Category: Bird

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 […]

Observer: Vin Zollo Observation Date: 11/30/18 Observation Time: morning Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Red Crossbill Scientific Name: Loxia curvirostra Comments: The Red Crossbill is so dependent upon conifer seeds it even feeds them to its young. Consequently, it can breed any time it finds a sufficiently large cone crop, even in the depths of winter. A flock of about 20 red crossbills […]

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 11/25/18 Observation Time: 3:30 p.m. Observation Location: Lake Massapoag Common Name: Mute Swan Scientific Name: Cygnus olor Comments: juveniles (4) and adults. These graceful birds are native to Eurasia. They were introduced in North America in the late 19th century, and are now common here. Beware! Swans can be aggressive. They may attack if they feel threatened. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 11/24/18 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: in a tree at the edge of Lake Massapoag, near Beach St. Common Name: Belted Kingfisher Scientific Name: Megaceryle alcyon Comments: Kingfishers have also been sighted near the boat launch area and in the Gavins Pond area. They dive for small fish. They nest in burrows. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Ilan Fisher Observation Date: 6/12/2018 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: near Lake Massapoag Common Name: Common Grackle Scientific Name: Quiscalus quiscula Comments: I love this guy and he loves this feeder. With his yellow eyes and black cape, I call him “Count Gracula.” He is fun to watch. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 5/27/18 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm, Old Farm Trail Common Name: Indigo Bunting Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea Comments: Sometimes nicknamed “blue canaries,” these brilliantly colored yet common and widespread birds whistle their bouncy songs through the late spring and summer all over eastern North America. Look for Indigo Buntings in weedy fields and shrubby areas under power lines, singing from […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/25/18 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Worm-eating Warbler Scientific Name: Helmitheros vermivorum Comments: The worm-eating warbler is so-named because it eats caterpillars. It overwinters in Central America and Caribbean islands. Unlike most other warbler species that pass through Sharon on their spring and fall migrations to and from their breeding areas farther north, worm-eating warblers only migrate […]

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 5/24/18 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm, Powerline Trail Common Name: Indigo Bunting Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea Comments: Like all other blue birds, Indigo Buntings lack blue pigment. Their jewel-like color comes instead from microscopic structures in the feathers that refract and reflect blue light, much like the airborne particles that cause the sky to look blue. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/24/18 Observation Time: 8:10 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Magnolia Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga magnolia Comments: Magnolia warblers are striking birds, but they are hard to photograph because they don’t hold still. Warblers migrate through Sharon in late April through May, feeding primarily on insects and spiders to maintain their strength for the long flight north. […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/24/18 Observation Time: 6:55 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Eastern Wood-Pewee Scientific Name: Contopus virens Comments: The unmistakable song of the wood-pewee (“pee-a-wee”) sounds like its name. It’s a member of the flycatcher family that is typically found in or near forested areas. You can find and play bird songs online. The more bird calls […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/24/18 Observation Time: 6:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Bay-breasted Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga castanea Comments: Bay-breasted warblers migrate through Sharon in May en route to their summertime breeding areas in Canada. They eat insects and spiders to keep up their energy during the long flight. Even for experienced bird watchers, bay-breasted warblers are an unusual find. […]

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 5/24/18 Observation Time: 6:15 a.m. Observation Location: Billings Loop, Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Scarlet Tanager (male) Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea Comments: This scarlet and black woodland bird is common in Sharon but seldom seen because they live in the woods. However, you can find them by learning what their song sounds like. The female is drab olive-green with dark […]

Observer: Deb  Radovsky Observation Date: 4/23/18 Observation Time: 6:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (Billings Loop) Common Name: Brown Creeper Scientific Name: Certhia americana Comments: Brown Creepers are tiny woodland birds with an affinity for the biggest trees they can find. Look for these little, long-tailed scraps of brown and white spiraling up stout trunks and main branches, sometimes passing downward-facing nuthatches along the […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/18 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Yellow Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga petechia Comments: Yellow warblers are typically found near wetlands. Learn to recognize their “sweet-sweet-sweet-little-more-sweet” song, and you’ll detect these bright yellow birds often in Sharon. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 5/12/18 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR), Powerline Trail Common Name: Prairie Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: The Prairie Warbler is found in scrubby fields and forests throughout the eastern and south-central United States, not on the prairies. Unlike many other warblers that migrate through Sharon in spring and fall, the Prairie Warbler hangs around all summer. […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/22/18 Observation Time: 9:50 a.m. Observation Location: woods near Beaver Brook Common Name: Veery Scientific Name: Catharus fuscescens Comments: A veery is a woodland thrush with an ethereal call, which if played back in slow motion reveals that the bird is actually mingling two calls simultaneously, like a violin player bowing two strings at once. I think of the veery’s two strands of downward-cascading […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/22/18 Observation Time: 8:15 a.m. Observation Location: under the powerlines near Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Indigo Bunting Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea Comments: Only the male indigo bunting is blue. The female is brown. Indigo buntings are members of the family Cardinalidae, which includes cardinals. More Information: All About Birds  

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/21/18 Observation Time: 7:50 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Canada Warbler Scientific Name: Cardellina canadensis Comments: Canada Warblers migrate through Sharon in mid-May. They have a distinctive black collar and a white eye-ring. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 5/20/18 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Rose-breated Grosbeak Scientific Name: Pheucticus ludovicianus Comments: Look for these birds in forest edges and woodlands. Listen, too, for their distinctive voices. They sound like American Robins, but with an extra sweetness. They also make a sharp chink like the squeak of a sneaker. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Ilan Fisher Observation Date: 5/18/18 Observation Time: 8:00 p.m. Observation Location: Bayberry Drive Common Name: Wild Turkey Scientific Name: Meleagris gallopavo Comments: The Wild Turkey’s popularity at the table led to a drastic decline in numbers, but they have recovered and now occur in every state except Alaska. Poor guy. He is bonkers for the chick. I wonder if his broken tail feathers will thwart his […]

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 5/18/18 Observation Time: 6:20 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (boardwalk) Common Name: Black-and-white Warbler Scientific Name: Mniotilta varia Comments: Unlike many other warbler species that migrate through Sharon on their way north, black-and-white warblers stick around all summer. They are typically seen scurrying up and down tree trunks. Their high-pitched song sounds like a squeaky wheel. More Information: All About […]

Observer: Deb  Radovsky Observation Date: 5/18/18 Observation Time: 6:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill, Billings Loop Common Name: Veery Scientific Name: Catharus fuscescens Comments: Check out the veery’s ethereal song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK1gaTqBRRk More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Jason Platt Observation Date: 5/8/18 Observation Time: 8:45 a.m. Observation Location: under power lines at Moose Hill Common Name: Blue-winged Warbler Scientific Name: Vermivora cyanoptera Comments: The blue-winged warbler’s song sounds like, “bee-buzz.” More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Jason Platt Observation Date: 5/8/18 Observation Time: 8:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Phoebe Scientific Name: Sayornis phoebe Comments: One of our most familiar eastern flycatchers, the Eastern Phoebe’s raspy “phoebe” call is a frequent sound around yards and farms in spring and summer. More Information: All About Birds.org