Friday 31 May 2013

It's been 10 days since my last run, so I really need to get back into the habit.

A 10k run to Lode today.  The weather was cool for May and a bit misty.  The course was rather muddy in places due to the recent rain.

A Grey Wagtail was seen at the pond in Quy.  A Heron and the Swan family with 5 cygnets were along Quy Water.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen flying along Fen Road.  Otherwise several Whitethroats seen/heard and a few House Martins, Swifts and Swallows.

Tuesday 21 May 2013

A morning run along my usual Lode 10k route.  The weather was cool but dry.  There was no dew so the section with long grass was dry underfoot.

The pair of Swans were seen on Quy Water with at least 6 small cygnets.  A hare was seen at the end of the bridleway.  A few House Martins and a couple of Swallows about.  Otherwise nothing of note to report.

Thursday 16 May 2013

A good run along the Lode 10k route.  The grass is getting quite long on stretch along the ditch after the Lodestar fields and was very wet with the dew this morning.  Weather was bright and fairly warm.

A few House Martins were seen in Vicarage Meadow, Station Road and in Lode.  A few Whitethroats and Skylarks heard.  A pair of Grey Partridges were in the field at the end of the bridleway.  A Kingfisher flew across the pond in Station Road on the way back and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen a bit further on.

As I got home 2 Little Egrets flew over.

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.

Tuesday 25 September 2012

A good run this morning to Bottisham and Lode Mill.  Weather was cool and a little windy.  A new PB for this route of 42'41", almost 2 minutes quicker than previous best from earlier this month.

A large flock of House Martin over Mill Road in Lode and a Grey Wagtail at the Mill.  A Buzzard drifted slowly low over Station Road, Quy pursued as ever by a group of corvids.

Sunday 23 September 2012 - Bourn to Run 10k

My second time at this event.  Weather was dry and cool (about 11 degrees), with a light breeze.  The course started with a quick downhill "dash" through the village (4 minutes for 1st 1km), followed by a gradual climb up to the 6km mark.  Between 3 and 4km was the steepest part.  A good time of around 22:15 at the halfway mark. From 7km the course was downhill.

I managed to cross the finish line with a final sprint just before the clock ticked to 45:00 minutes and got a chip time of 44:53.  This is over 2 minutes better than last year's Bourn to Run and not far off my 10k PB.

A large flock of House Martins were flying around the grounds of Bourn Hall at the start.  A couple of Swallows seen near the airfield.

Friday 21 September 2012

A good run along the 5 mile route to Lode and back along the old railway line.  A PB of 39'42" thanks to a quick final 2 miles.  The weather was dry and warmer than it was on Wednesday.

Only 2 House Martins in the village this morning (in Station Road).  It looks like they have finally left for the year.  Nothing else of interest seen this morning either.

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.

Monday 30 April 2012

Due to continued heavy rain in recent days I ran the mainly road route to Bottisham and Lode and back along the old railway track.  A fairly slow 47'33".

A couple of House Martins seen in Vicarage Meadow and some more in Lode. 

A Collared Dove was seen nesting where a telegraph cable met the wall of a cottage in Lode.  I have seen the old nest there before, but this is the first time I've seen the bird on the nest.

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.

Sunday 18 September 2011

A tiring Lode 10k this morning. Weather was dry, bright and warm. The ground was wet in places though due to overnight rain. Not a bad time of 50'50".

A Kingfisher flew along Quy Water in the direction of Station Road pond. There was also a Heron here and 4 Moorhens. A few Swallows and House Martins around.

4 Roe Deer were in a field along Fen Road.

In Station Road on the way back a Barn Owl was seen perched on a barn door.

Thursday 15 September 2011

A good run along the Lode 10k route this morning. Weather was dry and bright but cold. At least the wind has died down now. I managed to knock over a minute off my PB for the route with a time of 49'40". For the last mile and three quarters I quickened my pace to my 5k race speed.

Along Quy Water there were a few Mallards, the Swan family and 11 Moorhens (5 juveniles). At the horse fields at the start of Quy Water there were 2 Green Woodpeckers. Just before Anglesey Abbey woods a Kestrel flew over and a Bullfinch flew into the woods. 2 Squirrels seen in the woods too. A little further on a Heron took off from the water and another Green Woodpecker was seen just before Lode Mill.

Another Heron was standing alongside a ditch near the track to the Lodestar fields. Through the poplar trees along the track I heard another Green Woodpecker and a Jay.

2 Skylarks were seen over the sugar beet fields and along the track at the end about 15 Partridges flew up. 2 more Squirrels were along the old railway line. In Station Road there were a few House Martins and a Swallow. 4 more House Martins at Vicarage Meadow.

Sunday 11 September 2011

A 12 mile run this morning to Swaffham Prior. Weather was dry and warm but very windy. A good time of 1 hour 39'40".

Several House Martins over Vicarage Meadow and a lot in Main Street, including around 25 on telephone wires. 2 Green Woodpeckers in Swaffham Bulbeck. A Kestrel was seen as I entered Swaffham Prior and another as I left the village near the football ground on Station Road.

A Corn Bunting was perched on telephone wires along the road to Upware. Another Green Woodpecker was seen along the track to the Lodestar fields. 1 or 2 Swallows seen too.

Friday 9 September 2011

Lode 10k route this morning. Weather was overcast and not as windy as Wednesday. Time was not too bad at 53'31".

A Grey Heron and half of the Swan family (1 adult and 4 juveniles) were on Quy Water. Only a few House Martins seen over Station Road, have most of them left now?

There were plenty of Moorhens around though, with 2 at the pond, 13 on Quy Water, 1 at Lode Mill and another in a field off Fen Road. Several of the Moorhens were juveniles. 4 Green Woodpeckers seen/heard too - 1 heard at Anglesey Abbey, 2 feeding on the grass towards Quy Fen and another seen at the start of the bridleway.

There were about 6 Reed Buntings between the sugar beet fields. A flock of about 20 House Sparrows in Station Road.

Also 4 Grey Squirrels were seen. 2 at Anglesey Abbey and 2 on the old railway line.

Wednesday 7 September

An 8 mile run this morning to the end of White Fen Drove. Weather was dry but cool with a strong South-Westerly wind. My time was a reasonable 1 hour 7'30".

A few House Martins and Swallows around. The Swan family were on Quy Water as well as 6 Moorhens, including 1 juvenile. 2 Jays flew across the track just before Lode Mill. A Kestrel was seen at the Jack of Clubs and another at the Crane farm.

Along the track to the Lodestar fields a Jay was heard and a Green Woodpecker seen. There were 4 Reed Buntings in the ditch between the sugar beet fields.

It was a very good morning for mammals. A Muntjac was seen in the woods at Anglesey Abbey. A total of 8 Roe Deer - 5 in a field to the North of Fen Road and another 3 in the field just before White Fen. Here at the the end of the track there were 2 Hares. On the way back down White Fen Drove a Stoat came out of the undergrowth and promptly ran back in again when it saw me. And of course there were the usual dozens of Rabbits.

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.

Wednesday 31 August 2011

Lode 10k this morning. Weather was overcast and cool. No stopwatch this morning so no time available.

Marquees have started to be put up for the Lodestar Festival this weekend.

A lot of House Martins in Station Road. The Swan family were swimming along Quy Water in the wooded section at Anglesey Abbey. A Heron was on Bottisham Lode, also a few Moorhens including 1 young bird.

A Green Woodpecker was seen along the track to the Lodestar fields. Along the ditch between the sugar beet field there were 6 Reed Buntings (presumably a family group) and also a Skylark. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew across the track just before the railway line and another Green Woodpecker was seen along the bridleway. Finally another young Moorhen was seen at the pond on Station Road.

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Lode 10k this morning. I came back along the road to the railway line at Lode rather than across the wet grass at the Lodestar fields. Weather was cool with the odd spot of drizzle. A good time of 53 minutes exactly.

A Barn Owl flew across Station Road in the usual place. Good numbers of House Martins (Station Road) and Swallows (Fen Road, Lode). The Swan family were on Quy Water just past the back entrance to Anglesey Abbey. A Jay was heard in the woods just before Lode Mill. A Heron was in the usual place on Bottisham Lode. About 12 House Sparrows in Station Road.

A few fish seen at Lode Mill.

Monday 22 August 2011

An 8 mile run this morning to the end of White Fen Drove. Weather was dry and bright but rather cold. The grass was quite dewy. Time was not too bad at 1 hour 07'10".

Following on from Friday's note about the harvest, there are still a few wheat fields Left along White Fen Drove. The Linseed has been harvested though.

Large numbers of Swallows and House Martins seen this morning. Over 100 House Martins perched on telegraph wires and feeding in Station Road. Around 25 Swallows perched on telegraph wires along Fen Road, Lode.

A Green Woodpecker was heard along Quy Water and a Grey Heron was in the usual place along Bottisham Lode. The Swan family were swimming along Quy Water - the cygnets (all 7 still surviving) are now getting quite big. A Kestrel was seen along Fen Road.