Seeing, identifying and photographing dragonflies is quite a challenge and the area around Horndean is no doubt under recorded. Two of the best local habitats are Dell Piece West and Hazleton Common in the vicinity of their ponds. It was this area that was originally threatened by the A3(M) and supermarket construction. Surveys in 1998 of invertebrates at DPW revealed a number of species of dragonflies including the Ruddy Darter which all played a part in saving the habitat and giving DPW a SINC status. The Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBic) designated DPW as a SINC largely on the dragonfly assemblage (Criteria 5A). The Pond Page describes several ponds in the area which, together with wildlife garden ponds make a mosaic of suitable habitats for dragonflies across the parish. To the south of DPW is Hazleton Common which has mature ponds where people can study dragonflies in relative comfort. Here the original pond has been enhanced with the addition of two new ponds downslope.

Here are four of the commonest local species seen in June and July 2007

Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) resting at DPW

Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa) (male)

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella)

Southern Hawker Dragonfly (Aeshna cyanea) in WG

Southern Hawker Dragonfly (Aeshna cyanea)

We aim on this page to help local people to record the dragonfly population and would be glad to hear of your sightings. There is a National Dragonfly Recording Network and the local Vice-County recorder for South Hampshire is Peter Allan to whom our records will be sent. There are Odonata Recording Sheets coupled with Pond Recording Sheets, copies available from JV. if you would like to join in.

Photo-recording is a valuable means of confirming identification helped by the digital camera revolution.
Most of the pictures shown here have been taken on a Nikon with a 200mm Macro lens and the transparencies have been scanned on an Epson 4870 scanner (some on Nikon Coolscan III). As with other insect it is a great help to be able to send images to experts over the internet. Here is a selection of the most frequent species seen locally at Dell Piece West, Hazleton Common or in our wild garden, followed by a systematic list of all the species recorded Hornden habitats since 1998. There are good years and bad years but we need to encourage good management and make the area attractive to these magnificent creatures.

An excellent booklet has been produced by the British Dragonfly Society called 'Dig a Pond for Dragonflies'.
It gives information on general habitat requirements and how you can help provide their special needs.

DAMSELFLIES    Order: ODONATA    sub order: Zygoptera    Wings held above body when at rest.

Azure Damselfly Coengrion puella

Blue-tailed Damselfly Ischnura elegans

Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum

Large Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphala

DRAGONFLIES    Order: ODONATA    sub order: Anisoptera    Hawkers, Chasers and Darters.

Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea	Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa	Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa	Emporer Dragonfly Anax imperator
Red Darter Sympetrum striatum	Red Darter Sympetrum striatum

Other species recorded but not photographed

Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta    DPW, Aug 98 (PD)
Black-tailed Skimmer Orthetrum cancellatum    DPW, Aug 98

On 23rd Sept 2000 a very large number of Red Darters were seen flying just north of the Dell on Hazleton Common, they had noticeably golden red wings against the light and appeared different from S.striatum, could they possibly have been Red-veined or Yellow-winged Darters.
They did not settle for long but when they did perch on barbed wire and hung their wings low below the body.

References
There are so many good books now on dragonflies, for identification I think the best is Brooks S. and Lewington R. (1997) Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of GB and Ireland.
and Dan Powell (1999) A Guide to the Dragonflies of GB - beautifully illustrated with his paintings but my main reference is John Taverner,Steve Cham,Alan Hold,Peter Allan et al. (2004) Dragonflies of Hampshire.
Another well illustrated little book is by Lawrence Holloway (1999) The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Pagham Harbour Local Nature Reserve.