Category: Animal

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

Observer: Jason Platt Observation Date: 5/8/18 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Eastern Towhee (female) Scientific Name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus Comments: Towhees are common birds in Sharon, especially along edges between woods and open fields, but they are heard more than seen. The male’s song sounds like he’s singing, “Drink your tea.” More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 5/12/18 Observation Time: 9:10 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR), Powerline Trail Common Name: Field Sparrow Scientific Name: Spizella pusilla Comments: The clear trill of the Field Sparrow is a familiar summer sound in brushy fields and roadsides of the East and Midwest. The tempo of its song accelerates like a bouncing ping-pong ball. More Information: All About Birds  

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 5/12/18 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Lake Massapoag Common Name: Spotted Sandpiper Scientific Name: Actitis macularius Comments: The Spotted Sandpiper is the most widespread breeding sandpiper in North America. Female Spotted Sandpipers sometimes practice an unusual breeding strategy called polyandry, where a female mates with up to four males, each of which then cares for a clutch of eggs. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/18 Observation Time: 2:30 p.m. Observation Location: meadow at Lakeview & Morse (see photo below) Common Name: Great crested flycatcher Scientific Name: Myiarchus crinitus Comments: The great-crested flycatcher has a pale yellow breast. The memory hook I use to remember its call is “weep, weep, weep.” More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/18 Observation Time: 1:40 p.m. Observation Location: meadow at Morse and Lakeview 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: 5/11/18 Observation Time: 12:50 Observation Location: meadow at Morse and Lakeview Common Name: Northern Waterthrush Scientific Name: Parkesia noveboracensis Comments: The northern waterthrush is actually a type of warbler. It looks a lot like an ovenbird, which is also a warbler. This one was seen in the town-owned meadow at the junction of Morse and Lakeview Streets. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/18 Observation Time: 8:35 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Common Yellowthroat Scientific Name: Geoothlypis trichas Comments: Common yellowthroats are typically found in or near wetlands. They are a type of warbler, with a distinctive black mask that is reminiscent of a raccoon. Their song sounds like, “witchety, witchety, witchety.” More Information: All About Birds  

Observer: Jason Platt Observation Date: 5/8/18 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary 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 […]

Observer: Jason Platt Observation Date: 5/8/18 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: under power lines at Moose Hill 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: Jason Platt Observation Date: 5/8/18 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Ovenbird Scientific Name: Seiurus aurocapilla Comments: The ovenbird’s rapid-fire “teacher-teacher-teacher” song rings out in summer hardwood forests from the Mid-Atlantic states to northeastern British Columbia. It’s so loud that it may come as a surprise to find this inconspicuous warbler strutting like a tiny rooster across the dim […]

Observer: Jason Platt Observation Date: 5/8/18 Observation Time: 7:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: House Wren Scientific Name: Troglodytes aedon Comments: House Wrens have a huge geographic range, and they live in many habitats, so long as they feature trees, shrubs, and tangles interspersed with clearings. Examples range from eastern deciduous forests and southern swamps to western conifer forests and aspen groves as […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/6/18 Observation Time: 6:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Red-breasted Nuthatch Scientific Name: Sitta canadensis Comments: This red-breasted nuthatch was visiting the bird feeder. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/5/18 Observation Time: 6:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Common Raven Scientific Name: Corvus corax Comments: Ravens are considerably larger than crows. Their call is different and they travel in pairs, unlike crows, which travel in larger groups. For more information, see: http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/common-raven. Sharon is at the southern edge of the raven’s range. Be sure to scroll down […]

Observer: Deb  Radovsky Observation Date: 5/5/18 Observation Time: 8:50 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill, Kettle Trail Common Name: Wild Turkey Scientific Name: Meleagris gallopavo Comments: As Wild Turkey numbers dwindled through the early twentieth century, people began to look for ways to reintroduce this valuable game bird. Initially they tried releasing farm turkeys into the wild but those birds didn’t survive. In the 1940s, people began catching […]