sighting – Page 4 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Common Ringlet butterfly – 6/2/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/11 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer field parking lot Common Name: Common Ringlet butterfly Scientific Name: Coenonympha tullia Comments: Ringlets can be found in a variety of grassy habitats, including roadsides, woodland edges and clearings, prairies, bogs, and arctic and alpine taiga and tundra. It is a poor flyer, but can sometimes be found along […]

Bird’s Foot Violet – 5/12/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/11 Observation Time: 8:15 a.m. Observation Location: meadow near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Bird’s Foot Violet Scientific Name: Viola pedata Comments: The leaves of this pretty wildflower are reminiscent of bird’s feet. Not a common violet locally, only one site in Blue Hills. Likes dry sandy soils; has also been spotted in woods north of Knollwood Cemetery in Sharon. More Information: US Wildflowers […]

Red Admiral butterfly – 5/7/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/7/11 Observation Time: 11:40 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Red Admiral butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa atalanta Comments: Red Admirals prefer sap flows on trees, fermenting fruit, and bird droppings; visiting flowers only when these are not available. Then they will nectar at common milkweed, red clover, aster, and alfalfa, among others. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of […]

Bald Eagle – 4/2/11

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

Garter Snake – 3/17/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/17/11 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: Coach Lane Common Name: Garter Snake Scientific Name: Thamnophis sirtalis Comments: This is a common snake. It is harmless. More Information: Wikipedia Back to the Sightings List

Pickerel Frog – 8/20/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/20/10 Observation Time: 7:45 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Pickerel Frog Scientific Name: Rana palustris Comments: The skin secretions of a stressed pickerel frog are known to be toxic to other frogs, as many a novice frog catcher has found when he finds only the pickerel frogs still alive in his bucket. These secretions can also be […]

Belted Kingfisher – 8/3/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/3/10 Observation Time: 9:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Belted Kingfisher Scientific Name: Megaceryle alcyon Comments: A pair of belted kingfishers were diving simultaneously several times into Gavins Pond. The bottom photo shows the splash of the kingfisher diving in. Kingfishers nest in burrows on the banks of ponds and rivers. More Information: University of Massachusetts

American Bullfrog – 7/16/10

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 […]

American Chestnut tree – 6/24/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/24/10 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook near tennis courts Common Name: American Chestnut Tree Scientific Name: Castanea dentata Comments: The term “dentata” in the scientific name refers to the “teeth” around the edges of the leaves. American chestnut trees were decimated by chestnut blight. Remnant root systems continue to send up shoots such as those shown in […]

Milk Snake – 6/3/10

Observer: Kate Kavanagh Observation Date: 6/3/10 Observation Time: 4:15 p.m. Observation Location: South Pleasant Street Common Name: Milk Snake Scientific Name: Lampropeltis triangulum Comments: This beautiful snake was slowly moving along the foundation of the house in the front garden bed. Disappeared into the gap behind the front step. Sadly, I was not fast enough with my camera. More Information: UMass Amherst Natural Resources and […]

Pearl Crescent butterfly – 5/30/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/10 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Pearl Crescent butterfly Scientific Name: Phyciodes tharos Comments: The pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos) is a butterfly of North America. It is found in all parts of the United States except the west coast, and throughout Mexico and parts of southern Canada, in particular Ontario. Its habitat […]

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly – 5/30/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/10 Observation Time: 3:50 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: Females are dimorphic. The yellow morph differs from the male in having a blue postmedian area on the dorsal hindwing. In the dark morph, the areas that are normally yellow are replaced with dark gray or black. More […]

Viceroy Butterfly – 5/21/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/21/10 Observation Time: 8:20 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Viceroy Butterfly Scientific Name: Limenitis archippus Comments: Smaller than a monarch, with a characteristic black line across the hind wings. More Information: NatureWorks

American Woodcock – 3/11/10

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 […]

Bald Eagle – 2/19/10

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

Bald Eagle – 12/20/09

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

Wood Frog – 9/13/09

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/13/09 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Mass Bay Circuit Trail near Borderland State Park Common Name: Wood Frog Scientific Name: Rana sylvatica Comments: Very well camouflaged in center of photo. In case you were wondering how frogs survive the winter, check out this 2-minute time-lapse video of a frozen wood frog thawing out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofSdw5V21Ek More Information: Wikipedia

Green Frogs – 5/21/09

Observer: Rick Dumont Observation Date: 5/21/09 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Massapoag Sportsmen’s Club, Belcher St. Common Name: Green Frog Scientific Name: Lithobates clamitans Comments: This is one of our most familiar frogs and is found statewide. It has a green face and a green-brown body, and a ridge running down each of its sides. This species prefers permanent or semipermanent water bodies, eating whatever […]

Bald Eagle – 2/24/09

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

Bald Eagle & Deer – 2/18/09

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

Black-capped Chickadee – 2/15/09

Observer: Will Sweet Observation Date: 2/15/09 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Backyard Common Name: Black-capped Chickadee Scientific Name: Poecile atricapillus Comments: The chickadees were knocking the Pine Siskins off of the thistle feeders. More Information: Whatbird.com

Bald Eagle – 1/19/09

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

Barred Owl – 11/14/08

Observer: Randi Simons Observation Date: 11/14/08 Observation Time: Mid-afternoon Observation Location: Moose Hill Parkway, Mass. Audubon conservation land Common Name: Barred Owl Scientific Name: Strix varia Comments: This owl sat on a branch close to the road for an hour or more, not bothered by people watching close by or by chickadees constantly scolding. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”

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