[EBB Sightings] White-Crowned Sparrows - earlyish

I saw a White-Crowned Sparrow "couple" underneath my feeders yesterday morning.   I live in a warmish part of Walnut Creek, off Walnut Avenue near Northgate High School.  Seems that they are a tad early this year, which surprised me given our current warm spell.  I wonder if the Juncos will return to this part of Walnut Creek sooner this year, too (they depart for cooler climes as soon as the weather heats up in May).  I've noticed that the squirrels are digging up my potted plants earlier than usual, too, this year (to bury their nuts).  I wonder... does this mean we are going to have an earlier than usual winter?

--Diane