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.

Friday 2 November 2012

The usual run to Bottisham and Lode.  9k in a slow time of 48'32".

A Buzzard was perched on telegraph wires in Albert Road and surprisingly didn't fly away as I ran past.  A Kestrel was seen near Bottisham.  A Great-Spotted Woodpecker flew across the road to Lode.  A Sparrowhawk was seen darting away along the old railway track, which remains very muddy.

Thursday 8 December 2011

9k run to Bottisham and Lode this morning.  It was dark for most of the run.  The weather was cold and dry.  The ground was a bit wet after overnight rain.  A course record time of 46'09".

Blackbirds seen and heard.  Along the old railway track I heard alarm calls and saw feathers coming out of the hedge followed by a Fieldfare and a Sparrowhawk.  4 Moorhens were on the pond in Station Road and lots of Mallards.  A little further on a Mistle Thrush was flushed by a cat at the bend in the road

Thursday 1 December 2011

A 9k run to Bottisham and Lode today.  Dark at first with some light rain, fairly mild.

A Sparrowhawk was seen at Bottisham Village College.

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.

Wednesday 26 October 2011

Another late start so again just a short run to Lode. Weather was dry but quite cold. After a steady start for the first 3/4 of a mile I picked up the pace to finish in a PB of 36'03", over a minute quicker than previous best.

A Heron was again seen along Quy Water. At the start of Anglesey Abbey woods a Sparrowhawk dashed across the river. Today I counted 10 Moorhens along Quy Water, with another 2 at the mill pond and 3 at the Station Road pond. Several Blackbirds and Wrens heard in the woods at Anglesey Abbey.

12 Partridges were in the field at the start of the bridleway, a bit further on a Buzzard flew out from the oak trees. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard in Station Road and just before the crossroads another flew down the road.

Tuesday 7 June 2011

This morning's run was to the end of White Fen Drove (8 miles). Weather was dry, fairly bright but a little dewy on the grass. Time was 1 hour 8'05".

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling in the grounds of the old vicarage in Quy. The Swan family were on Quy Water - the cygnets are growing well (at least 4 seen this morning). A single Roe Deer was in the field between Quy Water and the railway track.

A Sparrowhawk flew along Fen Road in Lode. A Reed Warbler was seen clearly along White Fen Drove. There were also Reed Buntings here. In amongst the wheat there are lots of poppies.

A Jay was seen again along the track to the Lodestar fields. A Green Woodpecker was seen at the end of the bridleway.

Several Whitethroats seen and heard and the usual House Martins, Swallows, one or two Swifts and a couple of Skylarks.

Sunday 17 April 2011

A 7 mile run this morning along my usual 10k route through Lode, but coming back through Quy Fen. Weather was dry, bright and quite warm.

A single House Martin (my first this year) was inspecting an old nest in Station Road. A single Swallow was by the cottages along Fen Road, Lode. Further down Fen Road a Sparrowhawk flew along the side of the road and then circled around by the bridge at the start of White Fen Drove.

A couple of Lapwings were seen in the usual fields. A Green Woodpecker was heard along the track to Quy Fen and another at Quy Fen itself. A Buzzard flew over Quy Fen and another over the bridleway. A Heron flew over Station Road in Quy.

Several wrens and Whitethroats were heard along the route.

Wednesday 13 April 2011

A 9.5 mile run this morning to Little Wilbraham Fen. Weather was bright and cool. Time was 1 hour 20'54". I felt pretty comfortable throughout the run. A pair of Pied Wagtails were seen on Man Street Quy and another 1 in Albert Road. A Green Woodpecker flew along the driveway to Quy Park. A Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were all seen over the fen. A few Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs were heard singing. Along the track at the far end of the reserve were 2 hairs and a male Linnet. In the field just before the Six Mile Bottom road there were a couple of skylarks.

Friday 8 April 2011

A break for a few days following food poisoning! A short 4.8mile run this morning to Little Wilbraham Fen. Weather was bright, but quite cold. Mist was hanging over the reedbeds. My time of 41'14" was good. Along the cycle path leading to Newmarket Road a pair of Jackdaws came out of what looks like a Kestrel nestbox. A Buzzard was sitting in tree in the middle of the reedbed. Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers were seen. Wrens and a possible Cetti's Warbler were heard. At the start of the track leading to the Six Mile Bottom road a Green Woodpecker was heard. At the end of the track a Lapwing was seen and a Skylark was singing. Just before the bridge over the A14 a Sparrowhawk flew past.

Thursday 24 February 2011

7.5 miles this morning through Bottisham and Lode to the start of White Fen Drove. Not too cold this moring and dry. Very muddy from the Lodestar fields to the end of the bridleway. Feeling very exhausted this morning especially after 5 miles, however time of 1 hour 06'54" was not too bad.

A few Song Thrushes heard singing and two seen chasing in Lode. A Buzzard was sitting on a fence post along Bottisham Lode. 2 Greenfinches seen at the end of the bridleway and another was singing along Station road. Green Woodpecker seen flying away. 5 pairs of Partridges seen and a group of 4. Wrens were heard singing. A Cormorant flew over Lode and a small group of about 4 House Sparrows were seen in Lode.

In the usual feilds after the Lodestar, there were 3 Skylarks and a Reed Bunting along the ditch. Along the railway line a Sparrowhawk flew low along the bottom of a hedge.

Thursday 3 February 2011

Not too cold this morning, with just a little touch of frost in places. A head wind coming back though. Much lighter this morning, even before 7. Same run as Tuesday except I came back via Lode Mill rather than the Lodestar fields.

Plenty of birds around today. A pair of Partridges flew across Albert Road. There seem to be more Blue Tits, Great Tits and Chaffinches preparing for Spring. A lovely male Sparrowhawk was sitting on a post by the bridge near Lode station. He flew off along the lode towards the mill as I went past.

2 Herons in this lode this morning. A few Starlings on the telegraph wires in Mill Road also Collared Doves and Jackdaws. More Doves and Jackdaws in Station Road, Quy.

A couple of Song Thrushes heard today.

Saturday 11 December 2010

Brandon Country Park. We ran the 10k Blue Cycle Route, plus I also added on a 2 mile loop at Mayday Farm. The weather was cool (around 6 degrees) and bright. There was very little cloud cover.

3 Jays were seen and a Roe Deer along at Mayday farm. At the small pond at Mayday farm there were 2 Yellowhammers sitting in atree and Sparrowhawk flew away as I approached. On the feeders at the visitor centre there were Blue Tits, Coal Tits and Chaffinches.

Saturday 24 July 2010

Cambridge Parkun. It was quite a bit warmer than I expected. Got off to a slow start as stuck in the crowd for the first 500m. Overall my time was 23'53".

A Green Woodpecker was heard at the finish line and a Sparrowhawk was soaring over Tesco's car park.

Thursday 15 April 2010

Today's run was to the end of White Fen Drove (7.8 miles). Weather was dry, but rather cold. Paths remain dry as we have had no rain this week. Time taken was 1hr 12 minutes.

A pair of Mallards on Quy Water has ducklings. A pair of Bullfinches seen along Quy Water just before Anglesey Abbey, there was also a Sparrowhawk here at the edge of the woods. A Jay was seen just before Lode Mill and another 2 at the end of White Fen Drove. 2 Golden Plovers flew over as I was running along Fen Road, Lode. A Kestrel in Fen Road and a singing Chiffchaff. Several Moorhens around.

4 pairs of partridges in White Fen Drove and 2 pairs of Roe Deer.

Tuesday 13 April 2010

A 10k run this morning along Quy Water to Lode Mill then out as far as the start of White Fen Drove before turning back and returning along the old railway line. Quite a cold start with some ground frost. The conditions however were good with the path along Quy Water past Anglesey Abbey very dry. The only muddy patch was the short stretch of track leading to the old railway from Lode. My time of 55'45" was reasonable given my stiffness after Sunday's 10 mile race.

A Great-Spotted Woodpecker was on a telegraph pole in Station Quy both on the way out and and coming back. A Green Woodpecker heard in the trees as Anglesey Abbey. Several Wrens, Great Tits and Song Thrushes singing and plenty of Chaffinches around, a couple of Goldfinches too. A Lapwing was displaying over the field just before Anglesey Abbey. A Swallow was on the roof of the cottages in Fen Road, Lode. A Sparrowhawk in Lode.

A large clump of Marsh Marigolds flowering well in Bottisham Lode.

A Muntjac along Quy Water in the trees at Anglesey Abbey and 2 Roe Deer just before White Fen Drove.

Friday 26 March 2010

The same run today as Monday. Weather was fairly mild but rather windy - a head wind coming back. A bit muddier than recently due to heavy rain Thursday evening. A slight improvement on Monday's time at 1hr 14'15".

A few Partridges seen in various places. A Grey Heron along Quy Water and a Chiffchaff singing in the woods at Anglesey Abbey, my first of the year. Song Thrushes singing in the usual places at Lode Station and Station Road, Quy. Also 2 signing on either side of the road at the start of White Fen Drove, one in the hedgerow along the Drove and the other the other side of Bottisham Lode. A few Yellowhammers seen and a few singing Wrens. Great-Spotted Woodpecker again drumming at Lode Mill. A flock of about 10-12 Redwings at the end of the bridleway, presumably a pre-migration gathering. A Sparrowhawk flew over Quy Park. A Squirrel was in the bushes along Bottisham Lode.

Thursday 3 December 2009

A dull morning with light wind. Rather muddy in places. However a much better time today 39'45".

A Song Thrush was signing well in Station Road and another just past Lode Mill. A Sparrowhawk flew across Quy Water. A covey of 12 Red-Legged Partridges flew up from the edge of the bridleway.





Lode Mill - Anglesey Abbey (NT)