Has anybody heard ...
 

... the tree frogs as loud as they have been this year? If you cup your ears and start at the ground and go up towards the trees you can hear the cacophony of tinkly trills of the Gray tree frogs. I've never heard them this loud.

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wild...ort_073106.htm

We have heard them.

We have also seen 3 huge hornet (?) nests in the ground this year. Does anyone know if that is one of the signs of a warm winter?

No. It's usually an indicator that your ground is optimal for hornet nesting.