Wednesday 17 April 2013

A cool morning with the ground slightly damp after light overnight rain.  Today I ran the 8-mile route to the end of White Fen Drove.

A lot of wildlife was seen this morning:-
A Heron, Several Moorhens and a Swan along Quy Water.
A pair of Lapwings just before Anglesey Abbey - chasing off a Crow.
2 Green Woodpeckers heard (one seen) at Anglesey Abbey and another on the grass of the field along the track parallel to the railway line.
2 Chiffchaffs heard at Anglesey Abbey and another at Quy Hall.
A Jay was seen at Lode Mill.
A Fox walked across the road along White Fen Drove and a Hare was seen here too.
A Buzzard flew off from a telegraph post along the track to Lodestar.
2 Roe Deer were in the fields after Lodestar.
A Great-Spotted Woodpecker was seen in Station Road.
Also several Blackbirds, Chaffinches, Wrens, Dunnocks, Yellowhammers, Blue and Great Tits either seen or heard.

Wednesday 16 May 2012

I ran the 8-mile Horningsea route this morning.  Normally I run this anti-clockwise but did it the other way round today.  On the way back came through Quy Fen rather than past Allicky Farm.  Rather cold this morning, but not too muddy.  Time was 1 hour 08'09".

A Fox was seen along the Honey Hill byway.  A few Whitethroats seen or heard.  Reed Warblers were heard in the reeds at Quy Fen.

Wednesday 12 October 2011

8 mile Horningsea run this morning. Left home before sunrise so still fairly dark at first. Weather was not too cold but again quite windy. A reasonable time of 1 hour 6'04".

A Fox ran across the road just before the turning to the Honey Hill bridge over the A14. A Muntjac was seen just after Allicky Farm. Surprising the Muntjac didn't run away even though I was less than 5 Metres away as I ran past. It must have felt safe with the ditch between us!

On the bird front not a lot seen. A couple of Jays and the usual Pigeons, Corvids and game birds. Of interest though were some Reeves Pheasants at Allicky Farm. The Quy village news had noted that there were some about.

The Swan family were swimming under the bridge away from the pond towards Anglesey Abbey.

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 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.

Tuesday 25 May 2010

I did the 10k run through Lode to White Fen Drove this morning. Weather was dry but noticeably cooler than it has been over the last week. A fairly strong Northerly breeze. 55minutes was a reasonable time.

A couple of Swifts in Station Road Quy and several House Martins. Several Swifts (some screaming) in Mill Road Lode. Usual pair of Swallows at the stat of White Fen Drove. A Green Woodpecker seen in a farmyard in Station Road, Quy and another along Bottisham Lode. A Buzzard flew low over Quy Water into the woods of Anglesey Abbey. A Kingfisher was seen a bit further along Quy Water. A Pied Wagtail was seen along Fen Road, and Whitethroats. On the way back along the old railway track a fox was seen across the field.

The start of White Fen Drove.

Old tree by White Fen Drove.

Monday 15 March 2010

Bottisham and Lode again this morning. Quite a bit warmer than recent mornings. A bit windy for the final part of the run. Not quick this morning due to quite a bit of stiffness. 9km in around 52'30".

A Fox seen along Albert Road. A Green Woodpecker seen flying over Bottisham Village College and another one heard at the Lode end of the railway track. One Song Thrush seen singing.

Thursday 11 March 2010

An evening run today as I was home early from a training seminar. A change of time and a change of route. After a couple of weeks of very little rain, I decided to try along Quy Water to Lode Mill (this has been far too muddy recently). The riverbank was much better the only really muddy area was at the gateway just as you enter the woods at Anglesey Abbey. Form the Mill I ran down Fen Road (along Bottisham Lode) the down White Fen Drove. At the end of the Drove I came back via the grassy droveway and retraced my steps to the Mill. I then took the usual route back along the old railway line. Total distance of 7.8miles in a time of 1'09"55. I seemed to make particularly good time over the last mile.

3 Moorhens on Quy Water and 4 on Bottisham Lode. A Green Woodpecker in Station Road, Quy, a Wren at Lode Mill and a Kestrel seen along Fen Road in Lode. Also 2 Partridges seen. At the end of White Fen Drove there were 6 Roe Deer. Along Quy Water there was a strong smell of Foxes.

Wednesday 3 March 2010

The same run as yesterday but on my own. Slightly cold and frosty this morning, a bit cloudier than yesterday. Conditions underfoot the same with the bridleway being a bit muddy. Time for the 9km of 50'39".

The same small birds seen including a goldfinch and a singing male Yellowhammer along the bridleway. Pleased to see a wren in Station Road as concern raised by local birders that they have not fared too well during he cold winter. A Green Woodpecker was seen along the bridleway flying off across the field. 2 Partridges along the old railway track. A few rabbits seen and a Fox on the other side of the field along the old railway track.