Sightings – Page 40 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Water Shield – 7/13/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/13 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Water Shield Scientific Name: Brasenia schreberi Comments: Leaf floats like a water lily, but the stem is attached in middle. More Information: USDA Forest Service

Water Lily – 9/12/09

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/12/09 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond (near the dam) Common Name: Water Lily Scientific Name: Nymphaea odorata Comments: It usually flowers only from early morning until noon. The black specks in the first photo might be black aphids. More Information: The University of Texas at Austin

Water Forget-Me-Not – 6/6/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/6/11 Observation Time: 1:15 p.m. Observation Location: bank of Beaver Brook (near tennis courts) Common Name: Water Forget-Me-Not Scientific Name: Myosotis scorpioides Comments: Water forget-me-nots are usually found in damp or wet habitats, such as bogs, ponds, streams, ditches, fen and rivers. While it favors wet ground, it can survive submerged in water, and often can form floating rafts. More Information: […]

Viscid Violet Cort mushroom – 9/9/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/9/12 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Sandy Ridge Circle Common Name: Viscid Violet Cort mushroom Scientific Name: Cortinarius iodes Comments: This striking violet mushroom has a watery sheen. More Information: American Mushrooms

Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar – 6/29/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/29/11 Observation Time: 10:20 a.m. Observation Location: near outflow pool at Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Virginian Tiger Moth caterpillar Scientific Name: Spilosoma virginica Comments: This caterpillar, which was chewing on grape leaves, will metamorphose into a beautiful white moth. More Information: Moths in a Connecticut Yard

Velvet Ant – 5/19/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/13 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Velvet Ant Scientific Name: Pseudomethoca simillima Comments: This ant-like creature is not an ant at all, but rather a wingless wasp. It can sting you, so don’t pick it up! Watch (and listen) to a velvet ant in action. More Information: The Backyard Arthropod Project

Variable Dancer damselfly – 6/20/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/20/11 Observation Time: 5:05 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Variable Dancer damselfly Scientific Name: Argia fumipennis Comments: Note the forked shoulder stripe, overall violet, with blue at the end of the abdomen. The last photo is a female. More Information: Wisonsin Odonata Survey

Unicorn Caterpillar – 9/2/08

Observer: Amy Waters Observation Date: 9/2/08 Observation Location: Common Name: Unicorn Caterpillar Scientific Name: Schizura unicornis Comments: This Unicorn Caterpillar may have crawled off a blueberry bush. It also likes hickory, birch, maple, cherry, oak, sweet pepperbush, witch hazel, and many more woody shrubs and trees. Its range is from Canada to Florida and Texas. It will turn into a moth. Its family is Prominents […]

Two-striped Grasshopper – 8/11/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/11/13 Observation Time: 4:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Two-striped Grasshopper Scientific Name: Melanoplus bivittatus Comments: This grasshopper is named for the two stripes that run down its back. It is a common agricultural pest. More Information: Wikipedia

Turquoise Bluet damselfly – 6/19/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/19/13 Observation Time: 2:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Turquoise Bluet damselfly Scientific Name: Enallagma divagans More Photos: The Hibbits Network

Turquoise Bluet damselfly – 6/2/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/11 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Turquoise Bluet damselfly Scientific Name: Enallagma divagans Comments: The final two shots are of a mating pair. More Information: BugGuide.net

Turkey Vulture – 4/11/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/11/11 Observation Time: 6:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Turkey Vulture Scientific Name: Cathartes aura Comments: Turkey vultures are gliders. They ride thermal updrafts, so they rarely need to flap their wings. More Information: All About Birds

Turkey Vulture – 7/28/09

Observer: Rick Dumont Observation Date: 7/28/09 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Belcher Street Common Name: Turkey Vulture Scientific Name: Cathartes aura Comments: A bad smell invaded my yard during a rainy, humid spell. The buzzard must have been attracted to it. The smell went away shortly after the buzzard did. More Information: All About Birds

Tree Swallow – 5/12/11

Observer: Kurt Buermann Observation Date: 5/12/11 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Laveview Street meadow Common Name: Tree swallow Scientific Name: Tachycineta bicolor Comments: Very commonly nests near bluebirds. Tree swallows may defend bluebirds against other tree swallow if they occupy adjacent nesting boxes. More Information: All About Birds.org

Tree Cricket – 9/26/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/26/12 Observation Time: 1:35 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road (bridge near soccer fields) Common Name: Tree Cricket Scientific Name: Oecanthus spp. Comments: The tree cricket is also known as poor man’s thermometer. It is because if you count the number of chirps in 15 seconds and add 37 you get the temperature close to the Fahrenheit temperature outdoors. More Information: Wikipedia

American Toad – 6/17/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/17/13 Observation Time: 4:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: American Toad Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus More Information: Wikipedia Baby toad nearby:

American Toad – 7/16/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/16/10 Observation Time: 9:55 a.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: American Toad (juvenile) Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus Comments: Note toe of shoe in photo to get an idea of the small size of this toad. More Information: Wikipedia

American Toad – 9/14/09

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/13/09 Observation Time: 2:30 p.m. Observation Location: Bay Circuit Trail near Gorwin Drive Common Name: American Toad Scientific Name: Anaxyrus americanus Comments: Notice how well this toad is camouflaged. More Information: Animal Diversity Web

Thread-Waisted Wasp – 7/16/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/16/11 Observation Time: 4:45 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Thread-waisted wasp Scientific Name: Ammophila procera Comments: This large solitary wasp (over an inch long) has an interesting life cycle, which is shown in this Vimeo video. More Information: insectidentification.org

Tent Caterpillar – 6/4/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/11 Observation Time: 3:50 p.m. Observation Location: conservation land near Billings Street Common Name: Tent Caterpillar Scientific Name: Malacosoma americanum Comments: The moths oviposit almost exclusively on trees in the plant family Rosaceae, particularly cherry (Prunus) and apple (Malus). The adult moth lays her eggs in a single batch in late spring or early summer. An egg mass contains about 200 to 300 […]

Mute Swan – 10/21/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/21/14 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Mute Swan Scientific Name: Cygnus olor Comments: Swans are powerful birds that will attack humans if they feel threatened. Don’t allow your children to approach them. More Information: All About Birds

Sweetfern – 5/23/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/10 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Sweetfern Scientific Name: Comptonia peregrina Comments: Sweetfern leaves are very aromatic. Edible fruit ripens in July and August. Sweetfern partners with actinomycete fungus that live in its root nodules to fix atmospheric nitrogen, so it can flourish in infertile soil. The soil in the area near Gavins Pond […]

Sweet Pepperbush (Summersweet) – 7/31/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/31/10 Observation Time: 10:40 a.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook near tennis courts Common Name: Sweet Pepperbush (Summersweet) Scientific Name: Clethra alnifolia Comments: Very fragrant. More Information: Virginia Native Plant Society

Sweet Everlasting – 9/22/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/22/11 Observation Time: 3:25 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Sweet Everlasting or Rabbit Tobacco Scientific Name: Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium Comments: This wildflower is a member of a group of daisy-family herbs called cudweeds. Heads never open wider than this. More Information: Wildflowers of the Southeastern US

Swamp Azalea – 6/24/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/24/10 Observation Time: 3:25 p.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook near tennis courts Common Name: Swamp azalea Scientific Name: Rhododendron viscosum Comments: This typical wetland shrub is sometimes called the Clammy Azalea because of its very sticky corolla. The species name means sticky in Latin. The flowers appear after the leaves. More Information: University of Texas

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