Sunday 11 September 2011

A 12 mile run this morning to Swaffham Prior. Weather was dry and warm but very windy. A good time of 1 hour 39'40".

Several House Martins over Vicarage Meadow and a lot in Main Street, including around 25 on telephone wires. 2 Green Woodpeckers in Swaffham Bulbeck. A Kestrel was seen as I entered Swaffham Prior and another as I left the village near the football ground on Station Road.

A Corn Bunting was perched on telephone wires along the road to Upware. Another Green Woodpecker was seen along the track to the Lodestar fields. 1 or 2 Swallows seen too.

Saturday 10 September 2011

A good Parkrun this morning. A new PB of 21'51".

A pair of Mute Swans with 3 juveniles on Deep Pit.

Friday 9 September 2011

Lode 10k route this morning. Weather was overcast and not as windy as Wednesday. Time was not too bad at 53'31".

A Grey Heron and half of the Swan family (1 adult and 4 juveniles) were on Quy Water. Only a few House Martins seen over Station Road, have most of them left now?

There were plenty of Moorhens around though, with 2 at the pond, 13 on Quy Water, 1 at Lode Mill and another in a field off Fen Road. Several of the Moorhens were juveniles. 4 Green Woodpeckers seen/heard too - 1 heard at Anglesey Abbey, 2 feeding on the grass towards Quy Fen and another seen at the start of the bridleway.

There were about 6 Reed Buntings between the sugar beet fields. A flock of about 20 House Sparrows in Station Road.

Also 4 Grey Squirrels were seen. 2 at Anglesey Abbey and 2 on the old railway line.

Wednesday 7 September

An 8 mile run this morning to the end of White Fen Drove. Weather was dry but cool with a strong South-Westerly wind. My time was a reasonable 1 hour 7'30".

A few House Martins and Swallows around. The Swan family were on Quy Water as well as 6 Moorhens, including 1 juvenile. 2 Jays flew across the track just before Lode Mill. A Kestrel was seen at the Jack of Clubs and another at the Crane farm.

Along the track to the Lodestar fields a Jay was heard and a Green Woodpecker seen. There were 4 Reed Buntings in the ditch between the sugar beet fields.

It was a very good morning for mammals. A Muntjac was seen in the woods at Anglesey Abbey. A total of 8 Roe Deer - 5 in a field to the North of Fen Road and another 3 in the field just before White Fen. Here at the the end of the track there were 2 Hares. On the way back down White Fen Drove a Stoat came out of the undergrowth and promptly ran back in again when it saw me. And of course there were the usual dozens of Rabbits.

Sunday 4 September 2011

8 mile run this morning to the end of White Fen Drove. Weather was dry and warmish. The run was fairly slow at 1 hour 8'34".

A Kingfisher flew along Quy Water and the Swan family were seen here too. On the way back down White Fen Drove a Ring-Necked Parakeet flew noisily across the road from the Crane farm towards Lode. This is the first time I've seen one of these colourful "aliens" outside of London.

Saturday 3 September 2011

Cambridge Parkrun this morning. Weather was dry and cool. Feeling tired after long run on Friday morning, so only managed a time of 22'34".

Some Coots and a pair of Swans with 2 large Cygnets on the lake by the visitor centre.

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.