Sightings – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Spotted Lanternfly – 9/6/26

Observer: Ken Zaniewski Observation Date: 9/6/26 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: 11 Pine St Common Name: Spotted Lanternfly Scientific Name: Lycorma delicatula Comments: Saw at least a dozen of these critters More Information: Mass.gov and Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Program and Cornell CALS and National Invasive Species Information Center and Wikipedia

Monarch Butterfly – 8/16/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/16/26 Observation Time: 5:50 p.m. Observation Place: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. (butterfly bush in our back yard) Common Name: Monarch Butterfly Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus Comments: Monarchs make an epic, multi-generational migration. Check it out at the link below. More Information: National Geographic

Tiger Swallowtail – 8/15/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/15/26 Observation Time: 4:30 pm Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. (butterfly bush in our back yard) Common Name: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: Tiger swallowtails are common in Sharon in summer. This one has damaged wings, presumably as a result of being repeatedly attacked by predators over the course of the summer. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (immature male) – 8/15/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/15/26 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd (butterfly bush in our back yard) Common Name: Ruby-throated Hummingbird Scientific Name: Archilochus colubris Comments: The few red scales visible on this bird’s neck indicate that it is an immature male hatched earlier this summer. When mature, its entire throat will be bright red. Female ruby-throated hummingbirds have white throats. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only species of […]

American Lady butterfly – 8/15/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/15/26 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd (butterfly bush in my back yard) Common Name: American Lady butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis Comments: American Lady butterflies look a lot like Painted Lady butterflies. The American Lady has two large spots on the undersides of its trailing wings. The Painted Lady has four smaller spots instead. More Information: Wisconsin Butterflies and Butterflies and Moths of North America

Thread-waisted Wasp – 7/11/26

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 7/11/26 Observation Time: 12:30 pm Observation Location: near Moose Hill Common Name: Thread-waisted wasp Scientific Name: Ammophila procera Comments: Today I watched what looked like a big and long wasp-like bug (photo) sting a caterpillar and then lift it and carry it away into our garden. At one point, it stopped, put the caterpillar down, and then move a tiny […]

Black Bear – 7/5/26

Observer: Marcia Berman Podlisny Observation Date: 7/5/26 Observation Time: 3:03 pm Observation Location: Gunhouse St. near Deborah Sampson Park Common Name: American Black Bear Scientific Name: Ursus Americanus Comments: At 3:03 pm a black bear was spotted crossing our backyard, across Gunhouse St into the north side of Deborah Sampson Park and in the general direction of the dog park. Multiple black bear sightings have been […]

Raspberry Slime Mold – 6/27/26

Observer: Gaurav Shah Observation Date: 6/27/26 Observation Time: 12:22 p.m. Observation Location: Trowel Pond trail Common Name: Rasberry Slime Mold Scientific Name: Tubifera ferruginosa Comments: Slime molds are in the phylum Amoebozoa, and are related to amoeba. Slime molds are aggregates of single-celled organisms that can grow up to 9 feet long! Slime molds typically aggregate to form a plasmodium — a multinucleate mass of undifferentiated cells that may move in an ameboid-like fashion during the […]

Coral Slime Mold – 6/26/26

Observer: Gaurav Shah Observation Date: 6/26/26 Observation Time: 12:22 p.m. Observation Location: Trowl Pond trail Common Name: Coral Slime Mold Scientific Name: Ceratomyxia Comments: Slime molds are neither plants nor animals. They are members of the phylum Amoebozoa, and are related to amoeba. Slime molds are aggregates of single-celled organisms. Some kinds of slime molds can grow up to 9 feet long! Slime molds typically aggregate […]

Wolf’s Milk Slime Mold – 6/26/26

Observer: Gaurav Shah Observation Date: 6/26/26 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Wolf’s Milk Slime Mold Scientific Name: Lycogala epidendrum Comments: Slime molds are neither plants nor animals. They are members of the phylum Amoebozoa, and are related to amoeba. Slime molds are aggregates of single-celled organisms. Some kinds of slime molds can grow up to 9 feet long! Slime molds […]

Barn Swallow – 5/31/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/26 Observation Time: 3:40 pm Observation Location: stone hut by Upper Leach Pond at Borderland State Park Common Name: Barn Swallow Scientific Name: Hirundo rustica Comments: I spotted this pair of barn swallows sitting on a birch branch as I was sitting on a bench in front ot the stone hut by Leach Pond. Then I saw them fly into the stone hut, where I took […]

Box Turtle – 5/27/26

Observer: Kelli Pittenger Observation Date: 5/27/27 Observation Time: 12:15 pm Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Eastern Box Turtle Scientific Name: Terrapene carolina Comments: Box turtles are a Species of Special Concern in Massachusetts. A Species of Special Concern is any species of plant or animal which has been documented by biological research and inventory to have suffered a decline that could threaten the species if allowed […]

Little Wood Satyr – 5/26/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/26/26 Observation Time: 7:40 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Little Wood Satyr butterfly Scientific Name: Megisto cymela Comments: As the name implies, the little wood satyr is a small butterfly most commonly seen in woods and shrubby areas. This one was in a field near the edge of the woods. More Information: Wikipedia

Ash Tree (diseased) – 5/26/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/26/26 Observation Time: 6:40 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Ash Tree (diseased) Scientific Name: genus Fraxinus Comments: This ash tree was killed by emerald ash borer beetles, which have killed millions of ash trees and threaten the future of ash trees. The holes drilled by the ash borer beetles are clearly visible in the second […]

Magnolia Warbler – 5/20/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/20/26 Observation Time: 7:25 a.m. Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations’ Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Magnolia Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga magnolia Comments: These gorgeous little birds pass through Sharon on their northward migration in spring. Learn to recognize their song to improve your chances of seeing one early on a clear morning between late April and mid-May. I was surprised to […]

Leopard’s-bane – 5/19/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/26 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Sharon Historical Society at 16 High St. Common Name: Leopard’s-bane Scientific Name: Doronicum pardalianches Comments: Leopard’s-bane is a flowering plant in the sunflower family. It is a herbaceous perennial native to Europe, southwest Asia and Siberia. It produces yellow, daisy-like flowerheads in spring and summer. It typically thrives in cool, mountainous regions and […]

Yellow-billed Cuckoo – 5/19/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/26 Observation Time: 8:45 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (by the field behind the barn on the Billings Loop) Common Name: Yellow-billed Cuckoo Scientific Name: Coccyzus americanus Comments: I heard this yellow-billed cuckoo before I spotted it. Even though cuckoos are relatively large birds, they typically don’t move around much, so they are hard to find unless […]

Cedar Waxwing – 5/19/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/26 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Cedar Waxwing Scientific Name: Bombycilla cedrorum Comments: These striking birds are typically seen in groups. Their tails look as if they were dipped in yellow paint, and each of their wings has a bright red spot. More Information: All About Birds

Eastern Box Turtle – 5/16/26

Observer: Al Mollitor Observation Date: 5/16/26 Observation Time: Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Eastern Box Turtle Scientific Name: Terrapene carolina Comments: Box turtles are a Species of Special Concern in Massachusetts. A Species of Special Concern is any species of plant or animal which has been documented by biological research and inventory to have suffered a decline that could threaten the species if allowed to […]

American Redstart – 5/13/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/26 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: TTOR’s Moose Hill Farm Common Name: American redstart Scientific Name: Setophaga ruticilla Comments: Redstarts are members of the warbler family. Their song is variable, and can be confused with the songs of some other warblers. See: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Redstart/id More Information: All About Birds

Indigo bunting – 5/13/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/26 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) under the power lines Common Name: Indigo Bunting Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea Comments: Indigo buntings are actually black; the diffraction of light through their feathers makes them look blue. This explains why males can appear as various hues from turquoise to black. Indigo buntings are more common now than […]

Great-crested Flycatcher – 5/13/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/26 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: TTOR’s Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Great-crested flycatcher Scientific Name: Myiarchus crinitus Comments: The great-crested flycatcher has a pale yellow breast. The underside of its tail is reddish brown. The memory hook I use to remember its call is “weep, weep, weep.” More Information: All About Birds

Yellow Warbler – 5/12/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/26 Observation Time: 4:10 p.m. Observation Location: near Billings Brook Common Name: Yellow warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga petechia Comments: The yellow warbler has a song that sounds like, “sweet-sweet-sweet-little more sweet.” It is typically found near wetlands. More Information: All About Birds

Brown Thrasher – 5/12/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/26 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer field parking lot Common Name: Brown Thrasher Scientific Name: Toxostoma rufum Comments: The last time I saw a brown thrasher in Sharon was 15 years ago on May 2, 2011. It was in the same place where I saw this one – at the soccer parking lot near Gavins […]

Common Yellowthroat – 5/12/26

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/26 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (boardwalk) Common Name: Common Yellowthroat Scientific Name: Geoothlypis trichas Comments: Common yellowthroats are typically found in or near wetlands. They are a type of warbler, with a distinctive black mask that is reminiscent of a raccoon. Their song sounds like, “witchety, witchety, witchety.” More Info: All About Birds

1 2 3 … 65 »