Leader: Steve Clark

Four of us left the cp and were soon entering the Irchester Country Park crossing over a very clear River Nene. Walking steadily uphill, we soon left the Country Park and headed across fields into Irchester. We walked through the town and into the countryside heading for Farndon.

Between Irchester and Farndon sitting in the cornfields was a bright yellow Yellow Wagtail, my first ever Yellow Wagtail. Across fields, then into a small wood, and out on to a road where we turned right and walked through Farndon. Then across fields to Wollaston where we had our morning break in a Pocket Park.

After morning break we headed for Summerleys Nature Reserve where we walked between lakes and had a 5 minute water stop in one of the hides. Walking between the lakes a Bittern flew overhead.

After Summerleys we followed the River Nene for 1.5 miles, turned right and headed uphill into Earls Barton. Lunch, then followed the road into Great Doddington and across fields to the small village of Wilby where we had a well earned pint on Gilbert.

From Wilby it was a short hop through Croyland Park and on to the R Nene and back to the cars. The weather was another hot one and the pint at Wilby went down well. Cheers Gilbert.

For me the highlight of the day was the Yellow Wagtail and Bittern.

All my photos are on my website. [www.steveceegalleries.smugmug.com](http://www.steveceegalleries.smugmug.com)