'Spring is new summer' - 2 seasonal indicators 3 weeks early in UK

[muriel_volestrangler]

Two events in nature that usually herald the beginning of summer have started already, say researchers looking into reports from the public.
...
Sightings of swifts have been reported across south-east England and Gloucestershire over the last few days.

Swifts usually return from migration around 10 May when temperatures are slightly milder.
...
The flowering of hawthorn, normally around the middle of next month, is considered to signify the start of summer.

This year, the earliest flowering hawthorn was recorded on 9 April.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6566401.stm

Central England Temperatures date back to 1772. In the past few days, we've been outside the 5-95 percentile of the 1961-1990 values, and touching the absolute maximums recorded in the 235 years:

[MADem]

1. Well, winter is just ending here, so I guess we're even! NT