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.

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 5 March 2013

An 8 mile run to Horningsea today.  The tracks are still generally fairly dry, except the end of the bridleway.  Finished in 1 hour 08:30.

A Buzzard was seen perched in a tree at Honey Hill.  About 150 Fieldfares were in the field just before the pink house.

A Reed Bunting was in the ditch from Horningsea towards Quy Fen.  Just before Quy Fen 3 Roe Deer were in the field to the North.  A Hare was seen just passed Allicky Farm.

Sunday 30 September 2012

A run from Beckington (Somerset) across the river Frome to Orchardleigh Golf Course then back past the lake to Oldford before going up the hill along Frome Road and back down into Beckington.  At Orchardleigh Church at the far end of the lake the intention was to run along the edge of the lake, but we couldn't find where the footpath was so ended up going back across the golf course for a bit.  A total distance of about 10k.

At the start of the golf course a Roe Deer was seen,  A couple of Jays seen later on.

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.

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Another run to Horningsea this morning.

3 individual Roe Deer seen in different places around the route.

Wednesday 30 May 2012

A tiring 8 mile run to Lode this morning, coming back via Quy Fen and Allicky Farm.  Weather was dry and bright, but the grass was dewy.

The Moorhen was again seen sitting on a nest along Quy Water.  2 Great-Spotted Woodpeckers heard at Anglesey Abbey.  Several Swifts seen over Lode.

A few Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats heard.  In the fields after Lodestar a couple of Skylarks were seen, and in the ditch were a pair of Reed Buntings and a pair of Corn Buntings.

A Roe Deer and a Muntjac were seen.

Sunday 27 May 2012

Another hot day today.  I managed a 5.5 mile run at Brandon Country Park.

A Woodlark was seen in a newly cut area.  A Roe Deer and a Muntjac seen.

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.

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.

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.

Thursday 8 March 2012

An 8-mile run this morning to the end of White Fen Drove.  Fairly cold due to strong wind.  It was also very muddy in places.  A slow time of 1 hour 8'52".

The 2 adult Swans were on Quy Water, along with 5 Moorhens.  A Green Woodpecker was heard at Anglesey Abbey.

A Little Egret was in Bottisham Lode.  6 Roe Deer were in the field at the corner of Fen Road and White Fen Drove and another 2 at White Fen.  A Pied Wagtail was on the lawn of the crane farm.  3 Green Woodpeckers were seen along the track to the Lodestar fields in the poplar trees.  In the fields after Lodestar were 2 Skylarks, 2 Reed Buntings and a Lapwing.

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.

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.

Wednesday 5 October 2011

10k Lode route again this morning. Weather was dry, overcast and windy. Mornings are getting noticeably darker now. I did some speed work in the first half of the run and achieved my best time to Lode Mill of 15'29". I was tired for the second half and had a head wind, but managed to finish in a good time of 50'08".

A Heron flew up from the bank of Quy Water. 11 Moorhens seen along Quy Water this morning and another 3 on Bottisham Lode and 3 in the field at the start of the track to the Lodestar fields. 2 Roe Deer were seen in a field towards White Fen.

4 Swallows flew over at the end of the sugar beet fields, making slow progress in the wind. A Jay and a Kestrel were seen along the old railway line.

A Cormorant flew over Main Street in Quy.

Tuesday 27 September 2011

8 mile run to Horningsea this morning. Weather was dry and started fairly bright with a slight mist, but got a lot more misty by the halfway point. It was fairly cool too and the grass was dewy.

A Green Woodpecker was seen where the bridleway crosses the old railway line. A Jay was seen along the track to Allicky Farm. A Kestrel was seen flying past at Snout Corner. 4 Roe Deer could just about be seen in the mist at Honey Hill and 8 Goldfinches were in the bushes at the start of the ramp over the A14.

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.

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.

Wednesday 20 July 2011

Lode 10k run this morning, I did 3 fartlek sessions during the run. Weather was cool,cloudy and slightly windy. A better time today of 53'00".

House Martins and Swifts in Quy and Lode. A flock of around 20 Goldfinches were feeding on thistles along Quy Water. One moorhen with chick along Bottisham Lode. A Green Woodpecker was seen along the track to the Lodestar fields and also a Roe Deer. 2 more Roe Deer were sitting down in a field to the left of the railway track. 2 Reed Buntings, 5 Skylarks and 7 Partridges were seen in the sugar beet fields.