JANUARY was unusually dry, so will February live up to its old reputation whereby farmers used to call the second month 'February-fill-dyke' alluding to the fact that the month was often very wet.

Meanwhile, signs of spring are everywhere, many being clearly visible while others are perhaps more subtle. For example, the gradual greening of bankside weeping willows; catkins on leafless trees twitching in the breeze like newborn lamb's tails while crocus, primrose, violets, snowdrops, coltsfoot and early daffodils are flowering.

St Valentine was regarded as the patron saint of lovers and believed that all birds paired up on February 14 but in fact, many birds chose their mates several weeks ago. Their spring plumage is now resplendent, especially noticeable in male mallard and mandarin ducks, both of whose partners are still very attractive but in a more understated way.

The photograph shows a red admiral butterfly recently out of hibernation alighting on a drift of snowdrops. This image is most unusual and probably unique because although bees love to hang beneath the low-growing pendulous flowers, butterflies, because of their size and shape cannot reach the nectar below even with their very long proboscises.

So, no doubt this particular red admiral, whilst probably attracted to the snowdrops by their scent, was rather disappointed being unable to imbibe their nectar so moved on to try his luck elsewhere!