Natural History Bramshill Dragonflies 6 August 2018 Ian Alexander Small Red Damselfly, from the pond below A pond at Bramshill. Reedmaces in foreground, water level well down in current drought. Succession (sere) from open water – floating pondweed – emergent plants e.g. rushes, then reed and reedmace, then willow bushes, finally birch-oak mixed forest Black-Tailed Skimmer on his lookout perch Common Darter: he too constantly returned to this perch Brown Hawker female, ovipositing The ‘beach’ on the Long Pond, Bramshill Emperor Dragonfly on reedmaces at end of Long Pond, Bramshill. Zipping about were lots of blue/azure damselflies, common darters, and black-tailed skimmers, and a few bluetails. The Long Pond, Bramshill – perfect dragonfly habitat. Open water with floating weed, bordered by beds of rushes, reeds, willow and alder bushes. Conifers in the background Common Fleabane – a handsome yellow composite in forest ditch, Bramshill