Animal – Page 38 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Wood Nymph butterfly – 7/13/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/13 Observation Time: 11:05 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Wood Nymph butterfly Scientific Name: Cercyonis pegala Comments: Note the “pink earth” lichen in the background of the upper photo. More information: Mass Audubon Butterfly Atlas

Indigo Bunting – 7/11/13

Observer: Molly DellaRoman Observation Date: 7/11/13 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Indigo Bunting Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea More Information: All About Birds

Snowberry Clearwing Moth – 7/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/9/13 Observation Time: 4:35 p.m. Observation Location: soccer parking area near Gavins Pond Common Name: Snowberry Clearwing Moth Scientific Name: Hemaris diffinis Comments: This diurnal moth is about the size of a bumblebee. More information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

White-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly – 7/8/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/8/13 Observation Time: 5:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: White-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly Scientific Name: Sympetrum obtrusum Comments: Males are red. Very similar to Ruby Meadowhawk and Cherry-faced Meadowhawk. This species seems to be in decline. More Information: Nature Search Two more photos taken 7/19/13 at about 5:30 where Turning Mill Brook flows under Wolomolopoag Street:

Band-winged Meadowhawk dragonfly – 7/4/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/4/13 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Band-winged Meadowhawk dragonfly Scientific Name: Sympetrum semicinctum More Information: Wikipedia

Scarlet Tanager – 7/1/13

Observer: Molly DellaRoman Observation Date: 7/1/13 Observation Time: morning Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Scarlet Tanager Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea More Information: All About Bird

Northern Pearly-Eye butterfly – 6/26/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/26/13 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: near Beaver Brook (near train station tennis courts) Common Name: Northern Pearly-Eye butterfly Scientific Name: Enodia anthedon Comments: These three butterfly species are very similar: Eyed Brown, Appalachian Brown, and Northern Pearly-Eye. All can be found in Sharon. These two Northern Pearly-eye butterflies were courting. More Information: Butterflies of Massachusetts

Prairie Warbler – 6/17/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/17/13 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Prairie warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: Prairie warblers are not hard to find in fields and cleared areas under high tension lines in Sharon from May to August. Listen for their ascending trill. More Information: All About Birds

White Corporal dragonfly – 6/15/13

Observer: Vin Zollo Observation Date: 6/15/13 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: White Corporal dragonfly Scientific Name: Ladona exusta Comments: Small, most commonly perches on the ground. Adult males have a white abdomen. More Information: New Jersey Odes

Great Blue Heron Rookery – 6/15/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/15/13 Observation Time: 1:40 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Great Blue Heron Rookery Scientific Name: Ardea herodias Comments: These three juvenile herons were occupying a huge nest in a big tree, waiting for their parents to bring food. They will fly away soon to fend for themselves. Note the eyes of the right-most bird in the photo. […]

Northern Flicker – 6/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/13 Observation Time: 3:55 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Northern Flicker Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus Comments: Flickers are woodpeckers, but they are unusual in that they eat ants and beetles on the ground. More Information: All About Birds

Painted Skimmer dragonfly – 6/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/13 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Painted Skimmer dragonfly Scientific Name: Libellula semifasciata Comments: This dragonfly is said to be uncommon, although it is not listed as such in Massachusetts. More Information: iNaturalist

Gray Catbird – 6/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/13 Observation Time: 1:55 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (back yard) Common Name: Gray Catbird Scientific Name: Dumetella carolinensis Comments: Catbirds are one of three mimics in our area. Mockingbirds and Brown Thrashers are the other two. Catbirds repeat sounds just once, whereas Brown Thrashers repeat sounds twice, and Mockingbirds repeat them three or four times before moving on to the […]

Six-spotted Fishing Spider – 6/2/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/13 Observation Time: 5:50 p.m. Observation Place: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Six-spotted Fishing Spider Scientific Name: Dolomedes triton Comments: Fishing Spiders get their name from their hunting behavior and occasional food source. They are adept at ambushing insects and other food items on land, but they are also able to submerge their bodies just under the surface of calm water and […]

Musk Turtle – 5/29/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/29/13 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Musk turtle Scientific Name: Sternotherus odoratus Comments: This small turtle, which only grows to 5″ in length, is common in Sharon. When disturbed, it emits a disagreeable odor, which accounts for both its common and scientific names. This individual presumably came ashore to lay eggs. Believe it or not, musk turtles […]

Chipping Sparrow – 5/20/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/20/13 Observation Time: 4:20 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Chipping Sparrow Scientific Name: Spizella passerina Comments: Chipping sparrows are very common in Sharon. They have a distinctive reddish cap above a white eyeline. Their song is described as a reedy trill that sounds a lot like the songs of the pine warbler and the junco. More Information: […]

Spring Azure butterfly – 5/19/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/13 Observation Time: 2:40 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Spring Azure butterfly Scientific Name: Celastrina spp. Comments: Spring azures are small butterflies that emerge in early spring. The wings are blue on top and pale white with black spots on the bottom. More Information: New Jersey Butterflies

Black and White Warbler (female) – 5/16/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/16/13 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black and White Warbler (female) Scientific Name: Mniotilta varia Comments: Black and white warblers creep along tree trunks and branches foraging for insects. Their high-pitched squeaky song sounds like a wheel turning that needs to be oiled. More Information: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-and-white_Warbler/overview

Downy Woodpecker – 5/16/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/16/13 Observation Time: 6:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Downy Woodpecker Scientific Name: Picoides pubescens Comments: This pair of small, common woodpeckers was hollowing out a nesting cavity in a dead tree. More Information: All About Birds

Scarlet Tanager – 5/16/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/16/13 Observation Time: 6:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Scarlet tanager Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea Comments: Scarlet tanagers live in the woods, so they are seldom seen due to the foliage. However if you learn their call, which sounds like a robin with a sore throat, you can hear them singing and follow your ears until you find them. […]

Eastern Towhee – 5/4/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/4/13 Observation Time: 5:55 p.m. Observation Location: Soccer parking area on Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Eastern Towhee Scientific Name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus Comments: The Eastern Towhee is our largest sparrow. This male was scuffing for food in the dry leaves on the ground in a grove of trees beside the soccer parking lot. The racket he was making attracted my attention. The call of the […]

Eastern Pine Elfin – 5/4/13

Observer: Vin Zollo Observation Date: 5/4/13 Observation Time: 3:35 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (Trustees of Reservations) Common Name: Eastern Pine Elfin Scientific Name: Callophrys niphon More Information: Butterflies of Massachusetts

Black-capped Chickadee – 4/26/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/26/13 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black-capped Chickadee Scientific Name: Poecile atricapillus Comments: Chickadees are one of Sharon’s most common birds. They often travel in groups that sometimes include tufted titmouse. With patience, chickadees can be trained to eat sunflower seeds out of your hand! More Information: All About Birds

Eastern Bluebird (male) – 4/25/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/25/13 Observation Time: 2:30 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Eastern Bluebird (male) Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Comments: This male bluebird was guarding a nest with five sky-blue eggs in a nesting box provided by Kurt Buermann, President of the Sharon Friends of Conservation. The blue color is more or less vivid depending on the brightness and angle of the […]

White Suckers – 4/19/13

Observer: Richard Kramer Observation Date: 4/19/13 Observation Time: 2:35 p.m. Observation Location: Sucker Brook near the entrance to the Community Center Common Name: White Sucker Scientific Name: Catostomus commersoni Comments: White suckers spawn in Sucker Brook for a few days in mid to late April. Remember to look for them after you file your taxes. The female and the males release their eggs and sperm […]

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