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Starlings in search of cooler climes delay migrating to Scandinavia because it's colder HERE… and forecasters warn there is no sign of Spring for at least another week

Forecasters today warned the weekend would be another cold one and spring was still at least a week away.
The freezing weather has led to flocks of starlings - which would not normally be seen in the country at this time of year - delay their migration to Scandinavia because it's actually colder here.
In Denmark's capital Copenhagen, temperatures of 6C were forecast today while temperatures in the South of England were barely above freezing yesterday, with the thermometer plunging below -4C in Cumbria.
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Huddling: A million starlings fly together over Swindon in an attempt to keep warm last night
Huddling: A million starlings fly together over Swindon in an attempt to keep warm last night

Unusual: The birds would not normally be seen over the UK at this time of year
Unusual: The birds would not normally be seen over the UK at this time of year

Migration: They have delayed their flight on to Scandinavia because of the cold weather in the UK
Migration: They have delayed their flight on to Scandinavia because of the cold weather in the UK
This weekend temperatures will climb to 11C in some parts, with widespread sunshine, although in Kent it will remain strikingly cold at around 6C.
The start of next week will see dry, sunny but bitterly cold conditions in most places, with Atlantic frontal systems coming in later in the week bringing somewhat warmer weather accompanied by the possibility of rain.
 

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'Over the weekend it is still going to be cold for many people but it will be drier and brighter, said Met Office forecaster Sarah Holland.
'It is still going to feel cold. In London we're looking at temperatures of 5-6C on Saturday, getting up to 7-8C through to Sunday.
'Most places across the UK will be dry with sunny spells. There will be lighter winds, so those icy chills will be around no longer.'
Refuge: The birds would normally be in Scandinavia by now, but it may be too cold for them to fly
Refuge: The birds would normally be in Scandinavia by now, but it may be too cold for them to fly

Swarm: Birdwatchers have been delighted with the unusual spectacle appearing over Swindon
Swarm: Birdwatchers have been delighted with the unusual spectacle appearing over Swindon
Average temperatures for April are not forecast to return until the second half of the month - but even this will bring little relief to freezing Britain as it is accompanied by heavy rainfall.
Last year was one of the wettest on record, but water companies have nonetheless asked customers to be cautious in their usage amidst fears a drought could come at any time. 
Yesterday was believed to be the coldest April day since the 1960s in places.
At Heathrow, where the mercury peaked at 3.3C, it was the chilliest April day since 1966, while a top temperature of 2.7C in Wattisham, Suffolk, made it the coldest since 1968.
In some parts of the South, the mercury struggled to get into single figures at all, staying at 0C in Wych Cross, Sussex, and Kenley, Surrey.
Extraordinary photographs taken in Swindon last night showed how around a million sparrows formed a 'murmuration' over the town.
Picturesque: The freezing temperatures have at least given opportunities to lovers of nature
Picturesque: The freezing temperatures have at least given opportunities to lovers of nature

Crowd: The RSPB attributed the appearance of the migratory birds to the unusual weather
Crowd: The RSPB attributed the appearance of the migratory birds to the unusual weather

Extraordinary: The combination of the Wiltshire sunset and the starlings created a picturesque vista
Extraordinary: The combination of the Wiltshire sunset and the starlings created a picturesque vista
Million-strong flock: The birds wheeled around in formation, apparently keeping together for warmth
Million-strong flock: The birds wheeled around in formation, apparently keeping together for warmth
'Essentially it is the old adage of safety in numbers, that is how they survive through the night,' said Stewart Dobson of the Wiltshire Ornithological Society.

'As a species starlings need to rest in very large numbers together. When they come down to the ground they huddle together to get extra warmth.

'Because it is so cold they have come into the town to get yet another couple of degrees of warmth.

'That's the reason they are in Swindon, because we have had one of the coldest Marches on record they have moved into the town rather than out in the countryside.'

Nationwide: Another flock of starlings was pictured at the end of Aberystwyth Pier this week
Nationwide: Another flock of starlings was pictured at the end of Aberystwyth Pier this week

Surprise: Photographer Ben Andrew describes the chance find in West Wales as 'breathtaking'
Surprise: Photographer Ben Andrew describes the chance find in West Wales as 'breathtaking'
Bewl Water in 2012
Bewl Water in 2013
Contrast: A year ago, water levels at Bewl Water in Kent had seriously dropped thanks to drought (left); now persistent rainfall has filled up the reservoir (right)

Bewl Water in 2012
Bewl Water in 2013
Shortage? Despite the contrast between April 2012 (left) and this month (right), consumers have been warned to save water amidst fears of a possible drought


A spokesman for the RSPB said: 'Normally the non-resident birds would have headed back to Northern Europe and Scandinavia to breed by now, but the RSPB’s had a few calls from people seeing big starling flocks recently.'
The spokesman added: 'We’ll never know for sure, but there’s a good possibility the recent bad weather is the cause of their prolonged stay in the UK - they might not want to battle the strong, cold winds coming across the country so are sitting tight until the conditions ease.'
In the New Forest, more than 300 ponies, donkeys and cattle have been removed from the pasture and returned to their owners for their own safety during the freeze.
The national park's agisters, skilled foresters charged with overseeing its famous ponies, are desperate for the weather to improve before the herds give birth later this month.
'This year has been particularly bad,' head agister Jonathan Gerelli said. 'Prolonged cold and wet weather affects the ponies more than other stock so we have been very, very busy.'

RESERVOIRS ARE FULL AFTER ONE OF THE WETTEST YEARS EVER... BUT CUSTOMERS STILL TOLD TO SAVE WATER

Last year was one of the wettest in UK history - but now Britons are being warned to save water.
Reservoirs, rivers and lakes are well above their average levels after 2012 proved to be the second rainiest since records began.
However, water companies have issued statements advising their customers to 'use water wisely' to avoid the risk of a drought in the near future.
Thames Water said: 'While water use restrictions this year are highly unlikely, we would ask everyone to continue using water wisely, because we are never more than 18 months of very dry weather away from a drought.'
South East Water and Anglia Water echoed their rival's message.
In April 2012, hosepipe bans were introduced in some regions, quickly leading to ridicule when the summer was washed out in a deluge of rainfall.
Suffering: County Durham was hit with a fresh blast of snow overnight as winter showed little sign of going away
Suffering: County Durham was hit with a fresh blast of snow overnight as winter showed little sign of going away

Stranded: A farmhouse near Barnard Castle sits in the middle of snowdrifts after fresh snow which has continued into April
Stranded: A farmhouse near Barnard Castle sits in the middle of snowdrifts after fresh snow which has continued into April

Picturesque: But residents of the affected areas are quickly becoming fed up with the non-stop snowfall
Picturesque: But residents of the affected areas are quickly becoming fed up with the non-stop snowfall
Brave: Punters in Cambridge took to the waters but made sure to wrap up warm in the notoriously windy city
Brave: Punters in Cambridge took to the waters but made sure to wrap up warm in the notoriously windy city

Sunny: But Britain has been squeezed with chilly weather even though it looks fine
Sunny: But Britain has been squeezed with chilly weather even though it looks fine



RARE FLOWERS CAN'T BLOSSOM

Britain's washout weather means that the country's rarest flower has failed to bloom this April.
80 per cent of snake's head fritillaries grow in a 110-acre meadow in Wiltshire - but the plants are showing no sign of flowering thanks to the water-logged ground.
Conservationists have told the thousands of nature-lovers who normally flock to the area to stay away this year.
Summer flooding last year prevented farmers from cutting hay and grazing animals in the meadow, which encourages the fritillary to grow.
The wild flowers, coloured with green and purple checks, were once widespread across Britain, but are now limited to a handful of flood meadows.
John Lee, a forecaster with Meteogroup, said: ‘There are signs [the cold snap] will break down next week and we’ll see a return to slightly milder conditions.
‘The average temperature [for this time of year] is about 13C and there are signs of that next week.

‘Compared to what we have had, that will feel quite nice but it will be accompanied by some rain.’
Sarah Holland from the Met Office added: 'Spring is almost here, so it seems. We are gradually going to see a bit of a turn in the weather as we move into next week.'
A spring flower show held for 138 years had to be cancelled in Kent yesterday as snow fell across the county.

Brenchley and Matfield Horticultural Society announced the continuous freezing weather had resulted in no entries in the tulips and camellias categories. Other spring flowers such as daffodils were in very short supply.
Society spokesman Colin Brown said for this reason the show, due to be held last Saturday, was axed.
He said: 'The weather has got the better of us. It has been so cold that so many flower classes will have nothing in them such as the tulips, camellias and spring flowers.
'Nothing has come into flower yet as well as very few daffodils.
'I often enter the majority of the 40 or so flower classes but this year I would be hard pressed to enter six classes and it seems most of our members are having the same problem.'
Sign of spring? Nine-year-old Hannah Phelps relaxing among the crocuses in Lister Park in Bradford
Sign of spring? Nine-year-old Hannah Phelps relaxing among the crocuses in Lister Park in Bradford today

Playful: But typical April temperatures are not expected to return until the second half of the month
Playful: But typical April temperatures are not expected to return until the second half of the month

Three Day Weather Forecast

Meanwhile, wintry showers and sub-zero temperatures affected most parts of Kent.

Major roads such as the M20 and M2 were hit by the snow which settled in some places.
But this did not stop some motorists ignoring the need for safe driving.

Kent Police's traffic unit tweeted how officers had reported a motorist being stopped on the M20 for speeding at 95mph in the snow.
Last April the northern half of the UK saw up to 25cm of snow.
The snowiest April on record was in 1981 when between 50cm and 60cm fell across the Forest of Dean and Gloucestershire.
Footballers brave the snow as they have a game in front of the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park this afternoon
Footballers brave the snow as they have a game in front of the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park yesterday

Not fun: The pedestrian holds her coat against the cold wind and snow as temperatures dipped
Not fun: This pedestrian held her coat against the cold wind and snow as temperatures dipped yesterday

FREEZING WEATHER COULD HAVE KILLED 5,000 BRITONS LAST MONTH, ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL FIGURES

More than 5,000 Britons could have died last month because of the freezing weather, it was feared today
More than 5,000 Britons could have died last month because of the freezing weather, it was feared today.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that, in the first three weeks of last month, 4,206 more deaths than usual were recorded.
A further 1,000 extra deaths are expected to have been recorded for the final week of the month - lifting the March total to 5,000 more than normal.
It is believed that the freezing temperatures and snow could be partly to blame for these extra deaths - which were mainly among older people. A rise in flu cases could also be partly responsible.
The overall death toll in the first three weeks of March was 33,500, compared with a previous average of 29,294 for the past five years.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said the full details about cold weather deaths would not be made available by the Government until October - giving statisticians time to make a detailed study.
She said : 'We are concerned to see an increase in deaths, but these figures are provisional and should be treated with caution.'
She added that an extra £330million had been made available this winter for the NHS and social care.
The greatest rise in deaths came during the third week of March when the death toll was 1,600 higher than normal at 11,075.
Shadow health minister Andrew Gwynne said: 'When winter weather bites, we have all got a responsibility to look in on older neighbours and relatives.
'Older people need to keep warm but soaring gas and electricity prices are making this harder than it should be.'
Mr Gwynne said that social services were struggling after more than £1.3billion was cut from town hall budgets for care of the elderly.
He said: 'Families are being left without adequate support for their loved ones. Ministers need to make sure that older people are getting the care they need.'

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