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.

Tuesday 9 April 2012

An afternoon run today (after a visit to the dentist).  I ran the Lode 10k route.

This afternoon I saw my first Swallow of the year over Quy Water just before Anglesey Abbey and a bit further on by the bridge into Anglesey Abbey my first Kingfisher of the year.  I saw a Jay here too.

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.

Friday 1 June 2012

A run along the Lode 10k route this morning.

A Kingfisher flew along Quy Water in the woods at Anglesey Abbey.

Monday 12 March 2012

An 8-mile run to the end of White Fen Drove this morning.  Weather was foggy and fairly cold and damp.  A slow time again of 1 hour 8'30".

Despite the fog some decent sighting today.  The adult Swans were on Quy Water, no sign of the juveniles.  A Kingfisher was perched in the hedgerow, just after the second kissing-gate along Quy Water.  5 Moorhens seen this morning.

A Great-Spotted Woodpecker was drumming along Fen Road, opposite the cottages.  Along the grass track section of White Fen Drove there was a pair of Little Owls.

2 Reed Buntings seen along the ditch after Lodestar and a few Yellowhammers seen.

Friday 2 March 2012

A cold and misty Lode 10k run this morning.  It was so misty across the Lodestar fields that I missed the bridge over the small ditch by about 50m and had to back-track along the ditch.  A slow time of 55'50".

Not much to see this morning obviously, but I did see a Kingfisher at the pond in Station Road.

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.

Saturday 17 December 2011

9k run this morning to Bottisham and Lode.  Weather was cold and a bit rainy.  The paths were quite slippery in places as the rain had fallen on overnight ice.  Had to take it easy so my time was a bit slower than usual at 47'30".

Not much seen, but a Kingfisher at Lode made up for the rest of the run.

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Lode 10k route again this morning. Weather was dry and fairly bright. The ground was wet though due to overnight rain. A slower time today of 53'44".

2 Buzzards seen along Quy Water. One over the horse field at the start of the footpath heading towards to Quy Hall and a second one flew into the trees at the start of Angelsey Abbey. There were 2 Kingfishers here too.

A total of 16 Moorhens counted along Quy Water. A Grey Wagtail was seen at Lode Mill, initially flying up onto the roof and then down into the pond after the mill.

A group of around 15 Partridges again seen just after the sugar beet fields.

Several Finches and Tits seen along the track leading to Quy Fen.

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.

Sunday 4 September 2011

8 mile run this morning to the end of White Fen Drove. Weather was dry and warmish. The run was fairly slow at 1 hour 8'34".

A Kingfisher flew along Quy Water and the Swan family were seen here too. On the way back down White Fen Drove a Ring-Necked Parakeet flew noisily across the road from the Crane farm towards Lode. This is the first time I've seen one of these colourful "aliens" outside of London.

Saturday 18 June 2011

Cambridge parkrun. Weather was dull and rainy early on, but had cleared by the time the run started. It was then quite warm, but lots of puddles around. At the end of the first 1km I realised that I hadn't set my stopwatch, so pacing was a bit difficult. After 3.5km I was overtaken by the 23 minute pacer so pushed on a bit to keep up. It turned out that he has ahead of his time and I finished in a very good PB of 22'27".

Before the run a Great Crested Grebe with 2 chicks was seen from the visitor centre along with a Kingfisher. During the run 3 Chiffchaffs were heard.

Thursday 17 March 2011

The 5.5 mile Bottisham, Lode Mill route this morning. Weather was quite cold and misty with a steady light drizzle. Feeling tired this morning so a slow time of 52'19".

A Great-Spotted Woodpecker drumming loudly at Lode Mill. The bird was seen at the top of a poplar tree. Yellowhammer again at the bend in the bridleway.

2 Coots on Quy Water heading toward the pond and a Kingfisher flew across the pond to sit in an overhanging tree. Heron flew over Stow Road and over the park. A Song Thrush was on the grass in the park.

Tuesday 1 February 2011

7 miles this morning to Bottisham, Lode and up to the start of White Fen Drove. Cold and frosty and a biting wind on the way back. Quite light this morning with a red sky early on.

3 Herons evenly spaced along Bottisham Lode, also a Kingfisher was seen sitting on a fence that goes down to the water's edge. The Kingfisher flew off along the lode as I passed. A Skylark was seen in the usual field.

A Green Woodpecker was heard across the fields towards Lode Mill. A Coot was on the pond in Quy.

Sunday 23 January 2011

9 mile run to Bottisham, Lode and White Fen Drove. Weather was slightly drizzly at times, but not too cold. A slight breeze. Time was 1 hour 20'55".

3 sightings of Kingfishers along Bottisham Lode, probably 2 different birds. 1 seen on my way out along the tree-lined section, and then coming back 1 flew off across the fields towards the Lodestar area 1 seen in the same area as before. 4 Moorhens along Bottisham Lode and another at Quy pond as well as 4 Mute Swans. Otherwise not much else to see.

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.

Wednesday 3 November 2010

The usual 10k run this morning. Fairly slow as still recovering from Sunday's 12 miles - just over 57 minutes. With the clocks having gone back at the weekend, it was much lighter than last week.

Starting to look Autumnal now, the strong winds this week blowing many of the leaves off the trees. Also getting muddier, especially through the woods along Quy Water at Anglesey Abbey and the end of the bridleway.

Grey Heron seen just before Anglesey Abbey and another one along Bottisham Lode. Also 2 Kestrels seen - Bottisham Lode and Station Road, Quy.

A Kingfisher was seen along Bottisham Lode and a few Moorhens. A couple of Skylarks were in the barley field.

Sunday 19 September 2010

Another 10k afternoon run. Today the weather was dry.

A Kestrel was sitting on the roof of a small barn along Quy Water. A Swallow was seen heading South along Quy Water. A Green Woodpecker seen again just before Lode Mill. A Kingfisher was seen briefly along Bottisham Lode. From the railway track a Buzzard was seen being mobbed by crows over the woods of Anglesey Abbey.

Saturday 18 September 2010

An afternoon run along the 10k route with Joanna. Weather was cool and after about a mile a steady little drizzle persisted.

A lot of House Martins over Station Road. A Grey Heron was seen flying across the field just before Anglesey Abbey. Green Woodpecker just before Lode Mill. A Kingfisher at the pond in Quy.

Wednesday 11 August 2010

An evening run today. Weather was dry and fairly warm. 8 mile run down White Fen Drove. Started out quick with a time to the Lode Mill checkpoint of just 15'55" (a new record). A headwind along Fen Road used up a lot of my energy, but managed to finish in a good time of 1 hour 05'52" (my second best time).

Several House Martins in Station Road. 2 Kingfishers seen 1 at the pond in Quy and 1 along Bottisham Lode. A green Woodpecker heard in the horse fields at the start of Quy Water and 2 seen on the way back along the bridleway. 6 Partridges at the entrance to the crane farm. 4 Skylarks over the barley fields. 3 Greenfinches at the end of the bridleway.




The spindly old oaks along the bridleway.


















The end of the bridleway, where it joins Station Road.