Sightings – Animals
Observer: Barry Dulong
Observation Date: 6/2/24
Observation Time: 10:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Acadian flycatcher
Scientific Name: Empidonax virescens
Comments: Picked up call on Merlin. Easy to spot chasing flying insects.
More Information: All About Birds
(The attached photo comes from the internet)
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/19/19
Observation Time: 2:45 p.m.
Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail
Common Name: Amber Snail
Scientific Name: family Succineidae
Comments: This terrestrial snail was one of many crawling on a skunk cabbage leaf beside the trail.
More Information: Terrestrial Mollusc Tool
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 12/17/11
Observation Time: 11:40 a.m.
Observation Location: Sawmill Pond
Common Name: American Black Duck
Scientific Name: Anas rubripes
Comments: This pair of black ducks mingled with some Canada geese and mallards. Shooting photos of this pair reminded me of my grandfather, who lived on Cape Cod and used to shoot black ducks for food during the first half of the twentieth century before I was born.
More Information: Avian Web
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/16/10
Observation Time: 5:25 a.m.
Observation Location: Beaver Brook near tennis court
Common Name: American Bullfrog
Scientific Name: Rana catesbeiana
Comments: Bullfrogs are voracious, opportunistic, ambush predators that prey on any small animal they can overpower and stuff down their throats. Bullfrog stomachs have been found to contain rodents, small reptiles, amphibians, crayfish, birds, and bats, as well as the many invertebrates, such as insects, which are the usual food of ranid frogs. These studies revealed the bullfrog’s diet to be unique among North American ranids in the inclusion of a large percentage of aquatic animals, such as fish, tadpoles, ram’s horn snails, and dytiscid beetles. Bullfrogs can capture large, strong prey because of the powerful grip of their jaws after the initial ranid tongue strike.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 8/6/15
Observation Time: 12:50 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond area
Common Name: American Carrion Beetle
Scientific Name: Necrophilia americana
Comments: From spring through fall, during daylight, a few hours after flies begin arriving at a carcass, the adult beetles will arrive as well. They immediately begin eating the already hatching fly larvae, mating, and laying their own eggs. As long as the carcass lasts, the adults will remain eating competitors to give their own larvae a chance to eat and grow. Upon hatching from the eggs, the larvae will eat both the carcass and other larvae that are within it. Eventually the larvae will fall to the ground, dig into the dirt, and pupate. Overwintering is done by adults.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 10/18/12
Observation Time: 2:15 p.m.
Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (front yard)
Common Name: American Copper Butterfly
Scientific Name: Lycaena phlaeas
Comments: This small but colorful butterfly can be seen all summer and into the fall.
More Information: Butterflies and Moths
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/12/12
Observation Time: 6:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Furnace St. under high tension wires
Common Name: American Copper Butterfly
Scientific Name: Lycaena phlaeas
Comments: This individual was chasing another to mate.
More Information: Butterflies and Moths
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/21/14
Observation Time: 1:20 p.m.
Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond dam
Common Name: American Copper Butterfly
Scientific Name: Lycaena phlaeas
Comments: Like many small butterflies, the American copper
is a stunning sight when viewed up close.
More Information: Butterflies and Moths
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 12/12/09
Observation Time: 11:40 a.m.
Observation Location: Wolomolopoag Street (Ward’s Barry Farm)
Common Name: American Crow (mutant)
Scientific Name: Corvus brachyrhynchos
Comments: This mutant crow has a few white feathers mingled among the normally black feathers.
More Information: All About Birds: White Crow
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/21/14
Observation Time: 10:15 a.m.
Observation Location: Billings Brook below the Gavins Pond Dam
Common Name: American eel
Scientific Name: Anguilla rostrata
Comments: American eels spawn in the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic Ocean. The larval eels, called glass eels because they are transparent, drift with the Gulf Stream up the east coast. They eventually metmorphose into worm-sized black elvers, which swim up coastal rivers all along the east coast. This eel came into Narragansett Bay and swam up the Taunton River and then up Billings Brook to Sharon. Eels mature for several years in fresh water. When they reach three or four feet in length, they turn into silver eels and migrate all the way back to the Sargasso Sea, where they spawn and die.
Note the dead sunfish in the photo. Pumping of Well #5 and Well #7 along Billings Brook upstream of Gavins Pond to provide water for lawn irrigation reduced flow in Billings Brook so much that water stopped spilling out of Gavins Pond. With no flow, the water in the pool below the dam stagnated so there was not enough dissolved oxygen for fish to survive.
More Information: Wikipedia
Following is the story of how eels were blocked by dams from swimming up rivers such as the Rio Grande, but mysteriously reappeared in the Rio Grande in the early 1980s.
I was the one who put them there. I was the manager of a fish farm in Alamosa, CO from 1977 to 1980. We decided to try to grow eels and export them to Japan where they are considered a delicacy. I flew to North Carolina where I caught a bunch of elvers and brought them back to the fish farm in Alamosa. We tried to grow them but they escaped to the nearby Rio Grande.
Weisbart’s fish farm in Alamosa, Colorado
elvers imported to Alamosa from North Carolina in 1979
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 8/25/08
Observation Time: 10:00 a.m.
Observation Location: Beaver Brook near the outbound train station
Common Name: American eel
Scientific Name: Anguilla rostrata
Comments: American eels spawn in the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic Ocean. The larval eels, called glass eels because they are transparent, drift with the Gulf Stream up the east coast. They eventually metmorphose into worm-sized black elvers, which swim up coastal rivers all along the east coast. This eel came into Boston Harbor and swam up the Neponset River and then up Beaver Brook to Sharon. Eels mature for several years in fresh water. When they reach three or four feet in length, they turn into silver eels and migrate back to the Sargasso Sea, where they spawn and die.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/13/15
Observation Time: 9:35 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: American Goldfinch
Scientific Name: Spinus tristis
Comments: One of Sharon’s most striking – and most common – songbirds. Goldfinches are frequent visitors to bird feeders.
More Information: Audubon Guide to N. American Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/15/20
Observation Time: 9:35 a.m.
Observation Location: Flume house near the Lake Massapoag boat ramp
Common Name: American Goldfinch (male)
Scientific Name: Carduelis tristis
Comments: This common finch travels in groups. Its song sounds like “per-chick-o-ree, per-chick-o-ree” interspersed with an occasional mewing sound.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/23/16
Observation Time: 8:50 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: American Goldfinch
Scientific Name: Carduelis tristis
Comments: This common finch travels in groups. Its song sounds like “per-chick-o-ree, per-chick-o-ree” interspersed with an occasional mewing sound.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Josh Simons
Observation Date: 6/25/11
Observation Time: 1:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill area
Common Name: American Goldfinch
Scientific Name: Carduelis tristis
Comments: The first photo is of a female; the second a male.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/19/19
Observation Time: 6:55 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: American Goldfinch (male)
Scientific Name: Carduelis tristis
Comments: This common finch travels in groups. Its song sounds like “per-chick-o-ree, per-chick-o-ree” interspersed with an occasional mewing sound.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 10/5/12
Observation Time: 3:55 p.m.
Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road
Common Name: American Lady Butterfly
Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis
Comments: This American Lady butterfly was feeding on Nippon daisies blooming in our garden. There was also a Painted Lady butterfly, which looks very similar, but has four small spots on the undersides of its trailing wings instead of the American Lady’s two large ones.
More Information: BugGuide
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/12/12
Observation Time: 6:15 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near Well #5
Common Name: American Lady Butterfly
Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis
Comments: American lady butterflies (V. virginiensis) have two large eyespots on the underside of the hind wing, whereas similar-looking painted lady butterflies (V. cardui) have four small eyespots. This individual was feeding on a flowering shrub.
More Information: See Butterflies and Moths of North America.
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/26/19
Observation Time: 1:15 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate)
Common Name: American Lady butterfly
Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis
Comments: American Lady butterflies look a lot like Painted Lady butterflies. The American Lady has two large spots on the undersides of its trailing wings. The Painted Lady has four smaller spots instead. This Amerian Lady was visiting a mud puddle, but it flew off before I could get a better photo.
More Information: BugGuide
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/27/19
Observation Time: 5:20 p.m.
Observation Location: under the high tension wires across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm
Common Name: American Lady butterfly
Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis
Comments: American Lady butterflies look a lot like Painted Lady butterflies. The American Lady has two large spots on the undersides of its trailing wings. The Painted Lady has four smaller spots instead. This Amerian Lady was visiting a mud puddle, but it flew off before I could get a better photo.
More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/24/11
Observation Time: 2:15 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond
Common Name: American Lady Butterfly
Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis
Comments: American Lady butterflies have two distinctive eyespots on the brown underside of the lower wings. The upper sides of the wings are orange and black.
More Information: See: http://bugguide.net/node/view/236368
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/11/15
Observation Time: 2:35 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond
Common Name: American Lady butterfly
Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis
Comments: American Lady butterflies look a lot like Painted Lady butterflies. The American Lady has two large spots on the undersides of its trailing wings. The Painted Lady has four smaller spots instead. This Amerian Lady was feeding on a spotted knapweed blossom.
More Information: BugGuide
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 8/18/20
Observation Time: 11:40 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate)
Common Name: American Lady butterfly
Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis
Comments: American Lady butterflies look a lot like Painted Lady butterflies. The American Lady has two large spots on the undersides of its trailing wings. The Painted Lady has four smaller spots instead. This Amerian Lady was feeding on a blossom of a Joe Pye weed.
More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/11/23
Observation Time: 8:00 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: American redstart
Scientific Name: Setophaga ruticilla
Comments: Redstarts are members of the warbler family. Their song is variable, and can be confused with the songs of some other warblers. See: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/16/15
Observation Time: 8:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: American redstart
Scientific Name: Setophaga ruticilla
Comments: Redstarts are members of the warbler family. Their song is variable, and can be confused with the songs of some other warblers. See: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/17/20
Observation Time: 9:00 a.m.
Observation Location: wooded trail near Gavins Pond
Common Name: American redstart
Scientific Name: Setophaga ruticilla
Comments: Redstarts are members of the warbler family. Their song is variable, and can be confused with the songs of some other warblers. See: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Josh Simons
Observation Date: 5/31/20
Observation Time: 2:15 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill area
Common Name: American Robin
Scientific Name: Turdus migratorius
Comments: Robins eat different types of food depending on the time of day: more earthworms in the morning and more fruit later in the day. Because the robin forages largely on lawns, it is vulnerable to pesticide poisoning and can be an important indicator of chemical pollution.
Although robins are considered harbingers of spring, many American Robins spend the whole winter in their breeding range. But because they spend more time roosting in trees and less time in your yard, you’re much less likely to see them. The number of robins present in the northern parts of the range varies each year with the local conditions.
Robins eat a lot of fruit in fall and winter. When they eat honeysuckle berries exclusively, they sometimes become intoxicated.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/2/10
Observation Time: 6:05 p.m.
Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road
Common Name: American Robin (eggs)
Scientific Name: Turdus migratorius
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: James Berkland
Observation Date: 6/20/14
Observation Location: 161 Upland Street
Common Name: American Robin (leucistic)
Scientific Name: Turdus migratorius
More Information: All About Birds: Color Variations
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/26/14
Observation Time: 11:50 p.m.
Observation Location: Borderland State Park
Common Name: American Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus
Comments: Toads eat insects, so whenever I find one, I release it in my garden.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/17/13
Observation Time: 4:15 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam
Common Name: American Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus
More Information: Wikipedia
Baby toad nearby:
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/16/10
Observation Time: 9:55 a.m.
Observation Location: near Gavins Pond
Common Name: American Toad (juvenile)
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus
Comments: Note toe of shoe in photo to get an idea of the small size of this toad.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 9/13/09
Observation Time: 2:30 p.m.
Observation Location: Bay Circuit Trail near Gorwin Drive
Common Name: American Toad
Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus
Comments: Notice how well this toad is camouflaged.
More Information: Animal Diversity Web
Observer: Vin Zollo
Observation Date: 5/30/13
Observation Time: 10:45 a.m.
Observation Location: Lake Massapoag
Common Name: American White Pelican
Scientific Name: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Comments: Originally spotted by Valerie White while canoeing on the lake. This is a rare bird in Massachusetts and a possible first record for Norfolk County. It was there for about a day and a half. Phone-scoped picture.
Another photo can be found on Flickr.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 3/11/10
Observation Time: 5:45 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road across the street from the soccer fields
Common Name: American Woodcock
Scientific Name: Scolopax minor
Comments: The “peents” began at 5:45. The spectacular mating flights began about 6:00 p.m. They will continue every evening at dusk (getting later as the days grow longer) for another month or so. Call me at 781-784-2986 for more particulars on when and where to observe the woodcock mating flight.
Youtube video of woodcock mating flight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta1fxy0MR2c&t=6s
Youtube video of woodcocks “waltzing”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSh9Shgwc5o
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Richard Mandell
Observation Date: 3/9/20
Observation Time: afternoon
Observation Location: 580 Mountain St.
Common Name: American Woodcock
Scientific Name: Scolopax minor
Comments: Woodcocks are also called timberdoodles. They nest on the ground, and are very well camouflaged.
Youtube video of woodcock mating flight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta1fxy0MR2c&t=6s
Youtube video of woodcocks “waltzing”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSh9Shgwc5o
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Richard Mandell
Observation Date: 5/24/19
Observation Time: afternoon
Observation Location: 580 Mountain St.
Common Name: American Woodcock
Scientific Name: Scolopax minor
Comments: Woodcocks are also called timberdoodles. They nest on the ground, and are very well camouflaged.
Youtube video of woodcock mating flight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta1fxy0MR2c&t=6s
Youtube video of woodcocks “waltzing”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSh9Shgwc5o
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/19/13
Observation Time: 4:50 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond area
Common Name: Appalachian Brown Butterfly
Scientific Name: Satyrodes appalachia
Comments: Easily confused with Eyed Brown Butterfly (Satyrodes eurydice). See: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Satyrodes-eurydice&sp2=Satyrodes-appalachia
More Information: Mass Audubon
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/21/10
Observation Time: 10:40 a.m.
Observation Location: Beaver Brook near tennis courts
Common Name: Aurora Damsel
Scientific Name: Chromagrion conditum
Comments: When perched, the aurora damsel keeps its wings spread, unlike other damselflies that fold their wings above their abdomens.
More Information: Visiting Nature
Observer: Jeff Tatro
Observation Date: 1/19/09
Observation Time: 4:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Lake Massapoag shore, 100 yd SSE of Yacht Club Beach
Common Name: Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Comments: Adult, big guy, plumage very clear. Perched 35 ft up in a tree, then took light toward Community Ctr. Positive ID!
More Information: Boidnoise: Adult Bald Eagle Call
Observer: Deborah Radovsky
Observation Date: 1/4/23
Observation Time: 3:15
Observation Location: Massapoag Ave, near Massapoag Lane, in a tree on edge of lake
Common Name: Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Comments: This is a juvenile, between 3-4 years of age. Bald eagles can live a long time. The oldest recorded bird in the wild was at least 38 years old when it was hit and killed by a car in New York in 2015. It had been banded in the same state in 1977.
The largest bald eagle nest on record, in St. Petersburg, Florida, was 2.9 meters in diameter and 6.1 meters tall. Another famous nest—in Vermilion, Ohio—was shaped like a wine glass and weighed almost two metric tons. It was used for 34 years until the tree blew down.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Faith Berkland
Observation Date: 10/29/18
Observation Time: 8:00 AM
Observation Location: 302 Mansfield Street
Common Name: Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Comments:
More Information: http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/
Observer: Todd Arnold
Observation Date: 11/30/18
Observation Time: 10:45 a.m.
Observation Location: Lake Massapoag
Common Name: Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Comments: Large bird with white head and tail feathers spotted over Lake Massapoag. Unquestionably a bald eagle, it was seen riding the thermals before the clouds rolled in and covered the sun. Could this one be scouting a good spot to nest? Or was it just looking for something in the lake to eat?
More Information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_eagle
Observer: Alison Siegel
Observation Date: 12/20/09
Observation Time: noon
Observation Location: Lakeview St.
Common Name: Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Comments: While drinking hot chocolate after a morning of sledding, four of us clearly saw a bald eagle fly over our backyard. It was flying from Lake Massapoag toward the woods.
More Information: All About Birds: Bald Eagle
Observer: Bonnie Tate
Observation Date: 12/30/13
Observation Time: 3:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Massapoag
Common Name: Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Comments: Eating carrion on the lake just beyond Pond St. on Massapoag Ave.
More Information: Boidnoise: Adult Bald Eagle Call
Observer: Ken Weiner
Observation Date: 2/19/10
Observation Time: 2:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Chessman Drive, Sharon
Common Name: Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Comments: Definite ID from about 200 ft away. Eagle was flying. Possibly a second eagle further away. Did not get picture.
More Information: All About Birds: Bald Eagle
Observer: Ilan Fisher
Observation Date: 2/24/09
Observation Time: 3:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Lake Massapoag
Common Name: Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
More Information: All About Birds: Bald Eagle
Observer: Carol Moawed
Observation Date: 3/20/13
Observation Time: 11:15 a.m.
Observation Location: Massapoag, near entrance to community
center
Common Name: Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Comments: He was flying down near the edge of lake, it looked like he was going after something on the edge of the lake. I was shocked and thrilled to see him.
More Information: Boidnoise: Adult Bald Eagle Call
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 4/2/11
Observation Time: 4:15 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond soccer field parking lot
Common Name: Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Comments: Adult with white head and tail. Very distinctive!
More Information: Boidnoise: Adult Bald Eagle Call
Observer: Deborah Radovsky
Observation Date: 6/14/22
Observation Time: morning
Observation Location: In tree along edge of lake, Massapoag Ave near Potter Avenue
Common Name: Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Comments: Bald eagles can live a long time. The oldest recorded bird in the wild was at least 38 years old when it was hit and killed by a car in New York in 2015. It had been banded in the same state in 1977.
The largest bald eagle nest on record, in St. Petersburg, Florida, was 2.9 meters in diameter and 6.1 meters tall. Another famous nest—in Vermilion, Ohio—was shaped like a wine glass and weighed almost two metric tons. It was used for 34 years until the tree blew down.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Richard Kramer
Observation Date: 6/4/19
Observation Time: noon
Observation Location: Lake Massapoag
Common Name: Bald Eagle
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Comments: Bald eagles can live a long time. The oldest recorded bird in the wild was at least 38 years old when it was hit and killed by a car in New York in 2015. It had been banded in the same state in 1977.
The largest bald eagle nest on record, in St. Petersburg, Florida, was 2.9 meters in diameter and 6.1 meters tall. Another famous nest—in Vermilion, Ohio—was shaped like a wine glass and weighed almost two metric tons. It was used for 34 years until the tree blew down.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Ilan Fisher
Observation Date: 2/18/09
Observation Time: Early afternoon
Observation Location: Lake Massapoag across from Arboro Drive
Common Name: Bald Eagle & Deer
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Comments: A young bald eagle feeds on a deer carcass on the ice.
More Information: All About Birds: Bald Eagle
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/30/20
Observation Time: 4:30 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Bald-faced Hornet
Scientific Name: Dolichovespula maculata
Comments: The bald-faced hornet is related to yellowjacket wasps, and is not a true hornet. Its colloquial names include bald hornet, white-faced hornet, white-tailed hornet, spruce wasp, blackjacket, and bull wasp.
Bald-faced hornets are social insects and are most active during the day. They live in colonies of up to 700 members. Bald-faced hornets build paper carton nests in the area of the queen’s choosing, typically three or more feet off the ground, and usually in trees, shrubs, on overhangs, utility poles, houses, sheds or other structures. These nests can be as large as 14 inches in diameter and more than 24 inches in length. The individual in the photos below seemed to be chewing at the dead wood – perhaps to make nest-building wood pulp.
Bald-faced hornets usually appear in late summer. Males emerge from unfertilized eggs and impregnate the new females for the next season at the end of the summer. The inseminated insects are the only ones that overwinter, while the remaining members of the nest die off, and the process repeats the next spring and summer. Unlike other stinging insects, bald-faced hornets do not reuse their nests season after season. The new colony members rebuild them each year from new materials.
Bald-faced hornets are aggressive and will attack anyone who invades their space, unlike other stinging insects that only rarely sting when they feel threatened. Removal of a bald-faced hornet nest is dangerous, and should be left to a professional. These hornets have smooth stingers, so they can sting repeatedly, whereas other stinging insects, like honeybees, are only able to attack once before their stinger falls off.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Richard Mandell
Observation Date: November, 2018
Observation Time: N/A
Observation Location: 280 Mountain Street
Common Name: Bald-faced Hornet
Scientific Name: Dolichovespula maculata
Comments: The bald-faced hornet is related to yellowjacket wasps, and is not a true hornet. Its colloquial names include bald hornet, white-faced hornet, white-tailed hornet, spruce wasp, blackjacket, and bull wasp.
Bald-faced hornets are social insects and are most active during the day. They live in colonies of up to 700 members. Bald-faced hornets build paper carton nests in the area of the queen’s choosing, typically three or more feet off the ground, and usually in trees, shrubs, on overhangs, utility poles, houses, sheds or other structures. These nests can be as large as 14 inches in diameter and more than 24 inches in length.
Bald-faced hornets usually appear in late summer. Males emerge from unfertilized eggs and impregnate the new females for the next season at the end of the summer. The inseminated insects are the only ones that overwinter, while the remaining members of the nest die off, and the process repeats the next spring and summer. Unlike other stinging insects, bald-faced hornets do not reuse their nests season after season. The new colony members rebuild them each year from new materials.
Bald-faced hornets are aggressive and will attack anyone who invades their space, unlike other stinging insects that only rarely sting when they feel threatened. Removal of a bald-faced hornet nest is dangerous, and should be left to a professional. These hornets have smooth stingers, so they can sting repeatedly, whereas other stinging insects, like honeybees, are only able to attack once before their stinger falls off.
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/25/15
Observation Time: 2:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Town-owned land at Morse and Lakeview Streets
Common Name: Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly
Scientific Name: Euphydryas phaeton
Comments: This field experienced a population explosion of Baltimore Checkerspot butterflies. All phases could be found at the same time: eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises and adults.
More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club
Eggs:
Caterpillar:
Caterpillar weaving cocoon:
Chrysalis:
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/7/18
Observation Time: 2:35 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR)
Common Name: Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly
Scientific Name: Euphydryas phaeton
Comments: I saw just one Baltimore checkerspot among other butterfly species feeding on dogbane blossoms.
More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club
Observer: Josh Simons
Observation Date: 11/21/12
Observation Time: 9:00 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill area
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: I’m told this is an immature male oriole. Unusual to see in November.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/10/12
Observation Time: 7:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: First I heard the flutelike call, and then I spotted the brilliant orange oriole in an oak tree just pushing out its first leaves of spring. Even though it was 7:00 p.m. and the sun was low, the bird fairly glowed. I wonder how such a gaudy creature manages to escape the notice of hawks.
Orioles weave hanging nests, and feed on fruit, nectar and insects. They have a counterpart in the tropics called a troupial, which is slightly larger, but sings an uncannily similar song.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Josh Simons
Observation Date: 5/12/20
Observation Time: 3:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill area
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: The oriole’s flutelike call is quite distinctive, once you know what to listen for.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/12/23
Observation Time: 6:05 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon WIldlife Sanctuary (Billings Loop near the barn)
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: A pair of orioles has woven a hanging nest in one of the two huge sugar maple trees near the Billings Loop barn. Those two sugar
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Josh Simons
Observation Date: 5/13/23
Observation Time: 4:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Parkway
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: Baltimore Orioles seek out ripe fruit. Cut oranges in half and hang them from trees to invite orioles into your yard. Special oriole feeders filled with sugar water supplement the flower nectar that Baltimore Orioles gather. You can even put out small amounts of jelly to attract these nectar-eaters (just don’t put out so much that it risks soiling their feathers). Planting bright fruits and nectar-bearing flowers, such as raspberries, crab apples, and trumpet vines, can attract Baltimore Orioles year after year. Find out more about what this bird likes to eat and what feeder is best by using the Project FeederWatch Common Feeder Birds bird list.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/14/14
Observation Time: 2:20 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: Orioles weave a unique hanging nest.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/14/15
Observation Time: 6:45
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: Baltimore orioles are among the most brightly colored birds found in Sharon. They weave remarkable hanging nests.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/26/19
Observation Time: 3:40 p.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate)
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: I heard this oriole’s flutelike call before I spotted it.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/6/15
Observation Time: 2:30 p.m.
Observation Location: tree near Gavins Pond
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: I heard this oriole’s flutelike call before I spotted it. You can listen to a recording of an oriole’s song at: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Baltimore_Oriole/sounds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/8/23
Observation Time: 8:45 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon WIldlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: The oriole’s flutelike call is quite distinctive, once you know what to listen for. I heard this oriole before I saw it.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Punitha Hanumantha
Observation Date: 5/25/23
Observation Time: 5:00 p.m.
Observation Location: Fales Rd., Sharon
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole (female or immature male)
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: Baltimore Orioles seek out ripe fruit. Cut oranges in half and hang them from trees to invite orioles into your yard. Special oriole feeders filled with sugar water supplement the flower nectar that Baltimore Orioles gather. You can even put out small amounts of jelly to attract these nectar-eaters (just don’t put out so much that it risks soiling their feathers). Planting bright fruits and nectar-bearing flowers, such as raspberries, crab apples, and trumpet vines, can attract Baltimore Orioles year after year. Find out more about what this bird likes to eat and what feeder is best by using the Project FeederWatch Common Feeder Birds bird list.
More information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/13/19
Observation Time: 7:00 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole (female)
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: Baltimore oriole females are much drabber than the bright-orange males. This acrobatic individual seemed to be eating the petals of this flowering crabapple tree.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/16/20
Observation Time: 7:35 a.m.
Observation Location: parking area at Gavins Pond soccer fields
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole (female)
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: I spotted this female oriole as I was about to get into the car and leave. Nature finds you if you spend time outside, especially in a town like Sharon with plenty of natural open spaces and trails.
The oriole’s flutelike call is quite distinctive, once you know what to listen for.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/9/23
Observation Time: 6:50 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon WIldlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: This oriole was building its hanging nest in one of the huge sugar maple trees near the barn on the Billings Loop.
More Information: All About Birds
This last photo was taken on 5/11/23. The nest is almost complete in just two days!
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/12/16
Observation Time: 7:50 a.m.
Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: Baltimore orioles are among the most brightly colored birds found in Sharon. They weave remarkable hanging nests.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 5/19/20
Observation Time: 11:10 a.m.
Observation Location: under the high tension lines across the street from the Gavins Pond soccer fields
Common Name: Baltimore Oriole
Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Comments: The oriole’s flutelike call is quite distinctive, once you know what to listen for.
More Information: All About Birds
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 7/4/13
Observation Time: 8:30 a.m.
Observation Location: Gavins Pond area
Common Name: Band-winged Meadowhawk dragonfly
Scientific Name: Sympetrum semicinctum
More Information: Wikipedia
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 6/26/15
Observation Time: 4:30 p.m.
Observation Location: Town-owned land at Morse and Lakeview Streets
Common Name: Banded Hairstreak butterfly
Scientific Name: Satyrium calanus
Comments: This small butterfly was feeding on milkweed blossoms. Banded hairstreaks are very similar to striped hairstreaks. The blue marginal spot on the hind wing is capped with orange in the striped hairstreak but not in the banded hairstreak.
More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club
Observer: Paul Lauenstein
Observation Date: 8/6/11
Observation Time: 8:10 a.m.
Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (back yard)
Common Name: Banded Net-Winged Beetle
Scientific Name: Calopteron discrepans
Comments: This colorful beetle is found throughout the eastern U.S. Its bright color and contrast warn predators that they taste bad if eaten.
More Information: University of Florida
