Sightings – Page 14 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Tiger Swallowtail – 6/24/21

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/24/21 Observation Time: 2:35 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: This striking, large butterfly is fairly common in Sharon. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Osprey – 5/23/21

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/21 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: tall cell tower by the composting area at the end of Farnham Road Common Name: Osprey Scientific Name: Pandion haliaetus Comments: A pair of ospreys built a nest atop the tall cell tower by the composting area at the end of Farnham Road. More Information: All About Birds

Killdeer – 5/22/21

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/22/21 Observation Time: noon Observation Location: composting area at the end of Farnham Road Common Name: Killdeer Scientific Name: Charadrius vociferus Comments: This “freshwater sandpiper” makes a piercing cry, which explains its species name “vociferus“. This species is one of the least water-associated of all shorebirds. Note the red rings around its large eyes. More Information: All About Birds

Red Crossbill – 4/4/21

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 4/4/21 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Common Name: Red Crossbill Scientific Name: Loxia curvirostra Comments: I wish I could claim some special birding or photography skill but three red crossbills flew literally right over my head and into a tree a few feet above me, and then jumped over to a nearby branch to get some water. There is […]

Globular Springtail – 4/4/21

Observer: Gaurav Shah Observation Date: 4/4/21 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Globular Springtail Scientific Name: Sminthuridas malmgreni Comments: This is the first report of a globular springtail on Bugguide.net or iNaturalist anywhere in the USA. However, globular springtails are not uncommon. Check out this fascinating Youtube, and find out why they are called “springtails”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu01EUeE5PM More information: Bugguide.net

Water Beetle – 4/4/21

Observer: Gaurav Shah Observation Date: 4/4/21 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Water Beetle Scientific Name: tribe Hyphydrini, subfamily Hydroporinae, family Dytiscidae Comments: This is the first BugGuide.net report of this tribe and genus in Massachusetts. More information: BugGuide.net and Wikipedia

Wood Duck – 3/31/21

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 3/31/21 Observation Time: 11:00 AM Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Wood duck Scientific Name: Aix sponsa Comment: “sponsa” means “betrothed” — dressed for a wedding – a comment on the beauty of the male plumage. More Information: All About Birds

Wolf Spider – 4/1/21

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 3/26/21 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Place: Moose Hill area Common Name: Wolf spider Scientific Name: Gladicosa gulosa Comments: I would have been happier finding this wolf spider outside rather than in our mudroom. I captured it and deposited it outside — before reading that some wolf spiders can be aggressive towards humans, that their bite can take a few weeks to […]

Fisher – 2/26/21

Observer: Kurt Buermann Observation Date: 2/26/21 Observation Time: 7:43 p.m. Observation Location: Furnace St. Common Name: Fisher Scientific Name: Martes pennanti Comments: Kurt Buermann mounted a motion-activated animal cam in his yard and got this video of a fisher: https://youtu.be/FbpcRP6W3D8m. Fishers are omnivorous. You can see the fisher eating raisins near the end of the video. Fishers are sometimes referred to as fisher cats, but they […]

Pine Warbler – 12/30/20

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 12/30/20 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Pine Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga pinus Comments: Pine warblers are typically found in pine groves. Many warbler species migrate through Sharon in May on their way to nesting areas farther north, but pine warblers nest here in Sharon, and can be found here all summer. Although they typically migrate south in winter, some of […]

Dark-eyed Junco – 12/18/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 12/18/20 Observation Time: 8:35 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd. (our back yard) Common Name: Dark-eyed Junco Scientific Name: Junco hyemalis Comments: Juncos are a type of sparrow commonly seen around Sharon in winter. They head north in spring and don’t return until fall. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”

Northern Cardinal – 12/18/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 12/18/20 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd. (our back yard) Common Name: Northern Cardinal (female) 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 male is bright red and the female is mostly tan. […]

Springtails – 11/29/20

Observer: Kurt Buermann Observation Date: 11/29/20 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: 45 Furnace St. Common Name: Globular Springtails Scientific Name: Sminthuridae Comments: I have often seen these brown dots floating in water, ponds or birdbaths. Today I got really curious. With the naked eye they seem like some sort of pollen. If you scoop a few onto your finger tip they jump off so they are […]

Northern Cardinal – 11/27/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 11/27/20 Observation Time: 12:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd. (my back yard) 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 male is bright red and the female is mostly tan. More […]

Tufted Titmouse – 11/27/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 11/27/20 Observation Time: 12:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd. (my back yard) Common Name: Tufted Titmouse Scientific Name: Baeolophus bicolor Comments: Tufted titmice are abundant in Sharon. They are often encountered in the company of chickadees. More Information: All About Birds

Eastern Gray Squirrel – 11/27/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 11/27/20 Observation Time: 12:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd. (my back yard) Common Name: Eastern Gray Squirrel Scientific Name: Sciurus carolinensis Comments: The eastern gray squirrel hoards food in numerous small caches for later recovery. Some caches are quite temporary, especially those made near the site of a sudden abundance of food which can be retrieved within hours or days for […]

House Finch – 11/27/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 11/27/20 Observation Time: 12:05 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. (my back yard) Common Name: House Finch Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: Male house finches have reddish coloration on their head and breast. Females are streaked brown. Both have a heavy, conical beak for cracking seeds open. More Information: All About Birds

Pileated Woodpecker – 10/24/20

Observer: Faith Berkland Observation Date: 10/24/20 Observation Time: 3:55 p.m. Observation Location: 302-296 Mansfield St., Sharon Common Name: Pileated Woodpecker Scientific Name: Dryocopus pileatus Comments: Unfortunately I did not get a picture. However, this was very recognizable for the loud call, the large white spot under its wings when it flew from tree to tree and its pointy crest. I only briefly made out the coloring […]

Ringless Honey Mushroom – 9/17/20

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 9/17/20 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Ringless Honey Mushroom Scientific Name: Armillaria tabescens Comments: These ringless mushrooms extended almost all the way around the tree. WARNING: This is NOT a beginner’s mushroom. Never eat any wild plant unless you are 100% sure that you have identified an edible species. More Information: The Foraged Foodie

Pickerel Frog – 9/9/20

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 9/9/20 Observation Time: 11:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Pickerel Frog Scientific Name: Lithobates 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 […]

Goldrenrod Bunch Gall Midge – 9/9/20

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 9/9/20 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Goldrenrod Bunch Gall Midge Scientific Name: Rhopalomyia solidaginis Comments: This peculiar insect makes a gall on goldenrod. More Information: iNaturalist

parasol Mushroom – 9/9/20

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 9/9/20 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Parasol mushroom Scientific Name: Macrolepiota procera Comments: iNaturalist says this is a parasol mushroom. I thought they had rounded caps, but I do see some flat tops when googling. This was large – maybe 5″ to 6″ in diameter. Very pretty. More Information: Mushroom-Collecting.com

Brittle Gill Mushroom – 9/7/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/7/20 Observation Time: 5:45 p.m. Observation Location: conservation land near Lakeview & Morse Common Name: Brittle Gill Mushroom Scientific Name: Russula pulchra Comments: Wikipedia lists an enormous number of Russula species, so I am not certain of this identification. More Information: Mushroom Expert

Chicken of the Woods – 9/7/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/7/20 Observation Time: 5:40 p.m. Observation Location: conservation land near Lakeview & Morse Common Name: Chicken of the Woods Scientific Name: Laetiporus sulphureus Comments: These relatively small specimens were growing on a dead oak tree. Chicken of the Woods can grow to very large size. They are edible, but it is wise to refrain from eating any wild-harvested food unless […]

Wild Grapes – 9/7/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/7/20 Observation Time: 5:30 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land at Morse & Lakeview Common Name: Wild Grapes Scientific Name: Vitis spp. Comments: Wild grapevines are native to eastern North America. I smelled these wild grapes before I saw the grapevine laden with purple fruit climbing a tree beside the trail. Be careful not to confuse wild grapes, which are edible, with Canadian Moon Seeds, which are […]

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