Category: Sightings

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 4/9/18 Observation Time: evening Observation Location: Cottage and Ames Streets Common Name: Red-shouldered Hawk Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus Comments: Although the American Crow often mobs the Red-shouldered Hawk, sometimes the relationship is not so one-sided. They may chase each other and try to steal food from each other. They may also both attack a Great Horned Owl and join forces to chase the […]

Observer: Faith Berkland Observation Date: 4/14/18 Observation Time: 3:30 p.m. Observation Location: 302 Mansfield Street Common Name: Eastern Bluebird Scientific Name: Sialia sialis More Information: All About Birds or Animalia  

Observer: Jeff Rose Observation Date: 3/10/18 Observation Time: 8:00 AM Observation Location: 302 Mansfield Street, Sharon, MA Common Name: Wood duck (drake) Scientific Name: Aix sponsa Comment: Male ducks are referred to as drakes. More Information: All About Birds    

Observer: Deb  Radovsky Observation Date: 2/27/18 Observation Time: afternoon Observation Location: Lake Massapoag Common Name: Canvasback duck Scientific Name: Aythya valisineria Comments: The species name of the Canvasback, Aythya valisineria, comes from Vallisneria americana, or wild celery, whose winter buds and rhizomes are its preferred food during the nonbreeding period. The oldest recorded Canvasback was a male and at least 22 years, 7 months old when he […]

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 2/26/18 Observation Time: N/A Observation Location: Lake Massapoag Common Name: Common Merganser Scientific Name: Mergus merganser Comments: Common Mergansers are sometimes called sawbills, fish ducks, or goosanders. The word “merganser” comes from the Latin and roughly translates to “plunging goose”—a good name for this very large and often submerged duck. Young Common Mergansers leave their nest hole within a day or so of […]

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 12/14/17 Observation Time: sunset Observation Location: Lake Massapoag Common Name: Lesser Scaup Scientific Name: Aythya affinis Comments: The peaked profile of the heads indicates that these are Lesser Scaups. Greater Scaups have a rounder head. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Deb Radovsky Observation Date: 10/27/17 Observation Time: early morning Observation Location: Lake Massapoag Common Name: Double-crested Cormorants Scientific Name: Phalacrocorax auritus Comments: The double-crest of the Double-crested Cormorant is only visible on adults during breeding season. The crests are white in cormorants from Alaska, and black in other regions. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Faith Berkland Observation Date: 10/8/17 Observation Time: 5:15 p.m. Observation Location: Fence of horse corral, Willow St, Foxboro Common Name: Eastern Bluebird Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Comments: 3 bluebirds were spotted here, 1 bright blue, one maybe an immature male because less bright, and one female. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Faith Berkland Observation Date: 9/26/17 Observation Location: 302 Mansfield Street Sharon Common Name: Black throated green warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga virens Comments: A nice collection of photos of black-throated green warblers can be found at: The Internet Bird Collection More Information: All About Birds