NORTH DOWNS & BEYOND

Just to prove that I don't only have eyes for chunky finches, these plants grabbed my attention while I was out and about yesterday. Don't worry - normal Hawfinch service will be resumed very soon! Hart's-tongue. A common enough fern, but to see it in such profusion is an arresting sight. This was just a small area that the species was blanketing on a dank slope above Betchworth Quarry. I also learnt that this is a different place to Brockham Quarry - until now I believed the whole complex to be under the former name. Cornelian-cherry, an introduced tree that is found sparingly across northern Surrey. This specimen (at the base of Box Hill) is being choked by Ivy. Flower detail (below)

Cornelian Cherry ( Cornus mas ) is a naturalised member of the dogwood family, which rarely self-seeds in Surrey - but, at Priest Hill, a couple of trees have indeed done so. The parent tree stands close to the old tennis courts on the northern border, with both of the offspring hugging the edge of the chalk scrapes nearby. The yellow flowers (below) are small, and act as a good source of nectar for early spring flying insects. As I stood chatting with local botanist Peter Wakeham, we observed a small number of bees taking advantage. After three blank visits I was pleased to find four Reed Buntings still on site. Stonechats continue to move through, with three present this morning (one of the females above). A single flock of 12 Redwing were the only winter thrushes found.