Category: Bird

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

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 6/25/11 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Purple Finch Scientific Name: Carpodacus purpureus Comments: Probably decreased in Northeast in late 19th century after introduction of House Sparrow. In recent decades has declined further in that area, possibly owing to competition with House Finch. More Information: audubon.org or All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/9/14 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond soccer field Common Name: Eastern Bluebird Scientific Name: Sialia Sialis Comments: This bluebird was still hanging around Sharon in October. Bluebirds actually overwinter in Sharon, feeding on seeds. On cold nights they huddle in groups inside nesting boxes to keep warm. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/14 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Phoebe Scientific Name: Sayornis phoebe Comments: The song of the Phoebe sounds like its name. You can find and play bird songs online. The more bird calls you memorize, the more bird species you will be able to identify in the field, where the birds themselves are often concealed […]