Another Generation of Hawkers

Reinforcing my belief that Southern Hawker dragonflies are taking over the pond, today (August 17th) I watched a female egg-laying on logs around the pond's edge. This is the only species of dragonfly that I have observed egg-laying this year, although both Large Red and Azure damselflies continue to breed. Female Southern Hawkers often lay their eggs on logs or vegetation around the pond and also carry this out without the presence of a male. You can watch them working their way around the pond, clinging to logs and constantly dabbing the end of their body onto the log to lay the eggs. The other dragonflies I have seen ovipositing are Common Darter and Broad-bodied Chaser, which both lay straight into the pond whilst flying in tandem with the male. Female Emperors, like Southern Hawkers, lay without the presence of a male and tend to lay straight into the pond, but usually on submerged vegetation. The attached photo is from a previous year, but replicates the sighting.