Animal – Page 35 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

American Crow (mutant) – 12/12/09

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 12/12/09 Observation Time: 11:40 a.m. Observation Location: Wolomolopoag Street (Ward’s Barry Farm) Common Name: American Crow (mutant) Scientific Name: Corvus brachyrhynchos Comments: This mutant crow has a few white feathers mingled among the normally black feathers. More Information: All About Birds: White Crow

American Copper Butterfly – 5/21/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/21/14 Observation Time: 1:20 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: American Copper Butterfly Scientific Name: Lycaena phlaeas Comments: Like many small butterflies, the American copper is a stunning sight when viewed up close. More Information: Butterflies and Moths

American Copper Butterfly – 10/18/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/18/12 Observation Time: 2:15 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (front yard) Common Name: American Copper Butterfly Scientific Name: Lycaena phlaeas Comments: This small but colorful butterfly can be seen all summer and into the fall. More Information: Butterflies and Moths

American Copper Butterfly – 5/12/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/12 Observation Time: 6:00 p.m. Observation Location: Furnace St. under high tension wires Common Name: American Copper Butterfly Scientific Name: Lycaena phlaeas Comments: This individual was chasing another to mate. More Information: Butterflies and Moths

American Black Duck – 12/17/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 12/17/11 Observation Time: 11:40 a.m. Observation Location: Sawmill Pond Common Name: American Black Duck Scientific Name: Anas rubripes Comments: This pair of black ducks mingled with some Canada geese and mallards. Shooting photos of this pair reminded me of my grandfather, who lived on Cape Cod and used to shoot black ducks for food during the first half of the twentieth […]

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly – 7/25/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/25/14 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: This butterfly posed nicely on a thistle blossom. More Information: Wikipedia

Gray Fox – 7/24/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/24/10 Observation Time: 8:20 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Gray Fox Scientific Name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus Comments: I saw a small, gray-colored fox with a huge bushy tail at dusk (no photo opportunity). More Information: Wikipedia

American Eel – 7/21/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/21/14 Observation Time: 10:15 a.m. Observation Location: Billings Brook below the Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: American eel Scientific Name: Anguilla rostrata Comments: American eels spawn in the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic Ocean. The larval eels, called glass eels because they are transparent, drift with the Gulf Stream up the east coast. They eventually metmorphose into worm-sized black elvers, which swim up […]

Great Blue Heron – 7/20/14

Observer: Ilan Fisher Observation Date: 7/20/14 Observation Time: 12:00 p.m. Observation Location: Massapoag Ave/Community center Common Name: Great Blue Heron Scientific Name: Ardea herodias Comments: Probably checking out Sucker Brook, which flows into Lake Massapoag nearby, for a snack. More Information: All About Birds

Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly – 7/6/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/6/14 Observation Time: 1:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area near soccer parking area Common Name: Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio troilus Comments: This spicebush swallowtail butterfly was observed feeding on milkweed flowers. Note that spicebush swallowtail butterflies are very similar to black swallowtail butterflies. Learn how to tell the difference at: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Papilio-polyxenes&sp2=Papilio-troilus

Common Grackle – 6/30/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/30/2014 Observation Time: 3:50 pm Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Common Grackle Scientific Name: Quiscalus quiscula Comments: You might see a Common Grackle hunched over on the ground, wings spread, letting ants crawl over its body and feathers. This is called anting, and grackles are frequent practitioners among the many bird species that do it. The ants secrete formic acid, the […]

Ruby-throated Hummingbird – 6/16/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/16/14 Observation Time: 6:45 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Ruby-throated Hummingbird Scientific Name: Archilochus colubris Comments: Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate all the way from New England to Central America and back every year – a journey of about 2,500 miles including 500 miles over the Gulf of Mexico. They can live up to 10 years, so they […]

Tetragnatha Spider – 6/7/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/7/14 Observation Time: 12:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Tetragnatha Spider Scientific Name: Tetragnatha sp. Comments: Typically found near ponds and wetlands. More Information: Wikipedia

Bobcat – 6/7/14

Observer: Suzy Levenson Observation Date: 6/7/14 Observation Time: 8:15 a.m. Observation Location: 155 Billings St Common Name: Bobcat Scientific Name: Lynx rufus Comments: The bobcat was calmly sitting in my backyard looking at my housecat who was sitting in a window. There were three snapping turtles in the backyard at the same time. Then the bobcat quietly walked away into the woods. More Information: Wikipedia

Rose-breasted Grosbeak – 6/2/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/14 Observation Time: 11:50 a.m. Observation Location: in the woods near Gavins Pond Common Name: Rose-breasted Grosbeak Scientific Name: Pheucticus ludovicianus Comments: I found this specimen by listening to its call. More Information: All About Birds

Nursery Web Spider – 6/1/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/1/14 Observation Time: 12:10 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Nursery web spider Scientific Name: Pisaurina mira Comments: This large spider was on a tree trunk in my back yard. More Information: Kentucky Spiders

Pine Warbler – 5/31/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/14 Observation Time: 5:30 p.m. Observation Location: Trail through woods beside Gavins Pond Common Name: Pine warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga pinus Comments: The song of the pine warbler is hard to distinguish from the reedy trill of a chipping sparrow. More Information: All About Birds

Indigo Bunting – 5/30/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/14 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Under the powerlines near Walpole St. 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

Song Sparrow – 5/29/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/29/14 Observation Time: 11:25 a.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Song Sparrow Scientific Name: Melospiza melodia Comments: There are at least 18 species of sparrows in Massachusetts. Learning their respective calls is a good way to find and identify them. More Information: All About Birds

Red-Eyed Vireo – 5/29/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/29/14 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: King Phillip’s Rock trail Common Name: Red-eyed vireo Scientific Name: Vireo olivaceus Comments: Red-eyed vireos sing all day long. Their song sounds like “Here I am. Where are you?” That is fitting, as they are very hard to see in the foliage. More Information: All About Birds

Black-billed Cuckoo – 5/27/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/14 Observation Time: 8:05 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black-billed Cuckoo Scientific Name: Coccyzus erythropthalmus Comments: We heard this black-billed cuckoo before we finally spotted it. Even though cuckoos are relatively large birds, they typically don’t move around much, so they are hard to find unless you know what their call sounds like. More Information: All About Birds […]

Wood Thrush – 5/27/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/14 Observation Time: 6:40 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Wood thrush Scientific Name: Hylocichla mustelina Comments: This wood thrush was spotted on its nest. More Information: All About Birds

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly – 5/26/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/26/14 Observation Time: 6:10 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: Tiger swallowtails are spectacular and relatively common. More Information: Wikipedia

Field Sparrow – 5/26/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/26/14 Observation Time: 5:55 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Field sparrow Scientific Name: Spizella pusilla Comments: The song of a field sparrow starts out slowly and then gets faster, like a bouncing ping-pong ball. There are at least 18 species of sparrows in Massachusetts. Learning their respective calls is a good way to find and identify them. More […]

Great Crested Flycatcher – 5/26/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/26/14 Observation Time: 11:45 a.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park 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

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