Fellow birder Paul Roberts from Bridgend made the brilliant discovery of a group of American Ring-necked Ducks on the lake at the former Margam opencast site near Kenfig Hill just over a week ago.
I have only ever seen singles of the species and with work going on at home (new kitchen) last Thursday 10th February was the first time that I was able to make a visit.
It is at least 10 years since my last visit and major works have been undertaken in restoring the site, what was a very steep sided pool has now been extended and graded to form a large lake which is probably half the size of Kenfig Pool.
I never used to like the site due to the dangers it presented but the work that has been carried out in recent years has turned it into a very nice unofficial nature reserve.
It will certainly encourage some visits in Spring in the hope of picking up possible passage Osprey and Terns.
My visit on Thursday was in cold and windy weather which resulted in the water being choppy but the light was great, it was nice to meet and chat with other visiting birders Hugh Williams, Stuart Morgan and Sam Viles.
I managed some nice shots of the birds that were sheltering in the south-west corner and they showed to about 12-15m.
My friend Dave Gilbert managed to finish work early on Friday 11th February and so I made a return visit with him in more favourable weather which was milder and with no breeze which resulted in the lake being flat calm.
There was no need that day for the birds to be sheltering and we found them half way along the western shore staying the same distance from the edge that they had done on my first visit.
We both came away with some nice images although my photos from Thursday in good light were better as the light showed the brown/purple neck ring which gives the species it's name.
