There are reports of daffodils already in full bloom in some gardens. Although my bulbs are shooting about three inches above the soil I can't wait for them to flower.

So, directly Christmas decorations are stowed away in the loft I fill the house with bunches of cut flowers, a most cheerful sight in the bleak mid-winter and their scent pervades the room as I write.

In some west country locations frogspawn was laid in November, three months ahead of the norm and risky with all winter ahead as frost and ice can be lethal at the surface before the spawn matures and sinks. At the London Wetland Centre in the third week of January, with snow flurries forecast, a stiff breeze created weird ruffled swirling patterns on the water surfaces, some larger waves topped with mini white horses as they sped before the wind.

Such conditions did not appear to worry coots, moorhens and assorted ducks including teal, widgeon, tufted, mallard and pochard. Pairs of shoveller ducks swam as usual together in tight circles filtering out food items from just below the surface, using their huge spatula shaped beaks which seem too heavy for their heads to support.

Gulls tumbled before the gusty wind, masters of controlled flight while the only birds seemingly sheltering as best they could were herons, numbering far fewer than usual.

A pair of mallard began their head-bobbing courtship routine while coots inspected likely nesting sites.

On the banks, hazel catkins twitched like new-born lambs tails as the young gale increased in strength. But hold on, spring is some way off yet!