Sightings – Page 24 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Wolf Spider – 6/9/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/19 Observation Time: 3:55 p.m. Observation Place: trail from Brook Road to Devil’s Rock Common Name: Wolf spider Scientific Name: Gladicosa gulosa Comments: This spider does not make a web. More Information: Sweating the Small Stuff

Roundleaf Greenbriar – 6/9/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/19 Observation time: 2:50 p.m. Observation Location: along trail near Brook Road Common Name: Roundleaf Greenbriar Scientific Name: Smilax rotundifolia Comments: Greenbriar vines, often found near wetlands, have glossy, rounded leaves and large, sharp thorns. The tips of the vines are edible. More information: Marblehead Conservancy

Crown-tipped Coral Fungus – 6/9/19

Observer: Hana Jenner Observation Date: 6/9/19 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: on a log beside a trail near Brook Road Common Name: Crown-tipped Coral Fungus Scientific Name: Artomyces pyxidatus Comments: This is one of the few coral fungi found on decaying wood. The crown-like tips of the branches are unlike those of any of the other coral fungi, thus making this species relatively easy to […]

Bald Eagle – 6/4/19

Observer: Richard Kramer Observation Date: 6/4/19 Observation Time: noon Observation Location: Lake Massapoag 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 had been banded in the same state in 1977. The […]

Yellow Warbler – 6/2/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: in the wetlands beneath the power lines across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm 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

Song Sparrow – 6/2/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: in the wetlands beneath the power lines across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Song Sparrow Scientific Name: Melospiza melodia Comments: There are at least 18 species of sparrows in Massachusetts. Learning their respective calls is a good way to find and identify them. More Information: All About Birds

Deer-tongue Grass – 6/2/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Along the dirt road under the power lines on the other side of South Main Street from Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Deer-tongue Grass Scientific Name: Dichanthelium clandestinum Comments: Deer-tongue grass is a perennial cool-season grass native to eastern North America. It grows to 2′ to 4′ tall. It is tolerant of low pH […]

Chalk-fronted Corporal dragonfly (juvenile) – 6/2/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: beneath the high tension wires that parallel So. Walpole Street Common Name: Chalk-fronted Corporal dragonfly (juvenile) Scientific Name: Ladona julia Comments: Juveniles of both sexes are light reddish brown, with white shoulder stripes and a black stripe down the middle of the abdomen. This one seemed a bit wobbly, as if it had just […]

Field Sparrow – 6/2/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 2:40 p.m. Observation Location: Rocky bluff under power lines near So. Walpole Street Common Name: Field Sparrow Scientific Name: Spizella pusilla Comments: Field sparrows have a relatively long tail, a thin white eye ring, and a pinkish conical bill. They have a gray face and a rust-colored cap. However, the best way to tell them apart from other sparrows is […]

Black Swallowtail butterfly – 6/2/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 2:15 p.m. Observation Location: rocky bluff under power lines along S. Walpole St. Common Name: Black Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio polyxenes Comments: Black swallowtail butterflies look a lot like spicebush swallowtail butterflies. You can learn how to tell the difference between a black swallowtail and a spicebush swallowtail at: http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Papilio-polyxenes&sp2=Papilio-troilus There is also a good discussion of how to […]

Prairie Warbler – 6/2/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 1:20 p.m. Observation Location: on the bluff beneath the power lines that parallel So. Walpole St. Common Name: Prairie Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: Prairie warblers are found in scrubby fields and forests throughout the eastern and south-central United States, not on the prairies. Unlike many other warblers that migrate through Sharon in spring and fall, the Prairie […]

Mourning Dove – 6/2/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 1:10 p.m. Observation Location: beneath the high tension wires that parallel So. Walpole St. Common Name: Mourning Dove Scientific Name: Zenaida macroura Comments: The mourning dove is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American bird species. It is also a leading gamebird, with more than 20 million birds (up to 70 million in some years) shot […]

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle – 6/2/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/19 Observation Time: 12:10 Observation Location: beneath the power lines that parallel So. Walpole St. Common Name: Six-spotted tiger beetle Scientific Name: Cicindela sexguttata Comments: Female six-spotted tiger beetles lay eggs in sandy patches. When they hatch, the larvae burrow into the ground. The larvae lie in wait until small arthropods walk by. Then they pounce much like a jack in the box. […]

Flower Fly – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 3:40 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Morse & Lakeview Streets. Common Name: Flower Fly Scientific Name: Helophilus fasciatus (family: Syrphidae) Comments: Flower Flies (also known as “hover flies” because of their tendency to hover in mid-air for long periods), are especially interesting insects. They are overlooked by nearly everybody but farmers, who recognize them as one of the most […]

Eastern Towhee – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 5:30 p.m. Observation Location: Under high tension wires across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Eastern Towhee (male) Scientific Name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus Comments: This male towhee tried to scare me away by repeatedly raising one wing or the other to make itself look more intimidating. Note its deep red eye. More Information: All About Birds

American Lady butterfly – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 5:20 p.m. Observation Location: under the high tension wires across the street from Ward’s Berry Farm 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. This Amerian Lady was […]

Great Crested Flycatcher – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: Rocky bluff under power lines near So. Walpole St. 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

Field Sparrow – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 5:05 p.m. Observation Location: Rocky bluff under power lines near So. Walpole Street Common Name: Field Sparrow Scientific Name: Spizella pusilla Comments: Field sparrows have a relatively long tail, a thin white eye ring, and a pinkish conical bill. They have a gray face and a rust-colored cap. However, the best way to tell them apart from other sparrows is […]

Painted Skimmer dragonfly – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: on a bluff under high tension wires near S. Walpole St. 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 […]

Bird’s Foot Violet – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 4:40 p.m. Observation Location: Power lines near Walpole St. Common Name: Bird’s Foot Violet Scientific Name: Viola pedata Comments: Bird-foot violets are perennials with five-petaled flowers that bloom from March to June. The flowers are typically blue, but can range from white to purple. They spread by sending out rhizomes. The fan-shaped leaves have three lobes which are said to […]

Wool Sower Gall Wasp – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/10 Observation Time: 4:25 p.m. Observation Location: Beneath the high tension lines near So. Walpole St. Common Name: Wool Sower Gall Wasp Scientific Name: Callirhytis seminator Comments: Pink-spotted, white cottony wool sower galls are about the size of a ping-pong ball and are produced by a tiny species of Cynipid wasp, Callirhytis seminator, and are most commonly found on white […]

Black Huckleberry – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 4:20 p.m. Observation Location: Beneath high tension wires near So. Walpole St. Common Name: Black Huckleberry Scientific Name: Gaylussacia baccata Comments: These are the distinctive bright red unopened flower buds of black huckleberry, Gaylussacia baccata. They are typically no more than waist-high. They often form a near-continuous shrub layer in dryish oak woods. In moister soils they tend to […]

Orchard Orbweaver spider – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Morse & Lakeview Common Name: Orchard Orbweaver spider Scientific Name: Leucauge venusta Comments: I had a hard time focusing the camera on this tiny spider and its gossamer web. More Information: Wikipedia

Yellow Birch Tree – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 2:15 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Morse & Lakeview Common Name: Yellow Birch Tree Scientific Name: Betula alleghaniensis Comments: A large and important lumber species of birch native to North-eastern North America. It has shaggy bark. More Information: Wikipedia

North American Millipede – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: boardwalk through Conservation land near Morse & Lakeview Common Name: North American Millipede Scientific Name: Narceus americanus Comments: Millipedes first appeared in the fossil record 400 million years ago and are some of the first animals to have lived on land. It is hypothesized that these ancient species are the largest animals without backbones to […]

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