Saturday 19 June 2010

Another Parkrun and another PB. I had a quick start (1st km 4'40" and managed to keep up the pace). Got to the finishing straight with plenty of time to spare, so didn't bother with a sprint finish. Finished in a good time of 23'39".

A Turtle Dove was heard purring on the first main lap of the lakes.

Friday 18 June 2010

10k run to Lode this morning, coming back via the alternative route. Weather was cool with a light drizzle. The grass was drier this morning as there was no dew. I decided from the start to try for a quick time and made good progress to Lode Mill. I managed to keep up the effort to finish in a good time of 53'22", my fastest non-competition 10k.

Chifchaff and Wrens singing at the start of Anglesey Abbey woods. Several Swallows, Swifts and House Martins all around. Along the track after White Fen Drove there was a Roe buck. I then heard and subsequently saw a male Great Spotted Woodpecker, immediately followed by hearing a Green Woodpecker. Heading back to the railway track (between 2 Barley fields) there were 4 Skylarks and again a pair of Reed Buntings. Another Chiffchaff was heard just before the railway track, At the end of the bridleway were 4 Goldfinches including recently fledged birds.

Wednesday 16 June 2010

An 8 mile run to the end of White Fen Drove. I came back a different way to normal by carrying straight on after returning down White Fen Drove towards Quy Fen, and joined the railway line further down.

Weather was cool with some breeze. The grass (quite long in places) was dewy. My time was 1 hr 08'18".

Again lots of Swallows, House Martins and Swifts around. A Grey Heron seen along Bottisham Lode and (another) was flying passed the end of White Fen Drove. A Pied Wagtail also along Bottisham Lode. Along the new route back 2 Reed Buntings were seen and 2 Skylarks.

The field boundaries along White Fen Drove had many Poppies.

Poppy

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.

Saturday 12 June 2010

A couple of weeks off for Holiday then a bad cold. Cambridge Parkrun this morning. Still blocked up with cold so had trouble breathing. Managed a decent time though of 24'33". Weather was quite cool.

Chiffchaffs and Wrens heard singing and a Great Spotted Woodpecker heard calling.

Saturday 29 May 2010

My 2nd Cambridge Parkrun. A lot cooler than last week. At least the rain held off until later in the morning. A much improved time with a new PB of 23'57". I was a bit held up at the start my slower runners in front, but once I was clear I thought I was a lot faster than last week. However the first 1km time was only 2 seconds quicker. I picked up the pace for the 2nd and 3rd km, and managed to keep going for the final 2 km although feeling slightly tired.

A Turtle Dove heard near the back of the Cambridge Newspaper building and a Chiffchaff heard too.

Friday 28 May 2010

The 10k route to Lode again today. Weather conditions were much the same as Tuesday, perhaps slightly more breeze. A good time of 53'47".

Several House Martins in Vicarage Meadow, including birds nesting on the new houses. 2 Swifts and many more House Martins in Station Road. No sign of Swifts in Mill Road, but several House Martins in Lode and 2 Swifts over the village. Swallows at the end of Fen Road.

A Buzzard was again seen just before Anglesey Abbey, also a Lapwing in the field here. 2 More Lapwings in a field along Bottisham Lode and a Grey Heron. 2 Chiffchaffs heard in Anglesey Abbey woods. Many Wrens heard. Mallard with at least 3 ducklings on the pond in Quy.