It's almost like spring.

This January has been in stark contrast to that of 2013 when we experienced heavy snow, which drifted and sub zero temperatures, sometimes during the day and night. This year we have had relatively few frosty days and no snow (in Endon anyway). The mild weather is tempting some plants and animals to behave as if spring was here.

Today we had a particularly beautiful sunny day; it was almost like a spring day. Some of the wildlife thought so too. On a walk to Deep Hayes Country Park we saw a pair of Blue Tits investigating a crack in a railway bridge as a possible nest site. Plus Great Tits (as well as aforementioned Blue Tits) are actively in breeding mode; singing away, proclaiming their territories.

Blue Tit potential nest site in crack on a bridge on the disused railway line.

Plants are advance too, for the time of year. In Deep Hayes Country Park Hazel catkins are out, though when I shook the most mature catkin, no pollen drifted off. Wood Avens and other early plants are showing growth (see photos below).

Hazel catkins today in DHCP.

Green growth of Geum urbanum today in DHCP.