Dragonflies are one of the oldest life forms on Earth and I'm glad to say, now a whole lot smaller than their ancient cousins! It's always a little daunting to come across a hawker on patrol and it's guaranteed to get me ducking out of its path. But it's worth hanging around to make friends, as once they've checked me out, they seem quite happy to pose for the camera. The beautiful damselflies and demoiselles seem to be a little more camera shy, but a little patience allows close observation.