For millennia, millions of birds have flown into the UK each spring from as far away as West Africa, the Mediterranean and Iberia.

The longer daylight hours found this far north enable them to nest and raise young with more chance of success than in their homelands.

In the autumn they then fly back before our winter sets in.

That is how it used to be, but in recent decades there have been changes to this behaviour and some birds now stay here for the winter in increasing numbers.

Of the 1.2 million chiffchaffs that come to the UK annually, it is estimated that about 1,000 stay here all winter and that numbers will rise in the future.

Lesser whitethroats have been recorded in mid-winter (including some on the Island) and other species may follow this trend.

One odd pattern of behaviour is that of the blackcap, with again about 1.2 million arriving in spring and virtually all of them returning south in the autumn, only to be replaced by about 10,000 coming into Britain from the Continent, especially Germany, to spend their winter here.

The trend to milder winters and most importantly, the increasing number of bird feeders that people put out are the main reasons for this bird in particular to come here.

Another bird of interest is the black redstart, which breeds here in small numbers, 80-100 pairs, in industrial northern England, which is again supplemented by about 400 coming here from Eastern Europe for winter.

Many of these over-wintering birds can be seen on the IW.

Chiffchaffs are found in and around woodland in sheltered sites but blackcaps are often seen in gardens especially, as stated, at bird feeders and having a particular liking for apples.

Black redstarts will spend the winter in and around buildings in the middle of towns as they can find insects to eat and the temperature is higher than out in the country.

A plant that attracts many species of birds is the cabbage palm. In November and December these trees are full of berries. Starlings, wood pigeons, blackcaps, thrushes and black redstarts love them.

The palms found along the Undercliff,especially around Ventnor, are particularly popular. Up to six black redstarts at a time have been recorded here in recent times.