NORTH DOWNS & BEYOND

A final trawl through my late-Spring fortnight at Dungeness, by the simple medium of captioned photographs. Keeping it simple... Four-spotted Chasers were common throughout my stay, although towards the end up to 400 were present Sea Kale was at its best, strewn across the open shingle and beach looking like giant cauliflowers Marsh Cinquefoil vanished from the DBO recording area in 1984, but has recently returned The pale yellow and orange patches is Common Dodder - a parasitic plant that is having a very good year Sea Clover at Camber. A plant that I rarely come across

Common Dodder, modest flowerer and to see such a show is not that common  No, not the shambling walk of the elderly, but a parasitic plant that is an unsung member of our flora. It is one of those species that isn't common, but can be prolific in a small area. Yesterday's walk around Chipstead Bottom revealed a lovely flowering patch at a site the locals have christened Sheep's Brow. There were plenty of small insects nectaring on the blooms. I wonder if any of them are as local as the plant is?