The first Migrant hawker (Aeshna mixta) I spotted this year, on 3 August, flew up into the tree tops almost immediately after I noticed it, and stayed there – I took some photos for recording purposes but they barely showed this dragonfly’s distinguishing features. So, when I spotted my next Migrant hawker, on 9 August, I spent 30 minutes watching and hoping for it to settle. This was all I got before it flew off, disappearing over a hedge, and I moved on.

Then, finally, a week later, on the 16th, after another 30-minute session watching this beauty hawking back and forth along a tree line, expertly weaving in amongst the branches when it spotted potential prey, occasionally fighting with another of its kind hawking a little further along the ride, it perched very obligingly right in front of me and I managed slowly to approach for some reasonable photos. Dragonflies are amazing to watch, but it is also very satisfying to actually get good photographs of them.