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.

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.

Wednesday 16 May 2012

I ran the 8-mile Horningsea route this morning.  Normally I run this anti-clockwise but did it the other way round today.  On the way back came through Quy Fen rather than past Allicky Farm.  Rather cold this morning, but not too muddy.  Time was 1 hour 08'09".

A Fox was seen along the Honey Hill byway.  A few Whitethroats seen or heard.  Reed Warblers were heard in the reeds at Quy Fen.

Tuesday 8 May 2012

A bright evening after all the recent rain, so I went out for a run as soon as I got home.  I set off for Wilbraham Fen, with no set route in mind.  After running down the main central path I crossed the wheat fields along the footpath near the windmill and came back to the start along Little Wilbraham River.  I then headed back down the central path and returned to Quy via the Six-Mile Bottom road.  A total distance of 9.2 miles.

A Buzzard flew up close along the hedgerow in d'Engaynes as I arrived.  In the main fen were Reed and Sedge Warblers, Reed Buntings, 2 Cuckoos and a Short-Eared Owl.  Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Yellowhammers were seen or heard too.

When I got back to Quy there was a Hare on the cricket pitch.

Friday 1 July 2011

A short run this morning to Lode and back along the old railway line. Weather was dry, bright but quite cool. 4.8 miles in 39'29".

The swan family were feeding along Quy Water. Whitethroat seen along the railway line. A few Swifts about. Otherwise not much to report.

More flowers along the railway line now.

Tuesday 14 June 2011

8 mile run this morning to the end of White Fen drove. Weather dry and bright. A good time of 1 hour 5'35".

Usual sightings of House Martins, Swallows, Swifts and Whitethroats. Heron seen along Bottisham Lode. Along White Fen drove an Egret (Little Egret of maybe even Cattle Egret) was seen sitting in a tree across the field - too far away for positive ID.

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.

Thursday 26 May 2011

Same 10k route again, marginally quicker than Tuesday at 54'32". Weather was dry, slightly cloudy and still windy. (A welcome light shower started shortly after I got back).

House Martins in Vicarage Meadow and several in Station Road. More House Martins and a few Swifts in Lode. A Heron seen again this morning along Quy Water. Chiffchaffs heard singing in Station Road and Anglesey Abbey. A Blackcap was singing just before the railway track. A few skylarks and a single (male) Reed Bunting. A Green Woodpecker flew along the track to the Lodestar fields.

At the end of the bridleway 2 Buzzards were soaring low over the fields.

Tuesday 24 May 2011

A dry bright but windy morning. I ran the Lode 10k route again today. A little slower than the last time at 54'45".

A Grey Heron was seen along Quy Water just before Anglesey Abbey and another in the usual spot along Bottisham Lode, just before the bridge. Several House Martins in Station Road and a few more in Mill Road. No sign of Swifts in Mill Road though.

2 Pairs of Reed Buntings in the usual place and 2 Skylarks here too. 2 Roe Deer were in a field towards Angelsey Abbey.

2 Chiffchaffs heard and several Wrens and Whitethroats.

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Early morning run through Little Wilbraham Fen. Weather was cool and bright. The conditions through the fen were not good. The grass (and nettles!) have grown quite long along the central track, and this was very dewy this morning. A good time of 1 hour 8 minutes for the 7 and half mile run.

A few House Martins and Swallows seen in Quy. Fledgling Rooks were on the ground at Vicarage Meadow and through the trees alongside the park.

At Wilbraham fen, a female Marsh Harrier was sitting in a tree in the middle of the reedbed. A few Whitethroats and at least 3 Chiffchaffs were heard. Reed and Sedge Warblers heard.

2 Hares were seen in the field just before Little Wilbraham village.

Wednesday 4 May 2011

Lode 10k route this morning. Weather was same as yesterday but even colder. I incorporated a few fast runs into my usual routine and achieved a new record time of 50'46".

No House Martins seen this morning, but a Swallow over Station Road and 2 sitting on wires just before White Fen Drove. A Heron flew out from Bottisham Lode.

In the field after the Lodestar fields a Skylark was heard and a migrant Wheatear was seen. Again several Whitethrots heard and a couple of Chiffchaffs.

Tuesday 3 May 2011

A 4.6 mile slow/fast/exercise run this morning to Lode along Quy Water. Weather was dry and bright but very cold and slightly frosty.

3 House Martins in Vicarage Meadow and a single in Station Road. Several Whitethroats heard including 1 in full view on a telegraph wire in Station Road. A Muntjac was seen along the railway track.

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.

Tuesday 2 July 2010

Too warm this morning so run was kept short at 4.8 miles. This run took me into Lode and back along the railway line.

Whitethroats seen and heard. A Jay was heard at Anglesey Abbey woods.

Tuesday 22 June 2010

A late evening run today to the end of White Fen Drove. The weather had cooled down a lot after a very warm day and was very comfortable for running. 7.9 miles run in 1 hr 07'39".

Several House Martins in Station Road Quy and several screaming Swifts in Mill Road, Lode and a few in Station Road on the way back. A Grey Heron along Bottisham Lode and a Kestrel was sitting half way up an electricity pylon along White Fen Drove. Whitethroat and 2 Skylarks between the barley fields. A Brown Rat was seen at the pond in Quy.

The Cranes (captive) along White Fen Drove were quite vocal this evening. There are a number of species one was making an Ow-Wow-Wow call.

Monday 14 June 2010

A 10k run to Lode today. Fairly tiring, as still not back into shape. A quick start to Lode Mill and a finish time of 54'30".

A Grey Heron was at the pond in Station Road. Mallard with young duckings along Quy Water and a bit further on a Moorhen chick. Song Thrush and Chiffchaff singing at start of Anglesey Abbey Woods. Along Bottisham Lode Whitethroats, Yellowhammers and Sedge Warblers singing, also a Pied Wagtail was seen. A lot of Swallows, House Martins and Swifts in the usual places. A Swift was seen visiting its nest in a cottage roof in Mill Road, Lode.

Tuesday 25 May 2010

I did the 10k run through Lode to White Fen Drove this morning. Weather was dry but noticeably cooler than it has been over the last week. A fairly strong Northerly breeze. 55minutes was a reasonable time.

A couple of Swifts in Station Road Quy and several House Martins. Several Swifts (some screaming) in Mill Road Lode. Usual pair of Swallows at the stat of White Fen Drove. A Green Woodpecker seen in a farmyard in Station Road, Quy and another along Bottisham Lode. A Buzzard flew low over Quy Water into the woods of Anglesey Abbey. A Kingfisher was seen a bit further along Quy Water. A Pied Wagtail was seen along Fen Road, and Whitethroats. On the way back along the old railway track a fox was seen across the field.

The start of White Fen Drove.

Old tree by White Fen Drove.

Friday 21 May 2010

Last week's run was clearly too early to return to running after my injury. A few more days has made a big difference as I was able to run 10k fairly comfortably today, in a time of 55'45". What a difference a week makes to the weather too. Last week the nighttime temperatures were below zero, we now have day time temperatures in the mid 20's. This morning it was dry, sunny and warm (even before 7 am). The grass along Quy Water was a bit dewy though.

Swallows, House Martins and a Swift in Station Road and a few screaming swifts in Mill Road, Lode. Along Bottisham Lode I managed to see a Kingfisher despite the fact that the verge has become overgrown with Cow Parsley (anthriscus sylvestris). Further along Bottisham Lode towards the start of White Fen Drove were a couple of Swallows and a Kestrel in the usual place, and a small patch of Bluebells. Yellowhammers and Whitethroats seen in various places.





Bottisham Lode - through the Cow Parsley.














Bluebells on the verge.