[Sy V]

Don't tell 'em your name Andrews!

I'll refrain from any uncle and mother jokes!

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by Woodchat

Don't Panic!! Captain 'John Belsey' Mainwaring and Sergeant 'Sy V' Wilson! We'll be there early tomorrow morning and we'll knock this bugger off. If we don't then this year's breeding season will be dooomed!

Thank you Private Pike ...'you stupid boy' but not so stupid this time

Nice one Dave
see you all in the morning

[Phil Andrews]

Originally Posted by Sy V

Don't tell 'em your name Andrews!

I'll refrain from any uncle and mother jokes!

You stupid boy! The quote actually is "Dont tell them, Pike"; we were lead astray by Herr Corfield's version last month.

[Woodchat]

Originally Posted by Phil Andrews

You stupid boy! The quote actually is "Dont tell them, Pike"; we were lead astray by Herr Corfield's version last month.

What a mistake-a to make-a! No, hang on a minute, I'm mixing my sit-coms there!

[Sy V]

Originally Posted by Phil Andrews

You stupid boy! The quote actually is "Dont tell them, Pike"; we were lead astray by Herr Corfield's version last month.

Oh. Regulus ignicapillus. See you tomorow, Phil et al...

[Phil Andrews]

Originally Posted by Woodchat

What a mistake-a to make-a! No, hang on a minute, I'm mixing my sit-coms there!

Both written by David Croft so a good link!

[binus1963]

i spent most of y'day down there and managed 42 species photographed and missed a sprawk over car park! only managed 39 at belvide day before, see ya all in the morn.

[Sy V]

Four Avocets, 8 Curlew and a Snipe so far @ the Flashes...

[Sy V]

Great day with a magnificent turn out and (I believe) all task accomplished despite the somewhat inclement weather conditions. I'll leave the details to John and Phil, suffice to say the experience was made all the more pleasurable by the superb company and esprit de corps. If I still wore a cap badge I'd salute each and every one of you. Thanks gang - terrific effort.

[Phil Andrews]

As Sy has alluded to earlier, what a fantastic work party with huge amounts achieved. My recollection of March work parties is usually working in T-shirts as the sun beats down. Today we endured sleet, snow, hail and torrential rain before it finally started to dry up early afternoon. We also were thwarted by variousm mechanical failures, resulting in no mowers and just one strimmer running for most of the day.

However the full worklist was accomplished with included (apologises if I have missed any items off):-

- strimming of the foreshore
- clearance of the islands
- re-erection of the secondary fox fence
- securing the gate to the sewage works
- a thorough fox flush (nothing seen)
- completing to project to connect the fox fence to the hide
- fill in holes in the fencing along the boardwalk
- reviewing the fenmcing either side of the hide to ensure there is no visability of visitors to birds feeding on the Flashes
- strengthening the two stretch of fencing extending into the water
- creation of more gravelled areas for breeding waders
- filling in holes in the fox fence at the rear of the third flash
- infilling the gap between the hide and the blackthorn scrub with more cut blackthorn
- creating a screen by the ground floor entrance to limit the light flooding in
- clearing the Hen Brook of blockages
- installing the new weather station

Overall it was a stunning performance by the 22 attendees - Upstarts (John), Beyonder (Paul), Wheatearlrp (Mike), PeterE, Phil Q, Tim, Midlandsbirder (Craig), Hen Harrier (Jim), Hagar (Mark), Derek, Dennis (Waterrailus), Binus (Tracey), Woodchat (Dave), Gertatron (Gert), Whoever (Daniel), Sy V (Simon), Oriole Boy (Paul), Simon (Hairy Birder), Guy, UW82 (Des) and Paul A.

So many "thank yous" I dont know where to start but special mention needs to go to those on their first work party (Whoever, Midlandbirder, PeterE), Paul Moseley for interupting his Sunday to collect the equipment at the end of the day and Upstarts for his hidden work behind the scenes in preparing for the day and bringing all the tools together. Even those who turned up after the rain had finished played their part (didnt want to get your hair wet L'Oriel Boy )

However the biggest "thank you" needs to go to kingfisherajh for his stirling work through his recent posts for motivating the work party, which worked a treat. It was a tremendous turn-out and an amazing schedule of work completed in the circumstances; 99 out of 100 we would have called the work party off but I didnt have a single text or call questioning whether it was cancelled. This mirrors the efforts put in week in, week out by the Moors Pool work party every Tuesday. Many thanks for giving the work party even more purpose and commitment

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by Phil Andrews

As Sy has alluded to earlier, what a fantastic work party with huge amounts achieved. My recollection of March work parties is usually working in T-shirts as the sun beats down. Today we endured sleet, snow, hail and torrential rain before it finally started to dry up early afternoon. We also were thwarted by variousm mechanical failures, resulting in no mowers and just one strimmer running for most of the day.

However the full worklist was accomplished with included (apologises if I have missed any items off):-

- strimming of the foreshore
- clearance of the islands
- re-erection of the secondary fox fence
- securing the gate to the sewage works
- a thorough fox flush (nothing seen)
- completing to project to connect the fox fence to the hide
- fill in holes in the fencing along the boardwalk
- reviewing the fenmcing either side of the hide to ensure there is no visability of visitors to birds feeding on the Flashes
- strengthening the two stretch of fencing extending into the water
- creation of more gravelled areas for breeding waders
- filling in holes in the fox fence at the rear of the third flash
- infilling the gap between the hide and the blackthorn scrub with more cut blackthorn
- creating a screen by the ground floor entrance to limit the light flooding in
- clearing the Hen Brook of blockages
- installing the new weather station

Overall it was a stunning performance by the 22 attendees - Upstarts (John), Beyonder (Paul), Wheatearlrp (Mike), PeterE, Phil Q, Tim, Midlandsbirder (Craig), Hen Harrier (Jim), Hagar (Mark), Derek, Dennis (Waterrailus), Binus (Tracey), Woodchat (Dave), Gertatron (Gert), Whoever (Daniel), Sy V (Simon), Oriole Boy (Paul), Simon (Hairy Birder), Guy, UW82 (Des) and Paul A.

So many "thank yous" I dont know where to start but special mention needs to go to those on their first work party (Whoever, Midlandbirder, PeterE), Paul Moseley for interupting his Sunday to collect the equipment at the end of the day and Upstarts for his hidden work behind the scenes in preparing for the day and bringing all the tools together. Even those who turned up after the rain had finished played their part (didnt want to get your hair wet L'Oriel Boy )

However the biggest "thank you" needs to go to kingfisherajh for his stirling work through his recent posts for motivating the work party, which worked a treat. It was a tremendous turn-out and an amazing schedule of work completed in the circumstances; 99 out of 100 we would have called the work party off but I didnt have a single text or call questioning whether it was cancelled. This mirrors the efforts put in week in, week out by the Moors Pool work party every Tuesday. Many thanks for giving the work party even more purpose and commitment

Lovely put Phil only thing you missed was Dennis was on his 1st work party as well.
I thing we get more response from this forum, than any advertisement on the reserve. This proves the value of this thread beyond all doubt, for all things Upton Warren. Like Phil said thank you very much to everyone I would go as far as to say, that since my first work party 28 years ago, taking into consideration the conditions endured today as well as the achievements, this was the most rewarding I have been involved in. And now you can all have a rest until September, unless you are coming to the Tuesday sessions at the Moors.
Oh I nearly forgot Phil and Tracey and your 2 girls have a great wedding all of you.

[Gertatron]

Well put Phil and the highlights for me today were;

Pulling up weeds on the islands whilst it was snowing!
Speaking German again
Sy serving drinks through the hatch of the ground floor hide - now known as 'The Flashes Inn"
A Peregrine
Sy swearing like a trooper whilst trying to get the Strimmer to life
The 'youngsters' who turned up, passionate about wildlife. There is hope!
General all round banter
Meeting new faces
Superior dark chocolate biscuits
Wearing waders - I may buy some and wear them round the house

Great day

[hagar1]

had a great day loved wearing the waders thanks Sy V think I just ready for a pint now see you all soon

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by hagar1

had a great day loved wearing the waders thanks Sy V think I just ready for a pint now see you all soon

I am worried about you and Gert..wearing 'waders' ..jack boots

John

[Sy V]

Waders, Waders Über Alles!

[Sy V]

Just thought of something. You guys (unless you're FB regulars) won't have seen this. Based on the full-size version of my avatar, my long-time mate - Budgie (nickname) who had the dubious task of being my first Corporal when I came out of basic and trade training in the seventies, painted this:
Ain't she clever...

[Gertatron]

Originally Posted by Sy V

Waders, Waders Über Alles!

We haf waders of making you talk..

Nice painting Sy

[upstarts1979]

5 shots from today the first 2 during the morning and the last 3 after we had finished the work.
1. and 2. part of the team - action shots.
3. The new shingle island
4. the spit (directly in front of the hide)
5. the 'Delta' to the right of the hide.
John

[Phil Andrews]

Originally Posted by upstarts1979

5 shots from today the first 2 during the morning and the last 3 after we had finished the work.
1. and 2. part of the team.
3. The new shingle island
4. the spit (directly in front of the hide)
5. the 'Delta' to the right of the hide.
John

You have an amazing knack of managing to capture us all standing around talking!

[upstarts1979]

Originally Posted by Phil Andrews

You have an amazing knack of managing to capture us all standing around talking!

What's new then kid like I said those were the action shots.

[upstarts1979]

Birding at the Flashes
Teal c40, Shelduck pair arrived late on.
Snipe c15 flushed, lapwing c40, curlew 15, Avocet 4, Oystercatcher,
Peregrine,
I think a meadow pipit was also seen by some one.
Have I missed out. Thanks Phil when you were fox checking, c50 mixed flock of thrushes and starling c30 were fieldfare the rest redwing/starling

Phil did you go to the MOORS birding

[Phil Andrews]

There was also a bit of birding done today:

MOORS POOL
3 Shelduck (pair and male), 2 Mute Swan, 7 GC Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 26 Cormorant, 46 Tufted Duck, 6 Pochard, 19 Shoveler, 95 Coot, 4 Oystercatcher, 11 Teal, 5 Moorhen, 3 Pheasant, Sparrowhawk, 9 Snipe.

SAILING POOL
2 GC Grebe

FLASHES
15 Snipe, 4 Avocet, 18 Greylag Geese in transmitter field, Herring Gull, several Linnet, Fieldfare in fields to the east, 1 Grey Heron, Peregrine over, 8 Curlew.

[Gertatron]

As I can't be ar*ed to re size photos here's a few non overly photoshoped photies from Saturday morning. Challenging conditions given light, rain and high ISO (sorry photographer speak)


http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildger...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildger...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildger...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildger...in/photostream

[timmyjones]

Thanks to everyone for the work party today, had a brilliant time and as ever was ace being able to help out with the management of the reserve!

[Phil Andrews]

Originally Posted by timmyjones

Thanks to everyone for the work party today, had a brilliant time and as ever was ace being able to help out with the management of the reserve!

Thanks coming all the way from York just for the work party (and the minor distraction of an American wood warber, you teenie twitcher! ). Hope to see you on the reserve during Easter.