Nice story written by Patrick Barkham, published in the Guardian 9th, January:

Hedgehogs shun hibernation to gambol amongst blooming daffodils. Cherry trees blossom and red admiral butterflies soar in the balmy breeze. From sheep to parrots, creatures pop out unseasonal sprogs. January is the new March, and not just in Britain: as Arctic ice retreats, ice rinks are closed across the pond; New Yorkers bask in 22C heat. …

Guardian: What’s happened to winter

More on realclimate.org: El Nino, Global Warming, and Anomalous U.S. Winter Warmth