Friday 2 September 2011

A 10.5 mile run today to Clayhithe and along the River Cam to Baits Bite Lock. Weather was dry but rather cool. Time was 1 hour 32'14".

There were a lot of House Martins feeding high above Vicarage Meadow and a few in Station Road. A Green Woodpecker was heard along the track to Allicky Farm.

Along the 2 mile stretch of the River Cam there were 19 Moorhens, of which 6 were juveniles. I also saw a Cormorant perched in the top of a dead tree. Just after Horningsea I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker walking along a tree branch and a Grey Heron standing on the tow-path just before Baits Bite Lock. A Mute Swan was on the Cam at the lock.

Just after crossing the river a single Goldfinch was seen and at the bridge over the A14 another flock of 14. A Green Woodpecker here too.

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.

Saturday 27 August 2011

No parkrun this morning as I was marshaling. When I got back I went out for a 10 mile run to Oily Hall (NT). The weather was warm and dry. A good time of 1 hour 25'39". My time to the mill was an impressive 15'50".

A Kestrel was seen along Fen Road and at the end of White Fen Drove I heard then saw 2 Buzzards circling. The Buzzards pretty much followed me to the farm track at the end of Oily Hall, at which point they were low overhead, at treetop level.

About 6 Pied Wagtail were on the grass at the polo fields. On the further field a polo match was taking place. As I got back to bridge over Bottisham Lode a Heron was standing in the middle of the field.

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Lode 10k this morning. I came back along the road to the railway line at Lode rather than across the wet grass at the Lodestar fields. Weather was cool with the odd spot of drizzle. A good time of 53 minutes exactly.

A Barn Owl flew across Station Road in the usual place. Good numbers of House Martins (Station Road) and Swallows (Fen Road, Lode). The Swan family were on Quy Water just past the back entrance to Anglesey Abbey. A Jay was heard in the woods just before Lode Mill. A Heron was in the usual place on Bottisham Lode. About 12 House Sparrows in Station Road.

A few fish seen at Lode Mill.

Monday 22 August 2011

An 8 mile run this morning to the end of White Fen Drove. Weather was dry and bright but rather cold. The grass was quite dewy. Time was not too bad at 1 hour 07'10".

Following on from Friday's note about the harvest, there are still a few wheat fields Left along White Fen Drove. The Linseed has been harvested though.

Large numbers of Swallows and House Martins seen this morning. Over 100 House Martins perched on telegraph wires and feeding in Station Road. Around 25 Swallows perched on telegraph wires along Fen Road, Lode.

A Green Woodpecker was heard along Quy Water and a Grey Heron was in the usual place along Bottisham Lode. The Swan family were swimming along Quy Water - the cygnets (all 7 still surviving) are now getting quite big. A Kestrel was seen along Fen Road.

Saturday 20 August 2011

Cambridge Parkrun. Weather was dry, bright and fairly warm. Finished in a time of 22:27.

A Chiffchaff was heard.

Friday 19 August 2011

As it had been raining all say on Thursday, I chose a primarily road route today. I ran the 9km route through Bottisham to Lode Mill. Weather was dry and bright.

All the fields along the route have now been harvested except for the Linseed near Angelsey Abbey.

Apart from several Swallows and House Martins nothing of note seen today.