Purple Martin Dragonfly Handoff

By neighdoctor July 19, 2017 Purple Martin Dragonfly Handoff

The male purple martin flashed past me and snagged a dragonfly.

Crimped the insect’s wing and spit the dragonfly out.

The male purple martin did a roll back and smiled at me.

From the lower left corner another purple martin appeared.

Either a female or an immature martin.

The male swept past me as I watched the other bird home in on the dragonfly.

Yes, it caught it, but sadly was too deep in the shadows for my camera to get a focused photo.

I think the male may have deliberately handed off the dragonfly.

smaller flyer

By neighdoctor July 8, 2015 smaller flyer

Hmm, a much smaller flyer…than the eagles of late.
I found this fellow at the waterfall fountain at the Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, NC

By neighdoctor September 3, 2014 tiny

this tiny amberwing dragonfly is less than one inch long; I wish I had had my macro lens with me – I had to make do with my 400mm lens

By neighdoctor June 27, 2014 purple martin pursuit

Purple martin and its dragonfly target – 00:00:24 seconds before the mid-air capture.

By neighdoctor June 25, 2014 dragonfly

The dragonfly is not only beautiful, it is helpful – mosquitos are a big part of its diet.