Sunday 30 June 2013

Lode 10k again this morning.  The grass on the Lodestar field is now quite long and so is the stretch along the ditch just after.  Will probably need to take a break from this route until the grass is cut - the problem is knowing when they've cut it.

Skylarks and Lapwings seen in the field after Lodestar.  A Green Woodpecker seen too.

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 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.

Sunday 17 March 2013

A very muddy Lode 10k run this morning.  The weather was fry for the run (apart from 5 minutes or so towards the end , when there was a light drizzle), but the ground was very muddy following recent rain.  It was particularly hard work along Quy Water - very slippery.

Skylarks were seen and heard in the field after Lodestar.

Sunday 3 March 2013

Today I ran the Lode 10k route with the extension of Quy Fen and Allicky Farm.  Just under 8 miles in 1 hour 08:32.

Skylarks were heard just before Anglesey Abbey and again in the fields after Lodestar.  A sparrowhawk flew across the track just after Allicky Farm and a Kestrel was seen in Station Road.

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 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.

Friday 27 April 2012

A run to Horningsea this morning.  Weather was dry and fine.  The ground was muddy in places after the heavy rain of the last few days, but fortunately the puddles were all avoidable.  A fairly slow run at 1 hour 09'49" for the 8 mile course.

3 Buzzards were seen, along the track to Allicky Farm along the byway before and after the pink house.  A Jay was also seen along the track to Allicky Farm and a Great-Spotted Woodpecker after the farm.  A Chiffchaff was heard in Station Road, Quy and a few Skylarks heard too.  2 Swallows were seen in Station Road and another 2 in Horningsea.

A Hare was on the track just before the bridge over the A14.

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. 

Wednesay 11 April 2012

Lode 10k route again this morning.  Weather was dry but rather cold.  Heavy rain in recent days has left the course quite wet in places.  The grass was wet and dewy.

2 Green Woodpeckers at Angelsey Abbey and 2 Chiffchaffs heard here too.  A flock of about 20-25 Fieldfares were on the Lodestar field.  2 Reed Buntings and 2 Skylarks in the next field.  Another Green Woodpecker was seen just before the old railway line.  2 Stock Doves were in the field along the old railway line.

On returning to Station Road, one of the Swans was seen swimming along Quy Water.

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Lode 10k route this morning.  Weather was dry, bright but cold.  There was some frost on the grass.  The ground was very dry as we have had no rain for some time.  First run after the Sandy 10 mile on Sunday so I took it easy.  Time was 55'42".

5 Moorhens on Quy Water.  2 Lapwings, 2 Skylarks and a Reed Bunting in the field after Lodestar.  A Chiffchaff was heard at Quy Hall.

Friday 23 March 2012

A slow run round the Lode 10k route this morning.  Weather was foggy and fairly cold at first.  It warmed up as the sun started to burn through the fog.  Time was 56'12".

A single adult Swan was at the start of Quy Water, together with 2 Canada Geese.  5 Moorhens seen along the stretch to the mill.

A male Kestrel was seen at the Jack of Clubs.  2 Green Woodpeckers were at the end of the track leading to the Lodestar fields.  A Lapwing was seen over the field beyond Lodestar and a singing Skylark was heard.

Tuesday 20 March 2012

An 8-mile run this morning to the end of White Fen Drove.  Weather was dry but cool.  A slow time of around 1 hour 9 minutes as still tired from the weekend and last night's circuit training.

The 2 Swans were on Quy Water. A Green Woodpecker was heard in the distance in the woods at Angelsey Abbey and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers hard drumming.  A Muntjac was seen at the start of the wood and a Jay too.

Another Jay was seen at the Lodestar fields and a Reed Bunting and 2 Skylarks in the usual field.

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 6 March 2012

Another cold morning - Lode 10k route again.  After heavy rain on Sunday and Monday the path along Quy Water at Anglesey Abbey was quite muddy in places.  A slow time again of 54'42"

The 2 adult Swans were seen on Quy Water, 1 juvenile was just before the mill and another was seen on the way back at the pond. 

A Buzzard was perched in a tree along Fen Road.  A flock of about 300 Fieldfares were on the grass at the Lodestar fields. 2 Skylarks seen today.  3 Long-Tailed Tits seen along the old railway line.

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.

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.

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.