The harsh winter conditions are meaning that birds are turning up in some more unexpected places. Old Castle Pond in Llanelli has been host to one of our most uncommon winter visitors  - the bittern. This stocky, brown, heron-like bird has been spotted here, obviously looking for food in this coldest of winters.

At the beginning of the 19th century bitterns were regarded as a delicacy and were shot – they were far more common than today. This led to a decline in its numbers, along with the effects of egg collecting and the draining of its marsh habitat. It ceased breeding in the UK for a while but this has gradually increased with birds moving in from the continent. Its dependence on reedbeds and very small population make it a Red List species - one of the most threatened in the UK.

Bitterns are often hard to spot as they move silently through reeds at water's edge, looking for fish and often are only recognised by the males booming call in spring, which can been heard from some distance.

So keep an eye during this cold snap – it may mean an unexpected bonus!