Sightings – Page 12 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Luna Moth (caterpillar) – 8/20/22

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 8/20/22 Observation Time: 10:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Luna Moth (caterpillar) Scientific Name: Actias luna Comments: This luna moth caterpillar was crossing the street, so I moved it to safety. WIth a wing span of up to four inches, bright green luna moths are one of the most spectacular moths in our area. Adults are very […]

Black Bear – 7/30/22

Observer: Emily Smith-Lee Observation Date: 7/30/22 Observation Time: 3:00 pm Observation Location: 33 Moose Hill Parkway Common Name: American Black Bear Scientific Name: Ursus Americanus Comments: He came out of the woods behind our house (town owned conservation land between Moose Hill Parkway and Upland Road) and walked across our back yard before going back into the woods where our yard meets a little creek. According to […]

Striped Skunk – 6/30/22

Observer: Michael Bissanti Observation Date: 6/30/22 Observation Time: morning Observation Location: Moose Hill St. Common Name: Striped Skunk Scientific Name: Mephitis mephitis Comments: The little skunks in the attached video were a riot! Not shy at all, they would wander right onto our patio and didn’t seem to be bothered by our being there. I did some research and learned young skunks don’t spray, so […]

Painted Skimmer Dragonfly – 6/21/22

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 6/21/22 Observation Time: 11:50 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Painted Skimmer dragonfly Scientific Name: Libellula semifasciata Comments: Painted Skimmers live up to their name, and the wings especially glow with color. A rich brown, the thorax has two whitish to yellow diagonal stripes on each side. The abdomen has yellow edges and a jagged black central stripe on the […]

Bald Eagle – 6/14/22

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 6/14/22 Observation Time: morning Observation Location: In tree along edge of lake, Massapoag Ave near Potter Avenue Common Name: Bald Eagle Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus Comments: Bald eagles can live a long time. The oldest recorded bird in the wild was at least 38 years old when it was hit and killed by a car in New York in 2015. It […]

Yellow-throated Vireo – 6/4/22

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 6/4/22 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Sanctuary, in tree on edge of meadow, near Billings Barn. Common Name: Yellow-throated vireo Scientific Name: Vireo flavifrons Comments: Not only does this bird have a bright yellow throat, it looks as if it’s wearing bright yellow spectacles. While the Yellow-throated Vireo is associated with forest edge habitat, it actually requires […]

Early Tachinid Fly – 6/2/22

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 6/2/22 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Early Tachinid Fly Scientific Name: Epalpus signifer Comments: This specimen was identified with the Seek iOS app. More Information: Wikipedia and Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium

Dimorphic Jumping Spider – 6/12/22

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 6/12/22 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Dimorphic Jumping Spider Scientific Name: Maevia inclemens Comments: Identified by Seek iOS app. More Information: Wikipedia

Eastern Wood-Pewee – 5/29/22

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 5/29/22 Observation Time: early morning Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary near Billings barn Common Name: Eastern Wood-Pewee Scientific Name: Contopus virens Comments: The unmistakable song of the wood-pewee (“pee-a-wee”) sounds like its name. It’s a member of the flycatcher family that is typically found in or near forested areas. You can find and play bird songs online. The […]

Japanese Quail – 5/26/22

Observer: Levi McGowan & Ilan Fisher Observation Date: 5/26/22 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Beach & Harding Common Name: Japanese Quail Scientific Name: Cotumix japonica Comments: Check out this Youtube video to see the quail and hear its call: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ3y08Iub_k The call could be a distress call. Perhaps mom is looking for her chicks, or perhaps this is a juvenile looking for its mom. Or perhaps […]

Scarlet Tanager – 5/24/22

Observer: Marshall Katler Observation Date: 5/24/22 Observation Time: 10:15 a.m. Observation Location: King Phillip Rock where Lakeview Field Trail and Horizon’s path diverge Common Name: Scarlet Tanager Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea Comments: Scarlet tanagers are common in Sharon, but seldom seen. Their woodland habitat obscures them in the leaves. I identified this one by hearing its song. To hear what they sound like, click HERE. To find them, […]

Barred Owl – 5/24/22

Observer: Marshall Katler Observation Date: 5/24/22 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: King Phillip Trail near King Phillip Rd. Common Name: Barred Owl Scientific Name: Strix varia Comments: At least 2 barred owls were calling, possibly 3. They were identified by the call since they were quite far from the trail. More Information: All About Birds

Tiger Swallowtail – 5/20/22

Observer: Richard Mandell Observation Date: 5/20/22 Observation Time: 11:55 a.m. Observation Location: Mountain Street Common Name: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: This gorgeous butterfly discovered the sugar water in my hummingbird feeder. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Great Blue Heron – 5/13/22

Observer: Tamara Fisher Observation Date: 5/13/22 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Mann’s Pond Common Name: Great Blue Heron Scientific Name: Ardea herodias Comments: Adult great blue herons weigh about 5 lbs. They weigh more than great horned owls, which weigh about 3 lbs., but they are not the largest bird found in Sharon. Bald eagles can reach 14 lbs. Great blue herons make large nests in tall […]

Eastern Towhee (female) – 5/6/22

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 5/6/22 Observation Time: early morning Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Eastern Towhee (female) Scientific Name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus Comments: A strikingly marked, oversized sparrow of the East More Information: All About Birds

Eastern Towhee (male) – 5/5/22

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 5/5/22 Observation Time: early morning Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Eastern Towhee (male) Scientific Name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus Comments: A strikingly marked, oversized sparrow of the East More Information: All About Birds

Veery – 5/2/22

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 5/2/22 Observation Time: early morning Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary boardwalk Common Name: Veery Scientific Name: Catharus fuscescens Comments: Check out the veery’s ethereal song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK1gaTqBRRk More Information: All About Birds

Great Horned Owl (juvenile) – 4/28/22

Observer: Julia Tavares Observation Date: 4/28/22 Observation Time: 6:30 p.m. Observation Location: Pine Grove Ave. Common Name: Great Horned Owl (juvenile) Scientific Name: Bubo virginianus Comments: We first saw this juvenile Great Horned Owl on our back porch. Then it moved to the front yard. At first we thought it was a snowy owl, but we found out later that it was a juvenile Great […]

Broad-winged Hawk – 4/28/22

Observer: Deborah Radovsky Observation Date: 4/28/22 Observation Time: early evening Observation Location: Moose Hill, near nature center Common Name: Broad-winged hawk Scientific Name: Buteo platypterus Comments: A small, stocky raptor with black-and-white bands on the tail, the Broad-winged Hawk is a bird of the forest interior and can be hard to see during the nesting season. Its call is a piercing, two-parted whistle. One of the […]

Red Trillium – 4/27/22

Observer: Susan Drisko Observation Date: 4/27/2022 Observation Time: 3:25 p.m. Observation Location: Town-owned conservation land near Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Red Trillium Scientific Name: Trillium erectum Comments: Native to eastern North America, the red trillium (Trillium erectum) is found on forest floors. Its components surface in groups of three as pointed triple leaves, giving way to three-petalled flowers. Red trillium is mildly toxic to […]

Green False Hellebore – 4/27/22

Observer: Susan Drisko Observation Date: 4/27/2022 Observation Time: 3:35 p.m. Observation Location: Town-owned conservation land near Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Green False Hellebore Scientific Name: Veratrum viride Comments: Green false hellebore, or giant false-helleborine, is native to eastern and western (but not central) North America. It is extremely toxic, and is considered a pest plant by farmers with livestock. The species has acquired a large number […]

Marsh Marigold – 4/27/2022

Observer: Susan Drisko Observation Date: 4/27/2022 Observation Time: 1:45 p.m. Observation Location: headwaters of Beaver Brook Common Name: Marsh Marigold Scientific Name: Caltha palustris Comments: Caltha palustris, known as marsh-marigold and kingcup, is a small to medium size perennialherbaceousplant of the buttercup family, native to marshes, fens, ditches and wet woodlands in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It typically flowers between April and August. More […]

Flying Squirrel – 4/4/22

Observer: Richard Kramer Observation Date: 4/4/22 Observation Time: 9:22 p.m. Observation Location: Beach St. Common Name: Northern flying squirrel Scientific Name: Glaucomys sabrinus Comments: Click the link below to see a very short (but very cool!) video of a flying squirrel taking flight from a flying squirrel nesting box installed by Kurt Buermann and Richard Kramer. They also installed a video camera to see and record flying squirrel […]

Yellow-Spotted Salamander – 3/13/22

Observer: Bruce Lewis Observation Date: 3/13/22 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill St. near TTOR’s Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Yellow Spotted Salamander Scientific Name: Ambystoma maculatum Comments: It’s generally best not to handle amphibians, so I left it alone. Salamanders typically do not emerge until “Big Night” – the first rainy night after the snow melts in late March. This specimen was crawling around while it was snowing. More […]

Fisher – 2/27/22

Observer: Faith Berkland Observation Date: 2/27/22 Observation Time: 5:30 pm Observation Location: 302 Mansfield St., Sharon Common Name: Fisher Scientific Name: Pekania pennanti Comments: I was on phone with daughter looking into the woods in my back yard. It ran to the left about 10 feet then back to the right then to the left again. We have a huge woodpile and a drainage ditch out there. […]

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