Animal – Page 35 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Semipalmated Plover – 9/18/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/18/14 Observation Time: 2:48 p.m. Observation Place: near Lake Massapoag boat ramp Common Name: Semipalmated Plover Scientific Name: Charadrius semipalmatus Comments: Semipalmated plovers look something like killdeers, but they are smaller and stubbier, and have a single dark band instead of two dark bands like killdeers. Also, killdeers have a red eye ring, whereas semipalmated plovers eyes are black. More […]

Praying Mantis – 9/14/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/14/14 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Praying Mantis Scientific Name: Mantis religiosa Comments: This praying mantis was almost 4″ long. It could be a descendant of praying mantises that hatched from eggs we mail-ordered and released in our garden years previously. More Information: Praying mantis love-making

Wood Frog – 9/13/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/13/14 Observation Time: 12:10 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Wood Frog Scientific Name: Rana sylvatica Comments: This amphibian lives in the woods and reproduces in vernal pools. Listen to the recording of the quacking sound it makes at the Wikipedia link below so you can recognize it when they thaw out after the snow melts in early […]

Black-capped Chickadee – 6/4/10

Observer: Will Sweet Observation Date: 6/4/10 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Black-capped Chickadee Scientific Name: Poecile atricapillus Comments: This chickadee family was crowded into a nesting box. More Information: Whatbird.com

Carpenter Ant “Frass” – 6/26/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/26/10 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook headwaters area Common Name: Carpenter Ant “Frass” Scientific Name: genus Camponotus Comments: Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t eat wood. They cannot digest cellulose, but they chew galleries in wood for their nests. They excavate wood, leaving telltale piles of sawdust called “frass.”

Carolina Locust – 9/12/09

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/12/09 Observation Time: 11:15 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Carolina Locust Scientific Name: Dissosteira carolina Comments: Diagnostic pronotum ridge is clearly visible in the photo. More Information: e-Nature.com

Canada Geese and Goslings – 5/4/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/4/11 Observation Time: 12:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Canada Goose Scientific Name: Branta canadensis Comments: Canada geese are quite common in Sharon, and can even become a nuisance, but these goslings sure are cute. If you are in the mood for a heartwarming movie, see “Fly Away Home” about a girl who adopts some orphaned goslings. More Information: Mass Wildlife

Canada Darner dragonfly – 8/30/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/30/10 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road (bridge near soccer fields) Common Name: Canada Darner dragonfly Scientific Name: Aeshna canadensis Comments: Canada darner dragonflies are very common in Massachusetts in late summer near sluggish marsh-bordered streams. They typically hang vertically at rest. More Information: US Army Corps of Engineers: North Hartland Lake

Caddisfly Larva – 3/17/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/17/11 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: vernal pool near Bay Road Common Name: Caddisfly Larva Scientific Name: Order Trichoptera Comments: Caddisfly larva are aquatic. They build a protective case of silk around themselves, incorporating debris for camouflage and protection. Their presence is indicative of good water quality. Adult caddis flies emerge en masse for just a few weeks. After emergence, they do […]

Buckeye Butterfly – 7/9/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/9/11 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Buckeye Butterfly Scientific Name: Junonia coenia Comments: This bedraggled specimen is showing a lot of wear and tear on its wings. More Information: Wikipedia

Brown Thrasher – 5/2/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/2/11 Observation Time: 4:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer field parking lot Common Name: Brown Thrasher Scientific Name: Toxostoma rufum Comments: Brown thrashers are one of the three mimics. The other two are catbirds and mockingbirds. Brown thrashers repeat each vocalization twice. Mockingbirds repeat three or four times. Catbirds only make each vocalization once. More Information: All About Birds.org

Brown Mantidfly – 6/20/14

Observer: Faith Berkland Observation Date: 6/20/14 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: On one of the reflectors I have around my driveway. Common Name: Brown Mantidfly Scientific Name: Clineriella Brunnea Comments: I first thought it was a praying mantis but none of the pictures showed one that small, or with the wasp-like abdomen. I decided to see if it was a type of wasp and voila! See this photo. […]

Brown-headed Cowbird – 4/7/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/7/14 Observation Time: 12:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area near soccer fields Common Name: Brown-headed Cowbird Scientific Name: Molothrus ater Comments: These Brown-headed Cowbirds were mating. Cowbirds parasitize other bird species. Female Cowbirds forgo building nests and instead lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, abandoning their young to foster parents, usually at the expense of at least some of […]

Bobcat – 6/11/14

Observer: Marla Lonergan Observation Date: 6/11/14 Observation Time: 6:00 p.m. Observation Location: 5 Tisdale Road Common Name: Bobcat Scientific Name: Lynx rufus Comments: Second bobcat sighting in Sharon in less than a week. See the NECN report. More Information: Wikipedia

Bluegill Sunfish – 6/4/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/10 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Bluegill Sunfish Scientific Name: Lepomis macrochirus Comments: This bluegill sunfish was guarding its eggs. More Information: Wikipedia

Bluegill Sunfish – 6/4/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/10 Observation Time: 11:45 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Bluegill Sunfish Scientific Name: Lepomis macrochirus Comments: These sunfish were spawning on a sandy area near the shore. More Information: Southshore Fishing

Blue Dasher dragonfly (male) – 7/8/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/8/13 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Blue Dasher dragonfly (male) Scientific Name: Pachidiplax longipennis More Information: http://www.cirrusimage.com/dragonfly_blue_dasher.htm

Blue Dasher dragonfly (female) – 7/15/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/15/13 Observation Time: 4:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Blue Dasher dragonfly (female) Scientific Name: Pachidiplax longipennis Comments: The male has a blue abdomen, hence the name. More Information: Wikipedia

Blue Dasher dragonfly – 7/19/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/19/10 Observation Time: 5:20 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond soccer field parking lot Common Name: Blue Dasher dragonfly Scientific Name: Pachidiplax longipennis Comments: Female is brown with red eyes and yellow markings. Male is blue with green eyes. More Information: Wikipedia Female: Male:

Blue-winged Warbler – 5/19/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/14 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road 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

Big Brown Bat – 11/12/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 11/12/12 Observation Time: 5:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Big Brown Bat Scientific Name: Eptesicus fuscus Comments: New England has little brown bats and big brown bats. Little brown bats are only found in New England in summer. Since these bats were observed in mid-November, they are presumably big brown bats. Bats fly fast, so getting these photos was not […]

Barn Swallow – 5/29/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/29/14 Observation Time: 12:35 p.m. Observation Location: stone hut by Upper Leach Pond at Borderland State Park Common Name: Barn Swallow Scientific Name: Hirundo rustica Comments: Barn swallows are passerine birds, which includes more than half of all bird species. A passerine bird has three toes pointing forward and one back. This facilitates perching. The passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial […]

Banded Net-Winged Beetle – 8/6/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/6/11 Observation Time: 8:10 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (back yard) Common Name: Banded Net-Winged Beetle Scientific Name: Calopteron discrepans Comments: This colorful beetle is found throughout the eastern U.S. Its bright color and contrast warn predators that they taste bad if eaten. More Information: University of Florida

Baltimore Oriole – 5/10/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/10/12 Observation Time: 7:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Baltimore Oriole Scientific Name: Icterus galbula Comments: First I heard the flutelike call, and then I spotted the brilliant orange oriole in an oak tree just pushing out its first leaves of spring. Even though it was 7:00 p.m. and the sun was low, the bird fairly glowed. I wonder how […]

Baltimore Oriole – 5/14/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/14 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Baltimore Oriole Scientific Name: Icterus galbula Comments: Orioles weave a unique hanging nest. More Information: All About Birds

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