again this morning.  Weather was dry and cool.  The ground was wet as there had been quite a bit of overnight rain.  A gentle run today in 53'07".

11 Moorhens and the 5 Swans seen on Quy Water.  At least 50 Jackdaws in Mill Road. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard and then seen at the top of a tree along Bottisham Lode, opposite the cottages.

2 Herons seen just before the bridge over Bottisham Lode.

A large group of Fieldfares were seen just before the old railway line.

Monday 24 October 2011

A late start so just a short run to Lode (just under 5 miles). Weather was dry and not as cold as recent mornings. Wind was strong though.

A Barn Owl was seen in the usual place in Station Road. Along Quy Water a Heron was seen and the Swan family (only 3 young seen today). Moorhen sightings were down due to the low light, especially through the woods, but 6 seen today.

A couple of small flocks of Fieldfares seen. A Kestrel and a Green Woodpecker seen along the old railway line.

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.

Thursday 31 March 2011

Lode 10k this morning. Weather was cool, dull and windy. The ground was wet from overnight rain, but fortunately not too muddy. A slow time of 57'35". 2 Green Woodpeckers heard and a Great-Spotted Woodpecker was drumming hear the house at Anglesey Abbey. Chiffchaffs heard singing at the start of Anglesey Abbey woods and along the track leading to the railway line. 3 pairs of partridges seen. A pair of Reed Buntings were in the usual spot and about 5 Skylarks here in the fields. Another Skylark was seen in the field along the bridleway. At the end of the bridleway there was a flock of about 100 Fieldfares, they will probably use the strong SW wind today to head back up North. A Jay was seen just before Lode Mill and a pair at the Lodestar fields. 2 Roe Deer were in the field along Fen Road.

Tuesday 15 March 2011

Lode 10k route today. Weather was cool and dry.

Green Woodpecker in horse paddock at start of Quy Water. A Great Spotted Woodpecker at the start of the Lodestar fields. A Grey Partridge was on the road along Fen Road and a Heron in the usual place. At least 3 (possibly 5) Reed Buntings along the ditch. 2 Skylarks and a Lapwing here too.

A group of about 20 Fieldfares seen along the bridleway. Yellowhammer at the bend in the bridleway.

Monday 3 January 2011

I avoided the mud along Quy Water today by running along the road route to Bottisham and Lode then continued out to the end of White Fen drove. Weather was dry but a little cooler than the last few days. 9 miles in 1 hour 21'16".

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the trees along Lode Road, Bottisham. 6 Moorhens seen along Bottisham Lode and a Kestrel. There were 3 or 4 Roe Deer in the field to the North of Fen Road. A flock of Yellowhammers were in the bushes at the start of White Fen Drove.

A Green Woodpecker and a Mistle Thrush were seen in the Lodestar field and a Buzzard flew into a tree here.

Again several Blackbirds and Fieldfares seen as well as Blue, Great and Long-Tailed Tits, Chaffinches and Goldfinches.

Friday 31 December 2010

A 10k run this morning along my usual 10k route. The path along Quy Water and through the woods at Anglesey Abbey was very muddy. Weather was cool but dry, although slightly misty. A slow time of 58'24". Lode Mill was working today.

5 Moorhens and 2 Little Egrets along Bottisham Lode, also a male Kestrel. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew into the Poplar trees at the Lodestar fields. Again plenty of Blackbirds and Fieldfares around. Just before the railway track there were several Chaffinches and a Goldfinch. In Station Road, Quy there was a flock of about 8 House Sparrows.

Friday 24 December 2010

Having finished work early today for Christmas, I had an afternoon 10 mile run to Oily Hall. The ground was still frozen and covered in snow, so the conditions were good for running. Time was 1 hour 27'06".

Along Bottisham Lode there were a few Moorhens and a Little Egret ( a first on my runs), just before the bridge a Kingfisher flew down the stream. At Oily Hall a Buzzard flew over and 3 Roe Deer were seen in an adjacent field. A Kestrel was hunting over Oily Hall and I followed him along the road for a while, where he made a couple of attempts to catch voles.

Another Buzzard was seen over the Lodestar field. A flock of about 12 Partridges flew across the field here. There were many winter thrushes about, with many Blackbirds, several Fieldfares and at least 1 Redwing.

Tuesday 14 December

Bottisham and Lode Mill this morning. Left home just before 7 and still dark, but was quite a bit lighter by the time I got to the mill. Weather was mild, but a little misty. After a mild rainy night there was no frost this morning. Time was 50'25".

A singing Robin was heard in the darkness in Bottisham. Blackbirds and Fieldfares seen along the railway track. In Station Road there was a flock of over 100 Jackdaws and there were 5 Moorhens at the pond. A Kestrel flew onto a house roof just before Stow Road.

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.

Tuesday 16 November 2010

A cold and frosty morning. Not so muddy today due to the frost, apart from a few places. I ran 8 miles to the end of White Fen Drove and back. After my face had warmed up (after about 1 mile) it was a pleasant run, particularly at about 5 miles where the route heads back to the railway track. Here the sun had just risen over the trees and was lighting up the white frost fields.

Large number of Jackdaws and Rooks in the field along Quy Water again. There were also 2 Herons along Quy Water just before Anglesey Abbey, one of which stayed just ahead of me all the way to the mill pond. Another Heron just before White Fen Drove and as I turned into the drove another was heading towards me across the fields. A covey of 11 partridges in a field along White Fen Drove.

As I headed back over the bridge there were Redwings, Fieldfares and 3 Long-Tailed Tits. At the end of the avenue of poplars there was a Buzzard. Along the railway track were more Long-Tailed Tits and a Fox was walking down the track by the gate towards Quy Water. A Kestrel was seen along the bridleway.

Sunday 7 November 2010

A run of just under 10 miles today to Oily Hall (NT). It was quite cold when I left home at just before 9, but by half way it was feeling much warmer.

A Grey Heron was seen in Bottisham Lode. A flock of about 50 Goldfinches were at Oily Hall. There were several gulls on the Polo Club fields, including Lesser and Greater Black-Backed.

A party of Fieldfares were seen along Quy Water. Several fish seen in Bottisham Lode.