Category: Bird

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/3/20 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: pine woods by Gavins Pond Common Name: Palm Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga palmarum Comments: Palm warblers pass through Sharon in late April and early May on their northward migration. They sometimes mingle with other species of warblers. This one was in the company of a yellow-rumped warbler and a black-and-white warbler. You can monitor the bird […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/3/20 Observation Time: 9:50 a.m. Observation Location: woods near Gavins Pond Common Name: Yellow-rumped warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga coronata Comments: The western sub-species of yellow-rumped warbler has a bright yellow throat. The eastern sub-species, also known as a myrtle warbler, has a white throat. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/2/20 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (my back yard) Common Name: Pine Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga pinus Comments: Pine warblers are typically found in pine groves. Many warbler species migrate through Sharon in May on their way to nesting areas farther north, but pine warblers nest here in Sharon, and can be found here all summer. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/2/20 Observation Time: 12:50 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (in my back yard) Common Name: Tufted Titmouse Scientific Name: Baeolophus bicolor Comments: Tufted titmice are abundant in the woods in Sharon. They are often encountered in the company of chickadees. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/2/20 Observation Time: 7:45 a.m. Observation Location: Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: House Finch Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: Male house finches have reddish coloration on their head and breast. Females are brown. Both have a heavy, conical beak for cracking seeds open. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/2/20 Observation Time: 6:15 a.m. Observation Location: near wetlands downstream of Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Yellow Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga petechia Comments: The yellow warbler is typically found near wetlands. It has a song that sounds like, “sweet-sweet-sweet-little more sweet.” More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/25/20 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: Conservation land at Lakeview St. & Morse St. Common Name: Carolina Wren Scientific Name: Thryothorus ludovicianus Comments: The Carolina Wren is sensitive to cold weather, with the northern populations decreasing markedly after severe winters. Global warming might be responsible for the northward range expansion seen in the late-1900s and early 2000’s. A pair bond may form between […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/25/20 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Eastern Bluebird Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Comments: The Sharon Friends of Conservation maintains some bluebird nesting boxes at this site. Volunteers monitor these nesting boxes and keep track of the bluebirds’ nesting activities. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/20/20 Observation Time: 9:10 a.m. Observation Location: conservation land near Lakeview & Morse Common Name: Turkey Vulture Scientific Name: Cathartes aura Comments: Turkey vultures are gliders. They ride thermal updrafts, so they rarely need to flap their wings. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/17/20 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: conservation land near Morse & Lakeview Common Name: Eastern Bluebird Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Comments: The Sharon Friends of Conservation maintains six bluebird nesting boxes at this site. Most of them are occupied by tree swallows. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/15/20 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Sandy Ridge Circle Common Name: Northern Flicker Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus Comments: Flickers are woodpeckers, but they are unusual in that they eat ants and beetles on the ground. They are sometimes called yellow-shafted flickers.  More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/15/20 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Sandy Ridge Circle Common Name: Downy Woodpecker Scientific Name: Dendrocopos pubescens Comments: Dendrocopos means “tree dagger” and “pubescens” refers to its downy hairs of puberty compared to those of the Hairy woodpecker, D. villosus. [The Dictionary of American Bird Names by Ernest A. Choate] More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/15/20 Observation Time: 1:15 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Sandy Ridge Circle Common Name: Tufted Titmouse Scientific Name: Baeolophus bicolor Comments: Tufted titmice are abundant in the woods in Sharon. They are often encountered in the company of chickadees. 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: Ilan Fisher Observation Date: 3/8/20 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Car Shop Pond Common Name: Hooded merganser Scientific Name: Lophodytes cucullatus Comments: Check out the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnoGijQwyvw More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Ilan Fisher Observation Date: 3/8/20 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Lake Massapoag (near Harding St. & Beach St.) Common Name: Bufflehead Scientific Name: Bucephala albeola Comments: Shot a bit of video to go with previous days’ sightings at same location. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdOIPxBSs1g More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Ilan Fisher Observation Date: 3/5/20 Observation Time: 3:30 p.m. Observation Location: Lake Massapoag (south end, off Beach St.) Common Name: Mute Swan Scientific Name: Cygnus olor Comments: I saw five of these guys cruising by the lake. Sorry, no photo. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 2/25/20 Observation Time: 12:50 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audbon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Tufted Titmouse Scientific Name: Baeolophus bicolor Comments: This tufted titmouse was feeding at the bird feeder by the Moose Hill Audubon headquarters. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 2/25/20 Observation Time: 12:30 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

Observer: Rita Corey Observation Date: 6/23/19 Observation Time: 3:30 p.m. Observation Location: 282 Mountain Street (back yard) Common Name: Eastern Bluebird Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Comments: This bluebird was checking out the bluebird house. Note that the entrance hole has been gnawed by a squirrel. The extra piece of wood that’s attached around the hole makes it harder for squirrels to enlarge the hole enough to get […]

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 […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: in the wetlands beneath the power lines across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Yellow warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga petechia Comments: The yellow warbler has a song that sounds like, “sweet-sweet-sweet little more sweet.” It is typically found near wetlands. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: in the wetlands beneath the power lines across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Song Sparrow Scientific Name: Melospiza melodia Comments: There are at least 18 species of sparrows in Massachusetts. Learning their respective calls is a good way to find and identify them. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 2:40 p.m. Observation Location: Rocky bluff under power lines near So. Walpole Street Common Name: Field Sparrow Scientific Name: Spizella pusilla Comments: Field sparrows have a relatively long tail, a thin white eye ring, and a pinkish conical bill. They have a gray face and a rust-colored cap. However, the best way to tell them apart from other sparrows is […]