January blossom

On my brisk walk round the neighbourhood after lunch I spotted a bush on the heath sprouting these minute clumps of blossom on every branch. I've never noticed this bush before and suspect it will look quite nondescript for most of the year. However the early blossom is also a sign that plants are being fooled into thinking winter is over because of the unseasonably high temperatures. This may also explain why there has been limited interest in the garden feeders this winter as the birds must be finding food and insects elsewhere.