Moth (underside of leaf), another meadow close-up

Photo by Chris Bosak A moth clings to the underside of a leaf in a meadow property of the Darien Land Trust, summer 2013.

Photo by Chris Bosak
A moth clings to the underside of a leaf in a meadow property of the Darien Land Trust, summer 2013.

Here is the latest in a series of close-up (macro) photographs I took last summer while tromping through the meadow properties of the Darien Land Trust. From July 24 to Aug. 31, I’ll post a different close-up meadow photograph on this site.

Here’s more background on the project.

Treehopper (weird bug), another meadow close-up

Photo by Chris Bosak Treehopper in meadow property of Darien Land Trust, summer 2013.

Photo by Chris Bosak
Treehopper in meadow property of Darien Land Trust, summer 2013.

Here is the latest in a series of close-up (macro) photographs I took last summer while tromping through the meadow properties of the Darien Land Trust. From July 24 to Aug. 31, I’ll post a different close-up meadow photograph on this site.

Here’s more background on the project.

Dayflower, another meadow close-up

Photo by Chris Bosak Dayflower in bloom at meadow property of Darien Land Trust.

Photo by Chris Bosak
Dayflower in bloom at meadow property of Darien Land Trust.

 

Here is the latest in a series of close-up (macro) photographs I took last summer while tromping through the meadow properties of the Darien Land Trust. From July 24 to Aug. 31, I’ll post a different close-up meadow photograph on this site.

Here’s more background on the project.

Unbloomed thistle, another meadow close-up

Photo By Chris Bosak Looking sharp and dangerous, this thistle plant is getting ready to bloom.

Photo By Chris Bosak
Looking sharp and dangerous, this thistle plant is getting ready to bloom.

Here is the latest in a series of close-up (macro) photographs I took last summer while tromping through the meadow properties of the Darien Land Trust. From July 24 to Aug. 31, I’ll post a different close-up meadow photograph on this site.

Here’s more background on the project.

Milkweed bugs, another meadow close-up

Photo by Chris Bosak Milkweed bugs cluster on a milkweed pod in a meadow property of the Darien Land Trust.

Photo by Chris Bosak
Milkweed bugs cluster on a milkweed pod in a meadow property of the Darien Land Trust.

Here is the latest in a series of close-up (macro) photographs I took last summer while tromping through the meadow properties of the Darien Land Trust. From July 24 to Aug. 31, I’ll post a different close-up meadow photograph on this site.

Here’s more background on the project.

Chicory, another meadow close-up

Photo by Chris Bosak Considered a weed by most, chicory has a hidden beauty when looked at close up.

Photo by Chris Bosak
Considered a weed by most, chicory has a hidden beauty when looked at close up.

 

Here is the latest in a series of close-up (macro) photographs I took last summer while tromping through the meadow properties of the Darien Land Trust. From July 24 to Aug. 31, I’ll post a different close-up meadow photograph on this site.

Here’s more background on the project.

 

Queen Ann’s Lace, another meadow close-up

Photo by Chris Bosak Queen Ann's Lace with red center and ant at meadow property of Darien Land Trust, summer 2013.

Photo by Chris Bosak
Queen Ann’s Lace with red center and ant at meadow property of Darien Land Trust, summer 2013.

Here is the latest in a series of close-up (macro) photographs I took last summer while tromping through the meadow properties of the Darien Land Trust. From July 24 to Aug. 31, I’ll post a different close-up meadow photograph on this site.

Here’s more background on the project.

Tiny insect on flower, another meadow close-up

Photo by Chris Bosak Tiny insect on flower in meadow property of Darien Land Trust, summer 2013.

Photo by Chris Bosak
Tiny insect on flower in meadow property of Darien Land Trust, summer 2013.

Here is the latest in a series of close-up (macro) photographs I took last summer while tromping through the meadow properties of the Darien Land Trust. From July 24 to Aug. 31, I’ll post a different close-up meadow photograph on this site.

Here’s more background on the project.

Sulphur butterfly, another meadow close-up

Here is the latest in a series of close-up (macro) photographs I took last summer while tromping through the meadow properties of the Darien Land Trust. From July 24 to Aug. 31, I’ll post a different close-up meadow photograph on this site.

Here’s more background on the project.

Photo by Chris Bosak A sulphur butterfly sips nectar from a flower in a Darien meadow.

Photo by Chris Bosak
A sulphur butterfly sips nectar from a flower in a Darien meadow.

What do Purple Martins eat?

Photo by Chris Bosak Purple Martins (female on left) perch near their gourd colony with dragonflies at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Conn., in summer 2014.

Photo by Chris Bosak
Purple Martins (female on left) perch near their gourd colony with dragonflies at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Conn., in summer 2014.

People love Purple Martins because the birds eat mosquitoes. Clearly that’s not all they eat — in fact, they eat far fewer mosquitoes than people think . Usually their prey is much larger.

Photo by Chris Bosak A Purple Martin swallows a dragonfly at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Conn., in summer 2014.

Photo by Chris Bosak
A Purple Martin swallows a dragonfly at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Conn., in summer 2014.

Last week, while attending a banding event at Sherwood Island State Park, I watched as the busy adult Purple Martins flew around and perched at the gourd colony. Without question, the main meal on the menu for these martins was dragonflies. Dragonflies are known as superb fliers and hunters of mosquitoes themselves, but they were no match for these determined Purple Martin parents. Some of the martins even brought back small butterflies to eat.

 

Photo by Chris Bosak A volunteer from Department of Energy and Environmental Protection holds a young Purple Martin while she identifies the age during a Purple Martin banding event held Thursday, July 10, 2014, at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Conn.,

Photo by Chris Bosak
A volunteer from Department of Energy and Environmental Protection holds a young Purple Martin while she identifies the age during a Purple Martin banding event held Thursday, July 10, 2014, at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Conn.,