Total monthly rainfall : 117.5 millimetres.  Maximum daily rainfall: 20.5 millimetres (16^th February). During the month there were 20 days with measurable rainfall and 20 days with 100% cloud-cover for at least part of the day. This included three major storms consisting of 9 days with strong – to – gale- force winds. We have been recording rainfall now for 14 years, and only 2014 has been wetter. Maximum temperature on the warmest day was 14°C on 23^rd February. Maximum temperature on the coldest day was 7°C on the 27^th. There were 14 days when the temperature was 10°C or more. Although the month was generally mild, there were 8 days with a very strong wind-chill.

Three more wildflower species started to bloom this month, bringing our total to 10 for the year so far. We saw dog’s mercury on the 1^st, groundsel on the 8^th, and lesser celandine on the 14^th.

Four more wild bird species this month brought our total to 35 species. On February 7^th we found about 30 redwings in our wood, followed on the 9th by a cormorant on our small lake. On the 21^st we found a collared dove at our garden feeding station, while on the 28^th there were two greenfinches on our peanut feeder.

• Dogs mercury Dogs mercury
• Lesser celandine Lesser celandine
• Yellow brain fungus after rain Yellow brain fungus after rain
• Yellow brain fungus before rain Yellow brain fungus before rain
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We took a lot of interest in trees and shrubs this month. On the 14^th our gorse bushes came into flower, having been unusually flower-less for over 2 months. On the 20^th, as if by magic, we discovered the elder was in leaf, and buds were opening on some of our hazel, hawthorn, and hornbeam. Hazel was in leaf on the 23^rd, and hawthorn by the 29^th. Trees of all sizes had quite a torrid month, with twigs and branches of all sizes littering the woodland floor during the windy spells. Some even had yellow brain fungus growing on their bark. Other larger trees were either uprooted, damaging other trees on their way down, or snapped in half by the force of the wind.

Other first-sightings this month were a large dog fox, flushed out of the brambles by the family’s three dogs, but wily enough to evade them on February 5^th, and a common toad, found beneath a reptile shelter on the 22^nd. The hibernating 16-spot ladybirds, mentioned in previous months have halved in number during the month, and now only occupy 4 double-fence posts.

Finally, the combination of high rainfall and strong winds, mentioned earlier, has left the ground totally waterlogged. Ponds and drainage ditches are full. They are well aerated to the extent that water bubbles, feathers, and other floating debris has piled up along the shores of our ponds and against obstructions along ditches which are parallel to the wind direction at the time. We have, however, been extremely fortunate not to suffer the awful conditions of the many people flooded out of their homes in other parts of the country.