Sightings – Page 42 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Ross’s Goose – 10/31/12

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 10/31/12 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: Wolomolopoag Pond Common Name: Ross’s Goose Scientific Name: Chen rossii Comments: Tight crop, some light dodging and burning to allow black tail to be seen a little better against the background. More Information: All About Birds

Ross’s Goose – 11/12/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 11/12/12 Observation Time: 5:05 p.m. Observation Location: Wolomolopoag Pond Common Name: Ross’s Goose Scientific Name: Chen rossii Comments: The Ross’s goose resembles a snow goose, but smaller, and with a shorter neck. It is snow white with black wing tips. This individual was seen among dozens of Canada geese on their way south for the winter, and attracted a number of bird watchers […]

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (female) – 6/25/11

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 6/25/11 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Rose-breasted Grosbeak Scientific Name: Pheucticus ludovicianus Comments: A female just after a bath. More Information: All About Birds

Rugosa Rose – 6/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/13 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Rugosa Rose Scientific Name: Rosa rugosa Comments: In late summer, this beautiful flower, which comes from Asia, will become a reddish ball called a rose hip. Rose hips are used for tisanes, jam, jelly, syrup, soup, beverages, pies, bread, wine, and marmalade. They can also be eaten raw, like a berry, […]

Roland’s Sallow Moth (caterpillar) – 6/4/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/11 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Billings Street Common Name: Roland’s Sallow Moth (caterpillar) Scientific Name: Psaphida rolandi More Information: Bug Guide

American Robin (eggs) – 6/2/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/10 Observation Time: 6:05 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: American Robin (eggs) Scientific Name: Turdus migratorius More Information: All About Birds

River Otter – 3/3/14

Observer: Joe Macri Observation Date: 3/3/14 Observation Time: 5:30 p.m. Observation Location: High Plain St. approx. 200 yards from intersection with Norwood St. Common Name: River Otter Scientific Name: Lontra canadensis Comments: Just at sunset, I observed a large, sinuous animal crossing the road. I only saw it briefly and in silhouette, but was surprised by the size of it. When looking online I narrowed it down to River […]

River Otter – 2/15/13

Observer: Sue Price Observation Date: 2/15/13 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Bay Road near Wilshire (going from Sharon to Stoughton) Common Name: River Otter Scientific Name: Lontra canadensis Comments: I think it was a river otter. It was very dark with a long fat tail and moved very quickly – don’t think it was a beaver as it had a long thin body. More Information: Massachusetts Division […]

River Otter – 11/11/12

Observer: Pat Gardner Observation Date: 11/11/12 Observation Time: 6:15 a.m. Observation Location: Shepard’s Pond, Canton Common Name: River Otter Scientific Name: Lontra canadensis Comments: This morning there was only one, but over the past 2 months there’ve been 2. Shepard’s Pond is on the Canton-Sharon border. More Information: Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Red Squirrel – 3/9/11

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 3/9/11 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Red Squirrel Scientific Name: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus More Information: http://www.nhptv.org/Natureworks/Redsquirrel.htm

Red Squirrel – 11/28/08

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 11/28/08 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Parkway Common Name: Red Squirrel Scientific Name: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Comments: The red squirrel is known to “tap” maple trees. It bites the bark until sap flows out, and returns later for a sweet treat after the water in the sap has evaporated. More Information: http://www.nhptv.org/Natureworks/Redsquirrel.htm

Red Squirrel – 4/26/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/26/13 Observation Time: 4:20 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Red Squirrel Scientific Name: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Comments: American red squirrels experience severe early mortality (on average only 22% survive to one year of age). The survival probability, however, increases to age three, when it begins to decrease again. Females that survive to one year of age have […]

Red-Banded Sand Wasp – 9/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/9/13 Observation Time: 2:35 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Red-banded Sand Wasp Scientific Name: Ammophila sabulosa Comments: The female red-banded sand wasp first excavates a nest for her larva. After that she hunts a caterpillar, often a moth caterpillar. She then paralyses the caterpillar, but the caterpillar remains alive. Then she carries the caterpillar to the nest. She […]

Question Mark butterfly chrysalis – 7/31/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/31/12 Observation Time: 11:45 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road (bridge near soccer fields) Common Name: Question Mark butterfly chrysalis Scientific Name: Polygonia interrogationis Comments: This is the chrysalis of a Question Mark butterfly. They have a white mark on each wing that looks like a question mark. See photos of an adult Question Mark Butterfly. The root “interrogation” is apparent in the scientific […]

Question Mark butterfly – 6/29/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/29/11 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Question Mark butterfly Scientific Name: Polygonia interrogationis Comments: There’s a similar Eastern Comma butterfly that is also found in Sharon. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Purple Pitcherplant – 5/29/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/29/14 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Purple pitcherplant Scientific Name: Sarracenia purpurea Comments: This carnivorous plant captures and digests hapless insects. More Information: Harvard Forest

Purple Loosestrife – 9/12/09

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/12/09 Observation Time: 11:20 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Purple Loosestrife Scientific Name: Lythrum salicaria L. Comments: Sometimes called “purple plague,” purple loosestrife is an invasive species. Neponset River Watershed Association has a program to propagate and disperse galerucella beetles that eat nothing but purple loosestrife. More Information: The Nature Conservancy

Purple Finch – 6/25/11

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 6/25/11 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Purple Finch Scientific Name: Carpodacus purpureus Comments: Probably decreased in Northeast in late 19th century after introduction of House Sparrow. In recent decades has declined further in that area, possibly owing to competition with House Finch. More Information: audubon.org or All About Birds

Polyphemus Moth (wing only) – 7/20/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/20/10 Observation Time: 7:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road soccer field parking lot Common Name: Polyphemus Moth (wing only) Scientific Name: Antheraea polyphemus Comments: A few years ago, I saw a dead luna moth in the same area. Both polyphemus moths and luna moths are truly spectacular. More Information: Auburn University

Eastern Bluebird (male) – 10/9/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/9/14 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond soccer field Common Name: Eastern Bluebird Scientific Name: Sialia Sialis Comments: This bluebird was still hanging around Sharon in October. Bluebirds actually overwinter in Sharon, feeding on seeds. On cold nights they huddle in groups inside nesting boxes to keep warm. More Information: All About Birds

Spotted Wintergreen – 6/4/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/11 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: conservation land near Billings Street Common Name: Spotted Wintergreen Scientific Name: Chimaphila maculata Comments: Also called spotted wintergreen, it is endangered in Illinois and Maine. In New York it is considered “Exploitably Vulnerable.” More Information: Wikipedia

Pink Lady’s Slipper orchid – 5/27/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/14 Observation Time: 9:05 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Pink Lady’s Slipper orchid Scientific Name: Cypripedium acaule Comments: Pink lady’s slippers won’t survive if you try to transplant them, so please don’t dig them up. More Information: Wikipedia

Phoebe – 5/14/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/14 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Phoebe Scientific Name: Sayornis phoebe Comments: The song of the Phoebe sounds like its name. You can find and play bird songs online. The more bird calls you memorize, the more bird species you will be able to identify in the field, where the birds themselves are often concealed […]

Phoebe – 8/1/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/1/10 Observation Time: 7:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road soccer field Common Name: Phoebe Scientific Name: Sayornis phoebe Comments: Phoebes are flycatchers. More Information: All About Birds

Peony – 5/24/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/24/10 Observation Time: 8:25 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Peony Scientific Name: Paeonia spp. Comments: Long ago, some observant gardener noticed that ants on peony buds always meant the flowers would open soon. And so a bit of folk wisdom was born: Peonies cannot open until ants eat away the seal that keeps the buds closed. But […]

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