Has Spring already sprung?

Yes, we’ve been buffeted by winds and soaked by torrential rain, but the frost, ice and snow that left us shivering in recent winters is yet to materialise.

The warmest December for a quarter of a century has been followed by a mild January. And it seems this warm, wet spell has deceived some of our wildlife into believing spring has already sprung.

A quick glance at your nearest park, garden or field edge may trick you into thinking we are already in March rather than the deep mid-winter. The widespread sight of pale green daffodil stems thrusting up bamboo-like through the claggy earth is an unexpected early treat.

But it’s not only the daffodils that have appeared early.

The Woodland Trust’s Nature’s Calendar records the first signs of the changing of the seasons; so far this winter they have been inundated with unusually early sightings of spring.

Snowdrops, which typically appear at the end of January, were seen at more than 30 locations in the first fortnight of the month. Hazel has also been reported flowering in the south and elder has been seen bursting into bud across the UK.

Ladybirds, which normally appear in mid-March, have been seen; while Brimstone, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma and Speckled Wood sightings have all been reported to Butterfly Conservation.

Michael Wilson, RSPB officer at Arne, confirmed that butterflies have been recently spotted on the Dorset nature reserve, as well as bumble bees – and bats in the daytime, which is very unusual for this time of year.

He added: “Bird-wise, we have heard greater spotted woodpecker males drumming for their territory in January which is again very early.”

Wardens at the Dorset Wildlife Trust have spotted the Brimstone butterfly at Upton Heath, as well as a number of bumblebees across Dorset. Overwintering migrants such as redwings and field fares have returned to breed.

Spokesman Sally Welbourn said: “There’s definitely a chorus of birdsong which is usually heard later in the year, and many garden birds such as chaffinch, tits, wrens and sparrows are pairing and preparing nests for their new families.

“Some of the first of the returning migrants such as hirundines – the swallows and martins – are frequently being seen in Dorset, not just earlier this year, but last year too.”

According to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) swallows have been reported in southern England since December 1, with several still being seen well into January, suggesting that these birds, which normally spend the colder months in Africa, have attempted to over-winter in the UK.

All these unusual sightings might be causing a stir now, but experts believe we should no longer be surprised by them. Chris Hickman from the Woodland Trust explained: “Generally as the climate warms it seems that temperatures in December and January are more amenable for the earlier development of plants and animals. December 2013 was the mildest in 25 years according to the Met office.

“What is unusual is that ‘early’ signs of spring in January are actually no longer unusual. So although we have records of everything from Red Admiral butterflies to ladybirds and wasps, our data has actually highlighted it is becoming more and more common over the last decade. This reflects a trend for spring as a season to arrive earlier and earlier. Over the last 25 years, flowers have bloomed up to 12 days earlier than previously.”

However common it is becoming though, these early risers may still be in for a short, sharp, shock.

Michael Wilson at Arne said: “If the temperatures drop, it’s bad news for the wildlife which hasn’t hibernated.”

“The dangers of emerging early are two-fold,” confirmed Hickman.

“One would be a lack of food sources along the food chain for those creatures which come out of hibernation or have young earlier. The second being the risk of a prolonged spell of freezing weather later into spring, as happened in 2013 – which could be a threat to life.”

Nature’s Calendar project manager, Dr Kate Lewthwaite, said: “This highlights is the importance of diverse, inter-connected habitats which allow species to react to any changes in climate. With habitats coming under greater threat and fragmentation the pressure on our native flora and fauna will increase.”