Animal – Page 38 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Northern Cardinal – 5/8/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/8/14 Observation Time: 7:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Northern Cardinal Scientific Name: Cardinalis cardinalis Comments: One of the most common birds in Sharon, cardinals have a whistle-like voice, and sing strongly. Learn to recognize their various vocalizations at: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_cardinal/sound Cardinals typically travel in pairs. The female is mostly tan. More Information: All About Birds

Eastern Pine Elfin – 5/7/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/7/14 Observation Time: 4:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area (along the dirt road from the soccer fields to the dam) Common Name: Eastern Pine Elfin Scientific Name: Callophrys niphon Comments: Males perch on tops of pine trees in the sun to find receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on new needles of young trees; caterpillars feed on the needles. Chrysalids hibernate […]

Coyote – 5/1/14

Observer: Brittaney Dunham Observation Date: 5/1/14 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: 16 High Plain St., Sharon Common Name: Coyote Scientific Name: Canis latrans Comments: This bold coyote comes into our back yard pretty regularly. As a result, our dog yard has an 8-foot fence. More Information: Nature Works and Wikipedia

Beaver – 4/20/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/20/14 Observation Time: 7:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Beaver Scientific Name: Castor canadensis Comments: Beavers are the second-largest living rodents, after capybaras, weighing up to 50 kg (110 lb). They build dams to form ponds in which they then build a lodge to protect themselves from predators. More Information: Wikipedia

Blister Beetle – 4/3/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/3/14 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Blister Beetle Scientific Name: Tricrania sanguinipennis Comments: Blister beetles receive their common name from the ability of their hemolymph to produce blistering on contact with human skin. Hemolymph is often exuded copiously by reflexive bleeding when an adult beetle is pressed or rubbed. Blisters commonly occur on the neck […]

Red-Shouldered Hawk – 3/9/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/9/14 Observation Time: 2:40 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Red-shouldered hawk Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus Comments: As I sat at my desk talking on the phone, this hawk swooped in and landed on a branch outside my window. I grabbed my camera with my free hand and snapped this shot. I got help with the identification from my […]

Red-Bellied Woodpecker – 3/8/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/8/14 Observation Time: 11:10 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Red-bellied Woodpecker Scientific Name: Melanerpes carolinus Comments: Red-bellied woodpeckers are often victims of European starlings. As many as half of all red-bellied woodpecker nests in some areas get invaded by starlings. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”

White-breasted Nuthatch – 3/8/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/8/14 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: White-breasted nuthatch Scientific Name: Sitta carolinensis Comments: This white-breasted nuthatch was attracted to the suet feeder at Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary headquarters. More Information: All About Birds: White-breasted Nuthatch

Dark-Eyed Junco – 3/8/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/8/14 Observation Time: 10:55 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Dark-eyed Junco Scientific Name: Junco hyemalis Comments: Juncos are winter birds in Sharon. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds” Previous, Subsequent, or Similar Sightings: Dark-eyed Junco, 1/1/09 Dark-eyed Junco, 5/4/11

Mink – 3/2/14

Observer: John Wraga Observation Date: 3/2/14 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: Traphole Brook at High Plain St. Common Name: Mink Scientific Name: Neovison vison Comments: Mink are semi-aquatic. They eat crayfish, small frogs and fish, along with small mammals such as shrews, rabbits, mice, and muskrats. They also prey on ducks and other water fowl. This mink was hit and killed by a vehicle as […]

Horned Lark – 3/1/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/1/14 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Horned Lark Scientific Name: Eremophila alpestris Comments: In winter, horned larks can be found scavenging for seeds in Ward’s Berry Farm fields bounded by Wolomolopoag St. and South Main Street. Hopefully someone will submit a better photo than this one in the future. More Information: All About Birds

Downy Woodpecker – 2/16/14

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 2/16/14 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Downy Woodpecker Scientific Name: Dendrocopos pubescens Comments: Dendrocopos means “tree dagger” and “pubescens” refers to its downy hairs of puberty compared to those of the Hairy woodpecker, D. villosus.[The Dictionary of American Bird Names by Ernest A. Choate] More Information: All About Birds

Song Sparrow – 2/10/14

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 2/10/14 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Song Sparrow Scientific Name: Melospiza melodia Comments: Melos meaning “song”, “spiza” meaning “a finch” and “melodia” meaning “a pleasant sound”. “Sparrow” comes from the Anglo-Saxon “spearwa” or “sparrow”, literally “flutterer”. [The Dictionary of American Bird Names by Ernest A. Choate] More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”

Bald Eagle – 12/30/13

Observer: Bonnie Tate Observation Date: 12/30/13 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Massapoag Common Name: Bald Eagle Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus Comments: Eating carrion on the lake just beyond Pond St. on Massapoag Ave. More Information: Boidnoise: Adult Bald Eagle Call

Bufflehead – 11/19/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 11/19/13 Observation Time: 2:35 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Bufflehead Scientific Name: Bucephala albeola Comments: Buffleheads are small, diving ducks. They nest in old woodpecker holes, particularly those made by Northern Flickers, in the forests of northern North America. More Information: All About Birds

Harvestman (Daddy Longlegs) – 10/2/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/2/13 Observation Time: 12:15 p.m. Observation Place: Woods near Beaver Brook (near Sharon train station) Common Name: Harvestman (Daddy Longlegs) Scientific Name: Opiliones family Comments: Harvestmen are 8-legged arachnids, but they are not true spiders. Their bodies are oval-shaped and have no waist like a spider. They do not produce venom, and they are harmless to humans. Harvestmen are omnivores, eating a variety of organic […]

Cross Orbweaver spider – 10/1/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/1/13 Observation Time: 3:40 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Cross Orbweaver spider Scientific Name: Araneus diadematus Comments: Native to Europe, but common in North America. Its name comes from the sign of the cross on its abdomen. More Information: GeoChemBio

Locust Borer Beetle – 9/30/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/30/13 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (front yard) Common Name: Locust borer beetle Scientific Name: Megacyllene robiniae Comments: I spotted this beetle near locust trees. More Information: Tumblr: Animal World

Milk Snake (roadkill) – 9/12/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/12/13 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Street Common Name: Milk Snake Scientific Name: Lampropeltis triangulum Comments: Sad to see this beautiful non-venomous milk snake run over by a car. Milk snakes are generally docile, but when alarmed, they sometimes shake their tails against dead leaves to imitate the sound of a rattlesnake. More Information: Virginia Herpetological Society

Belted Kingfisher – 9/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/9/13 Observation Time: 2:05 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Belted Kingfisher Scientific Name: Megaceryle alcyon Comments: These charismatic birds dive for fish. Believe it or not, they nest in burrows on the banks of streams and ponds. More Information: University of Massachusetts

Red-tailed Hawk (juvenile) – 8/14/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/14/13 Observation Time: 7:00 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Red-tailed Hawk (juvenile) Scientific Name: Buteo jamaicensis Comments: Red-tails are big, but they only weigh a maximum of about 3 lbs. They can live up to 30 years. They feed predominantly on small mammals. I took these photos out the kitchen window. More Information: PBase

Praying Mantis – 7/30/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/30/13 Observation Time: 5:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road backyard Common Name: Praying Mantis Scientific Name: Mantis religiosa Comments: This insect looks like it is praying, hence the name. It can swivel its head 180° to look for prey. More Information: Wikipedia

Twelve-spotted Skimmer dragonfly (female) – 7/30/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/30/13 Observation Time: 3:35 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer fields Common Name: Twelve-spotted Skimmer dragonfly (female) Scientific Name: Libellula pulchella Comments: This species of dragonfly is relatively large. Lots of different species of dragonflies live in Sharon. Can you find and phoyograph one that’s not already recorded on this web site? More Information: Ecobirder

Wood Nymph butterfly – 7/27/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/27/13 Observation Time: 2:43 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Wood Nymph butterfly Scientific Name: Cercyonis pegala Comments: It’s a thrill to get so close to something wild and beautiful. More information: Mass Audubon Butterfly Atlas

Eastern Cottontail rabbit – 7/27/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/27/13 Observation Time: 1:50 p.m. Observation Location: Sharon train station Common Name: Eastern Cottontail rabbit Scientific Name: Sylvilagus floridanus Comments: The Eastern Cottontail is an introduced species that is now common in Sharon. Much rarer is the native New England Cottontail, which is smaller and has shorter ears and a black spot on its forehead. If is very hard to tell these two […]

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