Animal – Page 29 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (female) – 6/25/11

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

Roland’s Sallow Moth (caterpillar) – 6/4/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/11 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Billings Street Common Name: Roland’s Sallow Moth (caterpillar) Scientific Name: Psaphida rolandi More Information: Bug Guide

American Robin (eggs) – 6/2/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/10 Observation Time: 6:05 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: American Robin (eggs) Scientific Name: Turdus migratorius More Information: All About Birds

River Otter – 3/3/14

Observer: Joe Macri Observation Date: 3/3/14 Observation Time: 5:30 p.m. Observation Location: High Plain St. approx. 200 yards from intersection with Norwood St. Common Name: River Otter Scientific Name: Lontra canadensis Comments: Just at sunset, I observed a large, sinuous animal crossing the road. I only saw it briefly and in silhouette, but was surprised by the size of it. When looking online I narrowed it down to River […]

River Otter – 2/15/13

Observer: Sue Price Observation Date: 2/15/13 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Bay Road near Wilshire (going from Sharon to Stoughton) Common Name: River Otter Scientific Name: Lontra canadensis Comments: I think it was a river otter. It was very dark with a long fat tail and moved very quickly – don’t think it was a beaver as it had a long thin body. More Information: Massachusetts Division […]

River Otter – 11/11/12

Observer: Pat Gardner Observation Date: 11/11/12 Observation Time: 6:15 a.m. Observation Location: Shepard’s Pond, Canton Common Name: River Otter Scientific Name: Lontra canadensis Comments: This morning there was only one, but over the past 2 months there’ve been 2. Shepard’s Pond is on the Canton-Sharon border. More Information: Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Red Squirrel – 3/9/11

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 3/9/11 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Red Squirrel Scientific Name: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus More Information: http://www.nhptv.org/Natureworks/Redsquirrel.htm

Red Squirrel – 11/28/08

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 11/28/08 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Parkway Common Name: Red Squirrel Scientific Name: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Comments: The red squirrel is known to “tap” maple trees. It bites the bark until sap flows out, and returns later for a sweet treat after the water in the sap has evaporated. More Information: http://www.nhptv.org/Natureworks/Redsquirrel.htm

Red Squirrel – 4/26/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/26/13 Observation Time: 4:20 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Red Squirrel Scientific Name: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Comments: American red squirrels experience severe early mortality (on average only 22% survive to one year of age). The survival probability, however, increases to age three, when it begins to decrease again. Females that survive to one year of age have […]

Red-Banded Sand Wasp – 9/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/9/13 Observation Time: 2:35 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Red-banded Sand Wasp Scientific Name: Ammophila sabulosa Comments: The female red-banded sand wasp first excavates a nest for her larva. After that she hunts a caterpillar, often a moth caterpillar. She then paralyses the caterpillar, but the caterpillar remains alive. Then she carries the caterpillar to the nest. She […]

Question Mark butterfly chrysalis – 7/31/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/31/12 Observation Time: 11:45 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road (bridge near soccer fields) Common Name: Question Mark butterfly chrysalis Scientific Name: Polygonia interrogationis Comments: This is the chrysalis of a Question Mark butterfly. They have a white mark on each wing that looks like a question mark. See photos of an adult Question Mark Butterfly. The root “interrogation” is apparent in the scientific […]

Question Mark butterfly – 6/29/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/29/11 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Question Mark butterfly Scientific Name: Polygonia interrogationis Comments: There’s a similar Eastern Comma butterfly that is also found in Sharon. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Purple Finch – 6/25/11

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

Polyphemus Moth (wing only) – 7/20/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/20/10 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road soccer field parking lot Common Name: Polyphemus Moth (wing only) Scientific Name: Antheraea polyphemus Comments: A few years ago, I saw a dead luna moth in the same area. Both polyphemus moths and luna moths are truly spectacular. More Information: Auburn University

Eastern Bluebird (male) – 10/9/14

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

Phoebe – 5/14/14

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 […]

Phoebe – 8/1/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/1/10 Observation Time: 7:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road soccer field Common Name: Phoebe Scientific Name: Sayornis phoebe Comments: Phoebes are flycatchers. More Information: All About Birds

American White Pelican – 5/30/13

Observer: Vin Zollo Observation Date: 5/30/13 Observation Time: 10:45 a.m. Observation Location: Lake Massapoag Common Name: American White Pelican Scientific Name: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Comments: Originally spotted by Valerie White while canoeing on the lake. This is a rare bird in Massachusetts and a possible first record for Norfolk County. It was there for about a day and a half. Phone-scoped picture. Another photo can be found on […]

Peck’s Skipper butterfly – 7/25/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/25/10 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Peck’s Skipper butterfly Scientific Name: Polites peckius Comments: Flies from June through early August on flowers, at roadsides, wet meadows, and in gardens. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polites_peckius More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Orchard Orbweaver – 6/1/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/1/14 Observation Time: 12:25 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Orchard Orbweaver Scientific Name: Leucauge venusta Comments: I had a hard time focusing the camera on this tiny spider. More Information: Wikipedia

Orange Bluet damselfly – 6/19/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/19/13 Observation Time: 2:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Orange bluet damselfly Scientific Name: Enallagma signatum Comments: The orange bluet has a long flight season. It’s from early March to early November. This bluet is unusual in that it is most active in the late afternoon. It is often found near slow moving streams, ponds, and pools with still waters. […]

Orange Bluet damselfly – 7/1/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/1/11 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Orange bluet damselfly Scientific Name: Enallagma signatum Comments: These small orange damselflies were darting about all over the surface of the pond, occasionally alighting on floating weeds. Some were mating. The first two photos are males and the third female. More Information: Wikipedia or Fotki

Northern Water Snake (juvenile) – 8/6/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/6/12 Observation Time: 1:10 p.m. Observation Location: outflow pool below Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Northern Water Snake (juvenile) Scientific Name: Nerodia sipedon Comments: Young northern water snake males are more brightly marked than older ones, which tend to be all black. More Information: Snakes of Massachusetts

Northern Water Snake – 6/12/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/12/13 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Northern Water Snake Scientific Name: Nerodia sipedon Comments: The older northern water snakes get, the blacker they become. This mature specimen appears to be all black, but the underside is still colorful. Non-venomous northern water snakes are sometimes confused with venomous water moccasins, which live farther south. Even older northern water snakes […]

Northern Water Snake – 5/31/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/12 Observation Time: 8:20 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Northern Water Snake Scientific Name: Nerodia sipedon Comments: This big water snake was stalking a frog. More Information: http://www.snake-removal.com/northernwatersnake.html It tastes the air with its forked tongue. Its scales have ridges called “keels.” The frog got away.

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