Category: Animal

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/21/25 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Eastern Bluebird Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Comments: This male bluebird perched on a fence post by the road through the big pastures. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/21/25 Observation Time: 4:40 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) 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. I heard and then saw this one in the woods. You can find […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/21/25 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) under the power lines Common Name: Indigo Bunting Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea Comments: Indigo buntings are actually black; the diffraction of light through their feathers makes them look blue. This explains why males can appear as various hues from turquoise to black. Indigo buntings are more common now than […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/21/25 Observation Time: 3:50 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Prairie Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: Prairie warblers are found in scrubby fields and forest edges throughout the eastern and south-central United States. Unlike many other warblers that migrate through Sharon in spring and fall, prairie warblers nest in Sharon and stay around all summer. You can […]

Observer: Judy Karlin Observation Date: 6/15/25 Observation Time: 1:10 p.m. Observation Location: Mattakesett Circle Common Name: Great Blue Heron Scientific Name: Ardea herodias Comments: I sighted this heron in my front yard. What a surprise! Adult great blue herons weigh about 5 lbs. They weigh more than great horned owls, which weigh about 3 lbs., but they are not the largest bird found in Sharon. […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/18/25 Observation Time: 10:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black-and-white warbler Scientific Name: Mniotilta varia Comments: Black and white warblers make a high-pitched squeaking sound like a turning wheel that needs to be oiled. They are most often found scurrying up and down tree trunks and branches looking under the bark for insect larvae. The parallel stripes […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/18/25 Observation Time: 8:40 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Cedar Waxwing Scientific Name: Bombycilla cedrorum Comments: These striking birds are typically seen in groups. Their tails look as if they were dipped in yellow paint. More Information: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/id

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/17/25 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Red-breasted Nuthatch Scientific Name: Sitta canadensis Comments: The Red-breasted Nuthatch collects resin globules from coniferous trees and plasters them around the entrance of its nest hole. It may carry the resin in its bill or on pieces of bark that it uses as an applicator. The […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/17/25 Observation Time: 9:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Red-eyed Vireo Scientific Name: Vireo olivaceus Comments:  Red-eyed vireos are a common summer resident in Sharon. They sing all day long. Since they are notoriously hard to spot in the canopy, the mnemonic for their song is, “Here I am. Where are you?” Hear a recording at: […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/17/25 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Northern Cardinal Scientific Name: Cardinalis cardinalis Comments: One of the most common birds in Sharon, cardinals have a whistle-like voice, and sing strongly. Learn to recognize their various vocalizations at: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_cardinal/sound Cardinals typically travel in pairs. The male is bright red and the female is mostly tan.

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/17/25 Observation Time: 8:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Blue-winged warbler Scientific Name: Vermivora cyanoptera Comments:  The blue-winged warbler’s song sounds like, “bee-buzz.” Note its distinctive black eye line. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/15/25 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: The TrustMoose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate) Common Name: Bobolink Scientific Name: Dolichonyx oryzivorus Comments: The big pasture at the Trustees of Reservations’ Moose Hill Farm is ideal breeding habitat for bobolinks. Meadow habitat is not nearly as prevalent in Massachusetts since industry replaced agriculture, and forests grew back in former pasture lands. More […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/25 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Under the power lines across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Prairie Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: Prairie warblers are found in scrubby fields and forest edges throughout the eastern and south-central United States. Unlike many other warblers that migrate through Sharon in spring and fall, prairie warblers nest in Sharon […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/25 Observation Time: 6:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (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: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/25 Observation Time: 8:50 am Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Farm (S. Main St.) Common Name: Purle Martin Scientific Name: Progne subis Comments:  Build an apartment complex for purple martins, and they will come. Native Americans hung up empty gourds for purple martins before Europeans arrived in North America. Purple martins in eastern North America now nest almost exclusively in birdhouses, […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/25 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (Billings Loop) Common Name: American Goldfinch Scientific Name: Carduelis tristis Comments: This common finch travels in groups. These four were high in a dead tree. The morning sun made them glow yellow. The goldfinch’s song sounds like “per-chick-o-ree, per-chick-o-ree” interspersed with an occasional mewing sound. More Information: All About […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/25 Observation Time: 7:25 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Blackburnian Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga fusca Comments: These gorgeous warblers overwinter in South America. They tend to flit about high in tall trees, making them a challenge to photograph. This morning the bright sunshine made the day-glow orange coloration on its head and throat stand out even at […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/25 Observation Time: 9:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black-throated Green Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga virens Comments: The song of this colorful warbler sounds like: “zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee.”  It migrates through Sharon in early May. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/25 Observation Time: 8:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: American redstart Scientific Name: Setophaga ruticilla Comments: Redstarts are members of the warbler family. Their song is variable, and can be confused with the songs of some other warblers. See: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Redstart/id More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/25 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Magnolia Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga magnolia Comments: These gorgeous little birds pass through Sharon in early May on their northward migration. Learn to recognize their song to improve your chances of seeing one early on a clear morning at the end of April or in early May. More […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/25 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Red-eyed Vireo Scientific Name: Vireo olivaceus Comments:  Red-eyed vireos are a common summer resident in Sharon. They sing all day long. Since they are notoriously hard to spot in the canopy, the mnemonic for their song is, “Here I am. Where are you?” Hear a recording at: […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/25 Observation Time: 11:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Blue-winged warbler Scientific Name: Vermivora cyanoptera Comments:  The blue-winged warbler’s song sounds like, “bee-buzz.” Note its distinctive black eye line. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/25 Observation Time: 10:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Prairie Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: Prairie warblers are found in scrubby fields and forest edges throughout the eastern and south-central United States. Unlike many other warblers that migrate through Sharon in spring and fall, prairie warblers nest in Sharon and stay around all summer. You […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/25 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary 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 their song, an […]