sighting – Page 3 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Bald Eagle – 12/30/13

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

Belted Kingfisher – 9/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/9/13 Observation Time: 2:05 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Belted Kingfisher Scientific Name: Megaceryle alcyon Comments: These charismatic birds dive for fish. Believe it or not, they nest in burrows on the banks of streams and ponds. More Information: University of Massachusetts

Viceroy butterfly – 7/17/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/17/13 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area near soccer parking area Common Name: Viceroy butterfly Scientific Name: Limenitis archippus Comments: This butterfly is smaller than the famous migrating monarchs, and the black markings are different. Note the black line on the hind wings. Monarchs do not have this line. More Information: NatureWorks

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly – 7/17/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/17/13 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (back yard) Common Name: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: As I was picking raspberries in the garden, I saw this gorgeous butterfly, so I ran inside and grabbed my camera. More Information: Wikipedia

Wood Nymph butterfly – 7/13/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/13 Observation Time: 11:05 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Wood Nymph butterfly Scientific Name: Cercyonis pegala Comments: Note the “pink earth” lichen in the background of the upper photo. More information: Mass Audubon Butterfly Atlas

Band-winged Meadowhawk dragonfly – 7/4/13

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

Black and White Warbler (female) – 5/16/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/16/13 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black and White Warbler (female) Scientific Name: Mniotilta varia Comments: Black and white warblers creep along tree trunks and branches foraging for insects. Their high-pitched squeaky song sounds like a wheel turning that needs to be oiled. More Information: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-and-white_Warbler/overview

Black-capped Chickadee – 4/26/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/26/13 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black-capped Chickadee Scientific Name: Poecile atricapillus Comments: Chickadees are one of Sharon’s most common birds. They often travel in groups that sometimes include tufted titmouse. With patience, chickadees can be trained to eat sunflower seeds out of your hand! More Information: All About Birds

Bald Eagle – 3/20/13

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

American Lady Butterfly – 10/5/12

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 […]

Wood Nymph Butterfly – 8/25/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/25/12 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road – soccer field parking lot Common Name: Wood Nymph butterfly Scientific Name: Cercyonis pegala Comments: This striking wood nymph butterfly was a challenge to photograph, but with persistence I was able to get close enough to get this shot. More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly – 7/13/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/12 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Soccer parking area by Gavins Pond Common Name: Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Everes comyntas More Information: Northwest Ohio Nature

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly – 5/19/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/12 Observation Time: 5:30 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Cupido comyntas Comments: This individual lacks the orange spots usually seen at the base of the “tails” extending rearward from the hind wings. More Information: Butterflies and Moths

American Lady Butterfly – 5/12/12

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 […]

Brown Elfin Butterfly – 5/12/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/12 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Brown Elfin Butterfly Scientific Name: Callophrys augustinus Comments: This brown elfin was found in the same meadow of wild indigo as a rare frosted elfin butterfly. More Information: Butterflies and Moths

Red Admiral butterfly – 5/11/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/12 Observation Time: 5:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road area Common Name: Red Admiral butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa atalanta Comments: Several of these Red Admirals were chasing after each other in a sunny clearing along a wooded dirt road near Gavins Pond. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Spring Azure butterfly – 4/29/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/29/12 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Spring Azure butterfly Scientific Name: Genus Celastrina Comments: This is either Celastrina ladon or Celastrina lucia. Spring azures are small butterflies that emerge in early spring. The wings are blue on top and pale white with black spots on the bottom. This specimen is worn, faded and probably nearing the […]

Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly – 8/27/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/27/11 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Everes comyntas Comments: Eastern tailed blues are very small butterflies. They have tails and an eye spot on each wing that vaguely resemble antennae and eyes to fool predators. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly – 7/26/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/26/11 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: dirt road leading to the Gavins Pond dam Common Name:Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: This butterfly was so preoccupied with feeding on some decomposing organic matter that I was able to approach within a few inches to take this photo. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Great Spangled Fritillary – 7/16/11

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 7/16/11 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Great Spangled Fritillary Scientific Name: Speyeria cybele Comments: Easily confused with Aphrodite Fritillary – see: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Speyeria-cybele&sp2=Speyeria-aphrodite More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Northern Water Snake – 7/9/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/9/11 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Northern Water Snake Scientific Name: Nerodia sipedon Comments: Water snakes are not venomous, but they can be large (4 feet long or more, and as thick as a man’s wrist) and aggressive. This one was more interested in avoiding me than attacking me. More Information: Savannah River Ecology Laboratory The […]

American Goldfinch – 6/25/11

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

American Lady Butterfly – 6/24/11

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

Dusted Skipper Butterfly – 6/9/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/11 Observation Time: 3:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Dusted Skipper Butterfly Scientific Name: Atrytonopsis hianna More Information: BugGuide

Red-Spotted Purple butterfly – 6/5/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/5/11 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Kendall estate, Moose Hill Street Common Name: Red-spotted Purple butterfly Scientific Name: Limenitis arthemis astyanax Comments: The red-spotted purple butterfly is the same species as the white admiral butterfly. It is a North American species in the cosmopolitan genus Limenitis. It has been studied for its evolution of mimicry, and for the several […]

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