Sightings – Page 23 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Tufted Titmouse – 2/25/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 2/25/20 Observation Time: 12:50 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audbon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Tufted Titmouse Scientific Name: Baeolophus bicolor Comments: This tufted titmouse was feeding at the bird feeder by the Moose Hill Audubon headquarters. More Information: All About Birds

Black-capped Chickadee – 2/25/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 2/25/20 Observation Time: 12:30 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black-capped Chickadee Scientific Name: Poecile atricapillus Comments: Chickadees are one of Sharon’s most common birds. They often travel in groups that sometimes include tufted titmouse. With patience, chickadees can be trained to eat sunflower seeds out of your hand! More Information: All About Birds

Black Racer – 1/11/20

Observer: Marcia Tranavitch Observation Date: 1/11/20 Observation Time: mid-day Observation Location: on top of Pierce’s Hill on the Warner Trail (which is also the Bay Circuit Trail at this point) Common Name: Black racer Scientific Name: Coluber constrictor Comments: Reptiles are cold-blooded so they warm themselves by basking. This black racer was seen sunning itself on a warm winter day. It didn’t stretch out for me but […]

Eastern Coyote – 10/17/19

Observer: John Davis Observation Date: 10/17/19 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: 76 Edge Hill Rd. Common Name: Eastern Coyote Scientific Name: Canis latrans Comments: The eastern coyote is part coyote, part wolf, and part domestic dog. They howl like wolves and yip like coyotes and can hunt in both open field areas and forests. This healthy-looking coyote posed in the back yard for a minute, […]

White Wood Aster – 10/6/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/6/19 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Near Beaver Brook Common Name: White Wood Aster Scientific Name: Eurybia divaricata Comments: Eurybia divaricata is native to Eastern U.S. and typically grows in the wild in dry open woods. It grows in loose clumps with dark, sprawling, sometimes zigzag stems up to 2.5′ tall. Distinctive leaves are heart-shaped, stalked and coarsely toothed. Small […]

Northestern Sawyer Beetle – 9/10/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/10/19 Observation Time: 6:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Northeastern Sawyer Beetle Scientific Name: Monochamus notatus Comments: The Northeastern Pine Sawyer Beetle is one of several harmless native species that look like the exotic and destructive Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB). The Northeastern Sawyer is our largest native longhorn beetle, about as large as ALB, but different in color […]

Cockroach Wasp – 9/3/19

Observer: Gaurav Shah Observation Date: 9/3/2019 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: Borderland State Park, Northwest Trail Common Name: Cockroach Wasp Scientific Name: Podium luctuosum Comments: This is the first record of this genus in Massachusetts according to BugGuide, and only the second in New England (there are other existing records from iNaturalist). More information: https://bugguide.net/node/view/202008

Cockroach Wasp – 9/3/19

Observer: Gaurav Shah Observation Date: 9/3/2019 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: Borderland State Park, Northwest Trail Common Name: Cockroach Wasp Scientific Name: Dolichurus cf. bicolor Comments: There are no existing records of this genus in the country in iNaturalist, and only one in BugGuide (which was in Arkansas). This species has one of the most remarkable adaptations in all of nature: they are able to remove […]

Fall Field Cricket – 8/26/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/26/19 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: my back yard (Gavins Pond Road) Common Name: Fall Field Cricket Scientific Name: Gryllus pennsylvanicus Comments: All field crickets are able to make the universally recognizable cricket, “chirping” sounds. Males, though, are able to make the loudest and most noticeable sounds. The chirping is generated by the movement of “scrapers” found on the edge of […]

White Perch – 8/23/19

Observer: Steven D’Addieco Observation Date: 8/23/19 Observation Time: 6:00 p.m. Observation Location: Lake Massapoag Common Name: White Perch Scientific Name: Morone Americana Comments: There are lots of white perch in Lake Massapoag. White perch are good to eat. White perch are not a true perch but, rather, belong to the bass family, Moronidae. More Information: Wikipedia

Yellow Patches Mushroom – 7/13/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/19 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: near footbridge over Beaver Brook Common Name: Yellow Patches Mushroom Scientific Name: Amanita flavoconia Comments: Amanita flavoconia, commonly known as yellow patches, yellow wart, orange Amanita, or yellow-dust Amanita, is a species of mushroom in the family Amanitaceae. It has an orangish-yellow cap with yellowish-orange patches or warts, a yellowish-orange annulus, and a white to […]

Painted Lady Butterfly – 7/1/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/1/19 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations’ Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Painted Lady butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa cardui Comments: The Painted Lady has four small spots on the undersides of its hind wings, whereas the American Lady has two large spots. Otherwise they look very similar. This one was feeding on milkweed blossoms. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North […]

Nessus Sphinx Moth – 7/1/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/1/19 Observation Time: 4:40 p.m. Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations’ Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Nessus Sphinx Moth Scientific Name: Amphion floridensis Comments: The Nessus Sphinx is a member of Sphingidae, a family of powerfully fast moths that are typically seen drinking flower nectar. The Nessus Sphinx has two yellow bands on the abdomen that are thought to help it mimic a […]

Mock Orange – 6/23/19

Observer: Rita Corey Observation Date: 6/23/19 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: 282 Mountain Street Common Name: Mock Orange Scientific Name: Philadelphus coronarius Comments: Mock orange shrubs have flowers that are rich with nectar and attract butterflies. They are native to Southeast Europe and Italy. More Information: the spruce

Eastern Bluebird – 6/23/19

Observer: Rita Corey Observation Date: 6/23/19 Observation Time: 3:30 p.m. Observation Location: 282 Mountain Street (back yard) Common Name: Eastern Bluebird Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Comments: This bluebird was checking out the bluebird house. Note that the entrance hole has been gnawed by a squirrel. The extra piece of wood that’s attached around the hole makes it harder for squirrels to enlarge the hole enough to get […]

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid – 6/23/19

Observer: Rita Corey Observation Date: 6/23/19 Observation Time: 2:15 p.m. Observation Location: Rattlesnake Hill Common Name: Downy Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid Scientific Name: Goodyera pubescens Comments: Please don’t dig up wildflowers. More Information: USDA Plant Fact Sheet

Raspberry Slime Mold – 6/23/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/23/19 Observation Time: 12:32 p.m. Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail Common Name: Rasberry Slime Mold Scientific Name: Amoebozoa 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 […]

Slime Mold – 6/23/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/23/19 Observation Time: 12:30 p.m. Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail Common Name: Slime Mold Scientific Name: Amoebozoa 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 […]

Enchanter’s Nightshade – 6/23/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/23/19 Observation Time: noon Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail Common Name: Enchanter’s Nightshade Scientific Name: Circaea quadrisulcata Comments: Enchanter’s nightshade is a member of the primrose family. More Information: UMass Amherst Weed Herbarium

Witch’s Butter Fungus – 6/23/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/23/19 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Botanical Trail Common Name: Witch’s Butter Fungus Scientific Name: Tremella mesenterica Comments: Although the species appears to be growing on wood, it is actually a parasite on the (usually hidden) mycelium of a crust fungus. More Information: MushoomExpert.com

Indian Pipe – 6/23/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/23/19 Observation Time: 10:45 a.m. Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail Common Name: Indian Pipe Scientific Name: Monotropa uniflora Comments: Indian pipe, also known as ghost plant (or ghost pipe) or corpse plant, is a herbaceous perennial plant native to temperate regions of European Russia, Asia, North America and northern South America, but with large gaps between areas. It is generally rare in […]

American Hornbeam – 6/23/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/23/19 Observation Time: 10:45 p.m. Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail Common Name: American Hornbeam Scientific Name: Carpinus caroliniana Comments: The common English name hornbeam derives from the hardness of the wood (likened to animal horn) and the Old English beam, meaning “tree” (cognate with German Baum). The American hornbeam is also occasionally known as blue-beech, ironwood, or musclewood, the first […]

Fragile Forktail damselfly – 6/9/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/19 Observation Time: 4:55 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Fragile Forktail Damselfly Scientific Name: Ischnura posita Comments: This is the male. The female is blue rather than green. More Information: Odonata Central

Money Flower – 6/9/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/19 Observation time: 4:15 p.m. Observation Location: beginning of the trail at the end of Brook Road Common Name: Money Flower (a.k.a. Honesty) Scientific Name: Lunaria annua Comments: The seed pods of the money flower are shaped like coins. This flower originated from the Balkans and southwest Asia. Its popularity as a garden flower means that colonies are most often seen near to towns and […]

Rattlesnake Root (3-leaved) – 6/9/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/19 Observation Time: 4:05 p.m. Observation Location: trail near Brook Road Common Name: Three-leaved Rattlesnake Root Scientific Name: Nabalus trifoliolatus Comments: The leaves of this species of rattlesnake root look quite different from the arrowhead-shaped leaves of other kinds of rattlesnake root. More Information: GoBotany

« 1 … 21 22 23 24 25 … 59 »