Tuesday 14 May 2013

Back after a couple of weeks of no running, although I did a fair amount of walking last week in Poland.

A short 7km run this morning to Lode Mill.  The conditions were good and the ground was pretty dry.

A Barn Owl flew across Station Road as I returned.

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 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.

Wednesday 13 March 2013

A steady 10k run to Lode as I'm feeling a bit under the weather.  It was cold and frosty, although it was quite a bit warmer coming across the Lodestar fields.

A Jay was seen in Station Road, Quy and a Moorhen and Coot were at the pond.  Along Quy Water there were several Mallards and Moorhens.  " Green Woodpeckers flew across the track at Lode Mill into the grounds of Anglesey Abbey.

2 Reed Buntings were in the ditch after the Lodestar fields.  A flock of about 15 Lapwings flew over the railway track.  Yellowhammers, Wrens, House Sparrows, various Thrushes and Chaffinches were also seen.

Wednesday 14 November 2012

9k run to Bottisham and Lode this morning.  The weather was dry and fairly warm.  The railway track and bridleway are still very muddy.  The mud slowed by down for the final mile and a half, overall time was 46'44".

Several House Sparrows heard in Albert Road this morning.  A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen flying over in Lode.  5 Moorhens were at Lode Mill and a few Long-Tailed Tits were in the bushes just after the mill.

Thursday 8 November 2012

Bottisham and Lode 9k route again today.  Weather was quite a bit warmer today.  A reasonable time of 46'25".

A Jay was seen in the Maize field along the railway track after Lode Mill and 2 more Jays were seen just before the gate.

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.

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Due to continued wet weather a road-based run to Bottisham and Lode Mill, coming back along along the old railway track.  Still muddy at end of bridleway.

An amazing sight this morning of 2 Red Kites by the recreation in Quy.

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.

Sunday 22 April 2012

I ran the Lode 10k route in a good time of 48'37".  I set a new PB to Lode Mill of 15'19".  Weather was dry and cool.

A Swan was on the riverbank at the start of Quy Water.  A Blackcap was heard at the start of Anglesey Abbey woods. 2 Bullfinches were seen in the bushes along Bottisham Lode.

A Green Woodpecker flew out from the trees along the track to the Lodestar fields and another was feeding on the grass towards Quy Fen.  2 Reed Buntings, 2 Skylarks and 2 Lapwings were seen in the field after Lodestar.  The Lapwing were seeing off a couple of Crows.

A Jay was seen along the old railway line.  A Swallow was seen over Bush Farm in Station Road.

A few Chiffchaffs heard. 

Tuesday 3 April 2012

Lode 10k this morning.  Weather was dry and cool.  My fastest time this year at 53'00".

Chiffchaffs were heard at Anglesey Abbey at the start of the woods and near Lode Mill.  1 Green Woodpecker seen.  A male Kestrel was seen at the Jack of Clubs.  2 Roe Deer were in the fields along Fen Road.

A few Yellowhammers seen too.

Sunday 18 March 2012

We ran in the Lode Muddy Marvel today, a run of about 5.2 miles from Lode Mill to Quy Fen.  Unlike yesterday's parkrun, today's run was far from muddy.  A good time of 39'49".

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.

Wenesday 22 February

Now, almost over my cold, I  had another run to Bottisham and Lode Mill this morning.  The weather was not too cold but quite windy.  A slowish time of 48'07".

3 pairs of partridges seen along Railway track and Bridleway.  The first pair, which I got the closest look at, looked like Grey Partridges.

Thursday 16 February 2012

Bottisham and Lode Mill again this morning.  Weather was cool, but above freezing for a change.  Quite light in the mornings now.  A much better time this morning, just outside my PB at 46'17".

A Muntjac at Lode Mill and a small flock of Long-Tailed Tits along the old railway line, were the highlights this morning.  Otherwise several Pigeons, Doves, Blackbirds, Chaffinches and Gret Tits.

Wednesday 1 February 2012

Bottisham and Lode Mill again.  Another slow time of 49'55"

Sunday 29 January 2012

Bottisham and Lode Mill, with the addition of running to the end of Bottisham and then along the loop of Beechwood Avenue.  This extended the run to 6.6 miles.

Wednesday 25 January 2012

Bottisham and Lode Mill again this morning. Weather was again very cold. Time of 49'55".

Monday 23 January 2012

Bottisham and Lode Mill again this morning.  Weather was very cold.  Time of 49'23".