Sharon Friends of Conservation
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/22/11 Observation Time: 3:05 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Cobbler moth Scientific Name: Condica sutor Comments: There are over 10,000 species of moths in North America. Identifying them can be a challenge, but there are some good online resources such as the Bug Guide. More Information: Bug Guide
Read moreObserver: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/2/11 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: Soccer field parking lot off Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Clover Looper Moth Scientific Name: Caenurgina crassiuscula Comments: This moth stopped to rest on the soccer field parking lot, allowing me to get close enough for this shot. I got the ID from bugguide.net. More Information: A Prairie Haven
Read moreObserver: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/30/11 Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road by soccer field parking lot Common Name: Clouded Sulphur butterfly Scientific Name: Colias philodice Comments: This butterfly was hard to photograph because it would not hold still! Note the big green eyes and the spots on the wing. More Information: Wisconsin Butterflies
Read moreObserver: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/24/14 Observation Time: 1:15 p.m. Observation Place: TTOR’s Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate) Common Name: Monarch Butterfly Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus Comments: With winter approaching, this monarch was nearing the end of its life. Monarchs make an epic, multi-generational migration. Check it out at the link below. More Information: National Geographic
Read moreObserver: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/24/14 Observation Time: 11:20 a.m. Observation Place: TTOR’s Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate) Common Name: Rabid Wolf Spider Scientific Name: Rabidosa rabida Comments: This species doesn’t build webs to catch prey. Instead, they ambush or chase their prey at night. They then wrap their prey in silk. Note the egg sac in the photo below, which was taken in […]
Read moreObserver: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/18/14 Observation Time: 2:50 p.m. Observation Place: near Lake Massapoag boat launching ramp Common Name: Belted Kingfisher Scientific Name: Megaceryle alcyon Comments: Belted kingfishers nest in a burrow, usually in a dirt bank near water. Their call is a distinctive, scolding chatter. Check out the recordings at the link below. More Information: All About Birds
Read moreObserver: 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 […]
Read moreObserver: 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
Read moreObserver: 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 […]
Read moreObserver: 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
Read moreObserver: 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.”
Read moreObserver: 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
Read moreObserver: 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
Read moreObserver: 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
Read moreObserver: 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 […]
Read moreObserver: 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
Read moreObserver: 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
Read moreObserver: 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. […]
Read moreObserver: 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 […]
Read moreObserver: 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
Read moreObserver: 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
Read moreObserver: 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
Read moreObserver: 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
Read moreObserver: 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
Read moreObserver: 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:
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