Animal – Page 40 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Gray Fox – 5/12/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/12 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: 5 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Gray Fox Scientific Name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus Comments: This species and the closely related Channel Island fox (Urocyon littoralis) are the only living members of the genus Urocyon, which is considered to be among the most primitive of the living canids. The gray fox’s ability to climb trees is shared only with […]

Red Admiral butterfly – 5/11/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/12 Observation Time: 5:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road area Common Name: Red Admiral butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa atalanta Comments: Several of these Red Admirals were chasing after each other in a sunny clearing along a wooded dirt road near Gavins Pond. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Painted Lady butterfly – 5/5/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/5/12 Observation Time: 6:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near Well #5 Common Name: Painted Lady butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa cardui Comments: This Painted Lady butterfly was feeding in the same flowering shrub with American Lady butterflies. Learn how to tell them apart at: https://bugguide.net/node/view/236368 More Information: massaudubon.org

Frosted Elfin Butterfly – 4/29/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/29/12 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: undisclosed location in Sharon Common Name: Frosted Elfin Butterfly Scientific Name: Callophrys irus Comments: This small butterfly is a species of special concern. More Information: See the Boston Globe article on this butterfly.

Spring Azure butterfly – 4/29/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/29/12 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Spring Azure butterfly Scientific Name: Genus Celastrina Comments: This is either Celastrina ladon or Celastrina lucia. 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. This specimen is worn, faded and probably nearing the […]

Gray Fox – 11/4/11

Observer: Art Newman Observation Date: 11/4/11 Observation Time: 9:12 a.m. Observation Location: Common Name: Gray Fox Scientific Name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus Comments: Spotted running across Billings St., headed for the Devil’s Rock trail. Coat in transition with yellowish flecks on her body. The gray fox has rounded ears, a pointed muzzle and long hooked claws. The gray fox can climb and will occasionally forage for food or rest in […]

Wood Duck – 9/30/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/30/11 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Wood Duck Scientific Name: Aix sponsa Comments: Wood ducks have spectacular plumage, but they are very shy and difficult to approach, so it is a real challenge to get a good photo. This flock of wood ducks (there were at least a dozen, of which three are visible in the photo) showed […]

Yellow-spotted Salamander – 9/24/11

Observer: Scott Didham Observation Date: 9/24/11 Observation Location: Mansfield St. Common Name: Yellow-spotted salamander Scientific Name: Ambystoma maculatum More Information: Read about the salamander migration at Moose Hill in 2008.

Green Stink Bug nymph – 9/16/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/16/11 Observation Time: 2:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Green Stink Bug nymph Scientific Name: Acrosternum hilare Comments: This striking green stink bug nymph caught my eye as it sat on a rosa rugosa leaf by the pond. The adults are solid green. I spotted the green stink bug nymph because of its bold, contrasty coloration. Perhaps the reason for […]

Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly – 8/27/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/27/11 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Everes comyntas Comments: Eastern tailed blues are very small butterflies. They have tails and an eye spot on each wing that vaguely resemble antennae and eyes to fool predators. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Halloween Pennant dragonfly – 8/26/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/26/11 Observation Time: 12:30 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond soccer field parking lot Common Name: Halloween Pennant dragonfly Scientific Name: Celithemis eponina Comments: Tattered wings reflect the wear and tear of summer in this late August photo. More Information: Wikipedia

Mason Wasp – 8/17/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/17/11 Observation Time: 12:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Mason Wasp Scientific Name: Monobia quadridens Comments: Mason wasps are solitary. They have a metallic blue sheen on their wings. Females usually build nests in abandoned holes of other bee and wasp species. Sometimes mistaken for Bald-faced Hornet, but note the position and extent of white on the […]

Great Black Wasp – 8/17/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/17/11 Observation Time: 12:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Great Black Wasp Scientific Name: Sphex pensylvanicus Comments: Sphex pensylvanicus is a species of digger wasp, commonly known as the great black wasp. It lives across most of North America and grows to a size of 20–35 mm (0.8–1.4 in). The larvae feed on living insects that the females paralyze and carry […]

Eastern Amberwing dragonfly (female) – 8/17/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/17/11 Observation Time: 12:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Eastern Amberwing dragonfly (female) Scientific Name: Perithemis tenera Comments: The wings of the male are entirely amber, whereas the wings of the female are clear with amber blotches. More Information: Project Noah

Pickerel Frog – 8/11/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/11/11 Observation Time: 3:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Pickerel Frog Scientific Name: Rana palustris Comments: The skin secretions of a stressed pickerel frog are known to be toxic to other frogs, as many a novice frog catcher has found when he finds only the pickerel frogs still alive in his bucket. These secretions can also be […]

Black Crappie (Calico Bass) – 8/5/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/5/11 Observation Time: 6:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Black Crappie (Calico Bass) Scientific Name: Pomoxis nigromaculatus Comments: Crappies are a popular sport fish, as they are easy to catch when they are feeding. As with other freshwater species in Massachusetts, crappies accumulate mercury in their tissues as a result of environmental pollution from power plants. More Information: […]

Great Golden Digger Wasp – 7/27/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/27/11 Observation Time: 3:50 p.m. Observation Location: soccer parking lot near Gavins Pond Common Name: Great Golden Digger Wasp Scientific Name: Sphex ichnumoneus Comments: Sphex ichnumoneus is a species of solitary wasp, commonly known as the Great Golden Digger Wasp. This large and colorful wasp can frequently be found nectaring at flowers in late summer and fall. It makes burrows in bare ground […]

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly – 7/26/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/26/11 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: dirt road leading to the Gavins Pond dam Common Name:Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: This butterfly was so preoccupied with feeding on some decomposing organic matter that I was able to approach within a few inches to take this photo. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Eastern Chipmunk – 7/17/11

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 7/17/11 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Eastern chipmunk Scientific Name: Tamias striatus More Information: Animal Diversity Web: Eastern Chipmunk

Great Spangled Fritillary – 7/16/11

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 7/16/11 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Great Spangled Fritillary Scientific Name: Speyeria cybele Comments: Easily confused with Aphrodite Fritillary – see: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Speyeria-cybele&sp2=Speyeria-aphrodite More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Pearl Crescent butterflies mating – 7/13/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/11 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond soccer field parking lot Common Name: Pearl Crescent butterflies Scientific Name: Phyciodes tharos Comments: Here is a sequence of four photos, taken over a span of just a few minutes, of a pair of Pearl Crescent butterflies mating near the Gavins Pond soccer field parking lot. I was walking on my way to get […]

Northern Water Snake – 7/9/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/9/11 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Northern Water Snake Scientific Name: Nerodia sipedon Comments: Water snakes are not venomous, but they can be large (4 feet long or more, and as thick as a man’s wrist) and aggressive. This one was more interested in avoiding me than attacking me. More Information: Savannah River Ecology Laboratory The […]

Painted Turtle – 7/6/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/6/11 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond outflow pool Common Name: Painted Turtle Scientific Name: Chrysemys picta Comments: I found this specimen on the dam, so I photographed it and then put it back in the water. In June, painted turtles lay their eggs in holes they dig with their hind legs in sunny patches of sandy soil. More […]

Halloween Pennant dragonfly – 7/6/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/6/11 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Halloween Pennant dragonfly Scientific Name: Celithemis eponina Comments: This is one of my best wildlife photos. The late afternoon sunlight provided perfect illumination. More Information: Wikipedia

Green Frog – 7/4/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/4/11 Observation Time: 4:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Green Frog Scientific Name: Lithobates clamitans Comments: This is one of our most familiar frogs, and is found statewide. It has some green on its face and a mostly brown body, with a ridge running down each side of its back. This species prefers permanent or semipermanent water bodies […]

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