Visited Kenfig Pool NNR near Port Talbot yesterday (7th Jan).
The drake Redhead was showing extremely well, the ducks all sheltering near the South hide due to the biting Easterly wind.
It's the first time I've had a close up of it, and being able to compare the bill pattern with the pochard all around.
A much more attractive bird which was also showing well was the hybrid pochard x ferruginous duck. It has a lovely deep russet breast and two-tone grey back.
There are 2 or posibly 3 bittern at the site giving good views at all times as they fly low over the reedbeds. One landed very near the S hide when I was there.....but I have to admit.......I missed it as I was looking the wrong way!
Last winter there were 5 bittern and another at the nearby Eglwys Nynudd reservoir, maybe this current cold snap on the continent will bring som more across to us.
At Eglwys Nynudd reservoir it was pretty quiet, best birds being a drake scaup and a drake goosander.
I'll try to catch the bittern on my next visit!