Winter birdlife seen from Orchard Lee and Tudor Lee in the West Wight.

Wet and windy, but a treat in the garden outside Tudor Lee - a goldcrest darting around in the holly. It's only the second time in a year we've seen this tiny bird. The holly bush must have insect life providing food in the depths of winter. The berries went long ago.
Although the cold weather has been harsh for wildlife, it's brought interesting birds -plenty of redwings and fieldfares which have been easily visible from 'Orchard Lee' and 'Tudor Lee'.
The verandah along the front of 'Orchard Lee' provides a fine vantage point from which to watch birds of prey. Kestrels and sparrow hawks regularly patrol the field around the house. Feathers in the grass probably mark where there was one successful kill. The buzzards which nest two fields away make their presence heard as they mew overhead. There do seem to be plenty of raptors - no wonder there are fewer small brown birds.