Total monthly rainfall: 149.5 millimetres.  Maximum daily rainfall: 25 millimetres (14^th January)

Altogether there were 24 days when measurable rain fell, and 26 days with 100% cloud cover for at least part of the day. All ponds remained full throughout the month and woodland paths were frequently flooded, as were hollows in all the fields. This wet weather led to the development of fungus on many woodland trees.

Maximum temperature on the warmest day was 13°C on January 28^th. Maximum temperature on the coldest day was 1°C on the 8^th and 10^th. There was overnight frost on 10 nights, and ponds and lake were partly or wholly frozen between the 7^th and 10^th and 24^th/25^th.

Five wildflower species were carried over from 2020, and some of these were unusual for the time of year. They were groundsel, feverfew, lesser periwinkle, field speedwell, and shepherd’s purse. White and red deadnettle bloomed on the 6^th, and we found strong leaf growth on five woodland foxgloves on the 9^th. Snowdrops were in flower on the 9^th, dandelion on the 24^th and common daisy on the 30^th.  This completed flowering for January. Altogether there were 10 wildflower species in flower during the month.

• Foxgloves Foxgloves
• Fungal growth on tree Fungal growth on tree
• Snow in wood Snow in wood
• Snowdrops Snowdrops
•  

No butterflies appeared at all during the month, but we had a little more success with moths. On the 17^th we found a very early angle shades moth indoors. It had emerged from a potted geranium plant brought indoors for the winter, where its green caterpillar formed a chrysalis which produced the moth. On the 19^th we found two winter moths flying in the wood, and these were the only two we saw during the month. Perhaps this species suffered as a result of last winter’s mass drowning in our ditches and woodland ponds.

Finally, we include a list of the 24 bird species we saw during the month:

1 to 3 at a time: Coal tit, wren dunnock, great-spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, chaffinch, collared dove (1^st Jan).  Grey-lag goose (23^rd Jan).

4 to 10 at a time: Blue tit, starling, blackbird, magpie, jackdaw, great tit, moorhen long-tailed tit (1^st)

Canada goose (7^th Jan).

11 or over: Wood pigeon, mallard duck, carrion crow, house sparrow, goldfinch (1^st)