Animal – Page 28 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

American Toad – 9/14/09

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/13/09 Observation Time: 2:30 p.m. Observation Location: Bay Circuit Trail near Gorwin Drive Common Name: American Toad Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus Comments: Notice how well this toad is camouflaged. More Information: Animal Diversity Web

Thread-Waisted Wasp – 7/16/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/16/11 Observation Time: 4:45 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Thread-waisted wasp Scientific Name: Ammophila procera Comments: This large solitary wasp (over an inch long) has an interesting life cycle, which is shown in this Vimeo video. More Information: insectidentification.org

Tent Caterpillar – 6/4/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/11 Observation Time: 3:50 p.m. Observation Location: conservation land near Billings Street Common Name: Tent Caterpillar Scientific Name: Malacosoma americanum Comments: The moths oviposit almost exclusively on trees in the plant family Rosaceae, particularly cherry (Prunus) and apple (Malus). The adult moth lays her eggs in a single batch in late spring or early summer. An egg mass contains about 200 to 300 […]

Mute Swan – 10/21/14

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

Summer Fishfly – 7/19/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/19/13 Observation Time: 10:00 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Summer Fishfly Scientific Name: Chauliodes pectinicornis Comments: This large (1.5″) flying insect got into our house. When it landed on my pants, I walked outside and took this photo. It has an interesting life cycle. More Information: University of Wisconsin BioWeb

Eastern Gray Squirrel (black melanistic) – 6/13/13

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 6/13/13 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Eastern Gray Squirrel (black melanistic) Scientific Name: Sciurus carolinensis Comments: A member of the black melanistic sub-group of the eastern gray squirrel. More Information: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Spined Soldier Bug (nymph) – 7/4/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/4/13 Observation Time: 8:45 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Spined Soldier Bug (nymph) Scientific Name: Podisus maculiventris Comments: Spined soldier bugs are small predatory stink bugs. They molt several times before reaching maturity. Each phase is referred to as an instar. This one was in the third “instar”. More Information: University of Florida

Spangled Skimmer dragonfly (male) – 6/17/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/17/13 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Spangled Skimmer dragonfly (male) Scientific Name: Libellula cyanea Comments: Males of this species are blue, while females are brown. Both have striking white and black stigmas on their wings. No other dragonfly in the Northeast has white stigmas on its wings. Males are territorial. More Information: Dragonflies and Damselflies of NJ

Spangled Skimmer dragonfly (female) – 5/19/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/12 Observation Time: 5:40 p.m. Observation Location: dirt road leading to Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Spangled skimmer dragonfly (female) Scientific Name: Libellula cyanea Comments: This photo is a female. Male spangled skimmers are slate blue. Hence the species name “cyanea” which refers to its cyan (blue) coloration. Identifying dragonflies and damselflies is fun. Get a copy of A Field Guide to the Dragonflies and […]

Snow Goose – 12/12/08

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”

Snow Bunting – 12/26/08

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”

Garden Snail – 6/4/09

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/09 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road, back yard garden Common Name: Garden Snail Scientific Name: Helix aspersa Comments: This is the same species eaten in France as “escargot.” See http://www.esquire.com/style/answer-fella/escargot-0808 More Information: ARKive

Smeared Dagger Moth Caterpillar – 9/7/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/7/13 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Smeared Dagger Moth caterpillar Scientific Name: Acronicta oblinita Comments: For pictures of the adult moth, see: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Acronicta+oblinita&guide=Moth&cl=US/GA/Clarke More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Small Cabbage White butterfly – 6/25/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/25/11 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond near soccer fields Common Name: Small Cabbage White butterfly Scientific Name: Pieris rapae Comments: The top photo shows a copulating pair. The male has a single black wing spot. The female has two black wing spots, and slightly yellower wings. More Information: Wikipedia

Slender Spreadwing Damselfly – 6/15/13

Observer: Vin Zollo Observation Date: 6/15/13 Observation Time: 11:02 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Slender Spreadwing damselfly Scientific Name: Lestes rectangularis Comments: Billings Farm Loop Boardwalk More Information: BugGuide

Six-Spotted Tiger Beetle – 5/30/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/14 Observation Time: 12:10 Observation Location: Power lines near Walpole St. Common Name: Six-spotted tiger beetle Scientific Name: Cicindela sexguttata Comments: Female six-spotted tiger beetles lay eggs in sandy patches. When they hatch, the larvae burrow into the ground. The larvae lie in wait until small arthropods walk by. Then they pounce much like a jack in the box. The larvae pupate after […]

Silver-Spotted Skipper butterfly – 7/13/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/13 Observation Time: 10:55 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Silver-Spotted Skipper butterfly Scientific Name: Epargyreus clarus Comments: Adults perch upside down under leaves at night and on hot or cloudy days. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America Back to the Sightings List

Northern Short-Tailed Shrew – 9/30/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/30/12 Observation Time: 6:05 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Northern Short-tailed Shrew Scientific Name: Blarina brevicauda Comments: This venomous mammal is a highly active insectivore that consumes up to three times its weight daily. I don’t know why this specimen died. More Information: Wikipedia

Sharp-Shinned Hawk – 3/28/11

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 […]

Screech Owl (fledgling) – 6/28/11

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”

Scarlet Bluet – 7/1/11

Observer: John Baur Observation Date: 7/1/11 Observation Time: 2:50 p.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Scarlet Bluet Scientific Name: Enallagma pictum Comments: This species is listed as threatened by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP). More Information: MA NHESP

Saw-Wing Moth – 7/9/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/9/11 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Saw-wing Moth Scientific Name: Euchlaena serrata Comments: This specimen alit on my note pad and posed for the photo. Then it flew off. Yet another example of how you don’t find nature. Nature finds you! So keep that camera or smart phone handy! More Information: BugGuide

Rusty Blackbird – 1/1/14

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

Ross’s Goose – 10/31/12

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

Ross’s Goose – 11/12/12

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 […]

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