On Thursday I returned to Ramsdown full of hope. The first pond had a few more puddles after the recent rain yet the pond at the base of the hillock was bone dry!
The clearing showed a couple of twitchy Southern, the inevitable Brown Hawker rising in panic at my passing and the expected Migrant Hawkers.
![Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) - immature female](http://hampshiredragonflies.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/D92_10101-680x1024.jpg)
At my favourite pond a Moorland Hawker gave me the most frustrating challenge by refusing to keep to a regular patrol. |This wasn’t helped by the presence of a particularly aggressive Emperor who drove him off at every opportunity.
![Moorland (Common) Hawker (Aeshna juncea) - male](http://hampshiredragonflies.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/D71_2012-1024x576.jpg)
Azure and Emerald Damselflies and a single Black Darter kept the interest and a female Emperor flew in to try to oviposit under the harassment of the patrolling male.
A Broad-bodied Chaser still held court at his favourite perch, occasionally flying out to do battle with one of the many Common Darters.
![Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) - male](http://hampshiredragonflies.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/D71_1962-1024x683.jpg)
The sound of fluttering wings alerted me to the presence of a female Southern Hawker ovipositing deep down under cover into the muddy bank before rising up, circling me and settling down on a patch of heather.
![Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) - female](http://hampshiredragonflies.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/D71_2112-1024x1024.jpg)
After a brief rest she continued laying her eggs in hard to reach places until she decided upon a log, which offered a better opportunity.
![Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) - female](http://hampshiredragonflies.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/D71_2118-1024x576.jpg)
As there was no sign of the Moorland returning I decided to camp out for an hour at the other pond just in case a male, or indeed female flew in, but it was not to be. However it was pleasant to observe the many Migrant Hawkers feeding along the treeline.
I had hoped for a male Southern to come in for a patrol, but I’ll have to wait until next time. Best not become too entitled, eh?