There be dragons in the garden!

A large almost transparent dragonfly startled me as I sat in the garden, then I watched it land in the hedge, where it hung motionless.  As it hung there I could detect slight colour changes as it darkened and new patterns emerged on its body and its wings became more distinct.  It stayed in that sunny, safe spot, hanging on to the same tiny twig, for the next 6 hours.  Its a female Common Hawker (Aeshnea juncea), found mainly in upland moorland pools and lakes as well as garden ponds (Wildlife Trusts website) so it probably emerged from our own pond.  Hawkers are the largest (7.5cm) and fastest-flying dragonflies; they catch their insect prey mid-air and can hover or fly backwards.  What a privilege to share our garden with such a dragon!