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.

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.

Sunday 24 March 2013

A cold run along the Lode 10k route today.  The ground was covered in snow and very fine snow was still falling.  The paths/road very a little icy in places at the start, but the tracks were not too muddy due to the snow covering.  Despite the continual light snow, the roads/paths had cleared of snow by the time I returned the Quy.  The temperature must have been just high enough for a thaw.

2 Roe Deer were seen along Fen Road.  The deer bounded off across the Lodestar field as I approached.  There were 2 Grey Herons here too.

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 19 September 2012

A cold morning today (around 6 degrees).  I ran the Lode 10k route.  The grass along Quy Water was a bit dewy, but fortunately the grass between the fields after Lodestar had been cut (although already growing back).  A good time of 50'33".

2 Jays were seen flying from Quy Water towards the old railway line.  A Heron was on Bottisham Lode and a group of Roe Deer were seen in the field towards White Fen.  A Buzzard was seen sitting on top of a telegraph pole along the track to the Lodestar fields.

Monday 18 June 2012

An evening run after work along the Lode 10k route.  Weather was dry and warm.  The grass was dry but there were big puddles or mud in places.  Stopwatch battery packed up - so no time available.

Several House Martins in Vicarage Meadow and Station Road.  A Mistle Thrush and a Heron were seen at the start of Quy Water.  The Moorhen was seen on its nest again, with a least 1 chick.

A few Swifts over Lode.  A couple of Skylarks were seen at the Barley fields.  A Green Woodpecker was on the grass along the track to Quy Fen.

A Spotted Flycatcher was seen in Station Road.  A juvenile Goldfinch was calling to its parents from a TV aerial in Vicarage Meadow.

Wednesday 2 May 2012

A 10 mile run this morning to Oily Hall.  The weather was slightly drizzly at the start and fairly cool.  The ground was muddy in places, especially at the start of Anglesey Abbey woods and along the bridleway.  A reasonable time of 1 hour 29'20".

A few House Martins seen over Station Road and a couple of Swallows.  A Heron flew up from the river at the start of Quy Water.  2 Green Woodpeckers were seen at Lode Mill and another at Frolic Farm.  A Great-Spotted Woodpecker was seen along the track to the Lodestar fields.  A male Kestrel was here too.

A total of about 5 Roe Deer were seen this morning.

Wednesday 14 March 2012

I managed an earlier start today so I was able to run just under 10 miles to Oily Hall.  Weather was dry and not too cold.  Finished in a decent time of 1 hour 27'02" a new PB for this course.

6 Moorhens were seen along Quy Water and the adult Swans were mating just before Lode Mill (quite a romantic spot!).  No sign of last year's youngsters now.  A Green Woodpecker was heard in the woods opposite Anglesey Abbey.

A Heron was seen flying off along Fen Road.  A Buzzard was over Oily Hall and 3 more seen later between the old railway line and Quy Fen.  3 Roe Deer were also at Oily Hall.

2 Reed Buntings and 2 Skylarks in the usual place.  Several pairs of Partridges about.

Wednesday 29 February 2012

Lode 10k this morning.  Weather was mild but dull.  The ground was damp due to overnight rain.  A slow time today of 54'12".

A Kingfisher was seen at the pond in Quy.  The 3 young Swans were again at opposite ends of Quy Water from the adults.  A Heron was at the start of Quy Water and another along Bottisham Lode.  9 Moorhens seen along Quy Water this morning. 

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming at Anglesey Abbey and another in Lode village. 

A large flock of 30 or so Lapwing were circling over the fields passed Lodestar and 3 Lapwing were flying around the field itself.  3 Reed Buntings seen in the ditch today and at least 2 Skylarks, with 1 singing. 

A Sparrowhawk flew along the track parallel to the old railway line.  A Green Woodpecker was seen along the old railway line.  Several Yellowhammers seen and heard.

Friday 24 February 2012

I decided to start running the Lode 10k route again this morning, now that it's light well before 7.  Weather was fairly mild.  The course was a bit muddy in places, especially along Quy Water through the woods at Anglesey Abbey.  My time was reasonable for the time of year, although well down on my PB, at 54'12".

A Green Woodpecker was heard at the horse field. The Swan family were on Quy Water.  Just before Anglesey Abbey I saw a Heron and another one along Bottisham Lode.  A Jay was seen at Lode Mill and another along the old railway line.

5 Moorhens were seen along Quy Water up to the Mill and another 3 along Bottisham Lode.  A Wren was heard singing along Quy Water.  A Great-Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming in a house garden in Lode.  A Song Thrush was singing in the trees opposite the cottages on Fen Road. A pair of Kestrels were seen near the Jack of Clubs farm.

A Buzzard was flying over the Lodestar fields and a Reed Bunting was in the usual ditch between the 2 fields.  3-4 Skylarks were seen here and another 5-6 along the old railway line and bridleway.  One of the Skylarks was singing high above the field clearly displaying.

A Long-tailed tit, a few Yellowhammers and Goldfinches (Station Road) were also part of an impressive bird list today.

Sunday 11 December 2011

A late morning run along the Lode 10k route.  Weather was cool and windy and there was some rain at times.

The 5 Swans were on Quy Water.  A Treecreeper flew across the river at the start of the Anglesey Abbey woods and was then seen climbing a tree.

A Green Woodpecker was seen along Fen road and another along the track parallel to the old railway line.  A male Kestrel was also seen along Fen Road perched on a telegraph wire over Bottisham Lode and another(/the same?) male seen just after the sugar beet fields.  A Heron was standing at the far side of the right-hand sugar beet field.

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.

Tuesday 29 November 2011

My route this morning was through Bottisham to Lode and then back across the Lodestar fields.  7.3 miles in 1 hour 1'41".  Weather was dark until Lode then dull and very windy, not cold though.

Blackbirds seen in the early gloom.  A Song Thrush heard in Lode.  Along Bottisham Lode there was a Kestrel and a Heron.  After the sugar beet fields 2 Roe Deer were seen across the next field.

A Jay was seen along the old railway line.  Over 100 Jackdaws and a few Rooks were flying along Bottisham Lode towards Lode, and another smaller group of about 40 Jackdaws and Rooks were in Station Road, Quy.

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.

Wednesday 23 November 2011

A fairly tiring Lode 10k this morning - still recovering from Sunday's half marathon.  Weather was dry but cold, with a touch of frost in places.  Finish time was 51'25".

A female Sparrowhawk flew over the trees at the edge of Quy Park. Swan family and 8 Moorhens seen along Quy Water.

A Heron was again seen along Bottisham Lode and a Woodpecker flew past.  In a field to the right there was a single Roe Deer, 4 more were seen running across the sugar beet field.

2 Woodpeckers flew over the track leading to the old railway line.  At the end of the old railway line there were about 50 Lapwings in a field with Black-Headed Gulls.

On the way back along Station Road a Buzzard flew low over the rooftops.

Friday 18 November 2011

Another fairly steady Lode 10k.  Weather was fairly bright, after the sun came up, but with a cold wind.  Finished in a time of 52'41".

A Heron was seen at the start of Quy Water and another in the usual place along Bottisham Lode.  8 Moorhens were seen along Quy Water this morning and the 5 Swans were just before the Mill.  A Muntjac ran off across the field as I rounded the corner at the Mill.

Again several House Sparrows heard in Mill Road. 

A male Kestrel was perched on top of a telegraph pole along the track to the Lodestar fields.  5 Skylarks and 2 Roe Deer were seen in the sugar beet fields.  The Deer stayed with me for about half a mile, bounding off ahead each time I caught up with them. 

A Group of about 50 Black-Headed Gulls were in a field alongside the old railway line.

Tuesday 15 November 2011

A fairly gentle Lode 10k this morning in a time of 52'51".  Weather was dull and grey but not too cold.

About 50 Jackdaws were in the trees in Station Road near the pond.  Swan family (+3) were on Quy Water in the woods at Angelsey Abbey.  8 Moorhens seen along this stretch today.  A Green Woodpecker was heard in the woods.

In Mill Road a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard.

A Heron and a male Kestrel were seen along Bottisham Lode.

Sunday 13 November 2011

My longest run ever today of 14.7 miles. I started out towards Lode Mill with the intention of doing the 10 mile loop past Oily Hall and the polo club. When I got to the end of White Fen Drove I decided to extend the run through White Fen and down Swaffham Bulbeck Lode to the River Cam. When I got to the Cam I was still feeling good so decided to carry on down to Clayhithe and then on to Baits Bite Lock to come back through Honey Hill.

The weather was dry and bright and quite warm. It was a very enjoyable run in around 2 and quarter hours.

The Swan family (with 3 young) were on Quy Water. 2 Jays seen just before Anglesey Abbey. As I turned into White Fen Drove a Heron was seen in the middle of the field off to the left.

Along Swaffham Bulbeck Lode a Merlin darted across the lode just in front of me and a bit further on a female Marsh Harrier was seen hunting along a ditch in the field to my right. The Harrier swooped down into the ditch so I stopped for a minute or so but she didn't reappear. Obviously a successful catch.

Several Swans seen on the Cam and at just before Clayhithe there were a several Coots. Having crossed the bridge to the towpath to Baits Bite Lock 3 Little Grebes were seen diving for food.

A Green Woodpecker and a Kestrel were also seen. Several Goldfinches again just before the A14 bridge.

Thursday 10 November 2011

A rather tiring Lode 10k this morning. Weather was dull with grey skies, but not cold. A Reasonable time of 51'58".

13 Moorhens along Quy Water, with 2 more just after the mill. The Swan family (2 adults, 3 young) were on Quy Water just after the bridge at the back entrance to Anglesey Abbey.

House Sparrows were again heard from bushes on both sides of Mill Road.

A Kestrel and Heron were seen along Fen Road. A Skylark was at the sugar beet fields. Surprised to note that the left-hand field has still not been completely harvested, just a strip near the road.

Along the track to the old railway line there was a Song Thrush, Jay and Green Woodpecker.