Category: Bird

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/15 Observation Time: 7:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black-billed Cuckoo Scientific Name: Coccyzus erythropthalmus Comments: We heard this cuckoo before someone in our group spotted it. They tend to sit quietly on a branch, so the absence of movement makes them hard to find. Black-billed cuckoos have distinctive red eyes. 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: 5/13/15 Observation Time: 11:25 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Yellow-rumped Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga coronata Comments: I got these photos standing underneath a flowering crabapple tree. The blossoms attracted insects, which in turn attracted insectivorous warblers that needed fuel to continue their migration. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/15 Observation Time: 11:10 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black-throated Green Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga virens Comments: The call of this warbler sounds like: “zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee.”  It migrates through Sharon in May. I got these photos standing underneath a flowering crabapple tree. The blossoms attracted insects, which in turn attracted insectivorous warblers. More Information: All About Birds

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: 5/6/15 Observation Time: 3:41 p.m. Observation Location: soccer field parking lot near Gavins Pond Common Name: Savannah Sparrow Scientific Name: Passerculus sandwichensis Comments: Savannah sparrows are often seen in flocks feeding on the ground. More Information: All About Birds http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Savannah_Sparrow/sounds  

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/6/15 Observation Time: 3:38 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Warbling Vireo Scientific Name: Vireo gilvus Comments: Warbling vireos are often found near water. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/6/15 Observation Time: 3:30 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Eastern Towhee Scientific Name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus Comments: The Eastern Towhee is our largest sparrow. Its song can be remembered easily because it sounds like it is singing, “Drink your tea.” More Information: All About Birds     

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/6/15 Observation Time: 3:25 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Prairie Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: This striking yellow and black warbler has a high-pitched trill that ascends. It can be seen in open fields and under power lines all summer in Sharon. 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: 5/3/15 Observation Time: 1:55 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Eastern Bluebird Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Comments: I found a couple of sky-blue eggs in one of the nesting boxes near Gavins Pond. Then I saw the parents. As I was snapping photos of the male bluebird, it suddenly stretched out its wing. A moment later it was gone. More Information: National Audubon […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/19/15 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Field Sparrow Scientific Name: Spizella pusilla Comments: The song of the field sparrow is a series of chirps that gets progressively more rapid like a bouncing ping-pong ball. Check it out at: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Field_Sparrow/sounds  

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/11/11 Observation Time: 6:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond 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: Rick Dumont Observation Date: 7/28/09 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Belcher Street Common Name: Turkey Vulture Scientific Name: Cathartes aura Comments: A bad smell invaded my yard during a rainy, humid spell. The buzzard must have been attracted to it. The smell went away shortly after the buzzard did. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Kurt Buermann Observation Date: 5/12/11 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Laveview Street meadow Common Name: Tree swallow Scientific Name: Tachycineta bicolor Comments: Very commonly nests near bluebirds. Tree swallows may defend bluebirds against other tree swallow if they occupy adjacent nesting boxes. More Information: All About Birds.org

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/21/14 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Mute Swan Scientific Name: Cygnus olor Comments: Swans are powerful birds that will attack humans if they feel threatened. Don’t allow your children to approach them. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 12/12/08 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: Ward’s field near Heights Elementary School Common Name: Snow Goose Scientific Name: Chen caerulescens Comments: There was a flock of about 10 snow geese in Ward’s field. They were all white except for black wing tips. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 12/26/08 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: Dirt road by soccer field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Snow Bunting Scientific Name: Plectrophenax nivalis Comments: Flock of around a dozen birds was gleaning seeds on the dirt road. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 3/28/11 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Parkway Common Name: Sharp-shinned Hawk Scientific Name: Accipiter striatus Comments: Sharp-shinned Hawks are birds of the forest and forest edge, and are not found where trees are scarce or scattered, except on migration. They require dense forest, ideally with a closed canopy, for breeding. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All […]

Observer: Richard Kramer Observation Date: 6/28/11 Observation Time: 11:59 p.m. Observation Location: Shores of Lake Massapoag Common Name: Screech Owl (fledgling) Scientific Name: Otus asio Comments: Pair of fledglings were calling and testing their wings. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 1/1/14 Observation Time: 4:42 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Rusty Blackbird Scientific Name: Euphagus carolinus Comments: Low light, hand-held, not such a great photo. Confirmed by Christine Turnbull as a Rusty. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 10/31/12 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: Wolomolopoag Pond Common Name: Ross’s Goose Scientific Name: Chen rossii Comments: Tight crop, some light dodging and burning to allow black tail to be seen a little better against the background. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 11/12/12 Observation Time: 5:05 p.m. Observation Location: Wolomolopoag Pond Common Name: Ross’s Goose Scientific Name: Chen rossii Comments: The Ross’s goose resembles a snow goose, but smaller, and with a shorter neck. It is snow white with black wing tips. This individual was seen among dozens of Canada geese on their way south for the winter, and attracted a number of bird watchers […]

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 6/25/11 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Rose-breasted Grosbeak Scientific Name: Pheucticus ludovicianus Comments: A female just after a bath. More Information: All About Birds