Sightings – Page 45 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Mayfly – 4/23/09

Observer: Alex Hackman Observation Date: 4/23/09 Observation Time: 9:45 a.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook Common Name: Mayfly Scientific Name: Ephemeroptera Comments: Adult mayfly hatch observed during a paddle up Beaver Brook. This insect is an indicator of good water quality. More Information: Texas A&M

May Apple – 5/13/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/14 Observation Time: 8:05 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: May apple Scientific Name: Podophyllum peltatum Comments: Check out this well-written blog about May apples: 66 SQUARE FEET (PLUS) blog

Mallard – 1/20/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 1/20/10 Observation Time: 3:55 p.m. Observation Location: Knifeshop Pond, Ames Street Common Name: Mallard Scientific Name: Anas platyrhynchos Comments: The Mallard is a rare example of both Allen’s Rule and Bergmann’s Rule in birds. Bergmann’s Rule, which states that polar forms tend to be larger than related ones from warmer climates, has numerous examples in birds. Allen’s Rule says that […]

Maitake mushroom – 10/1/10

Observer: Constance Keegan Observation Date: 10/1/10 Observation Time: Daytime Observation Location: By a large oak tree in my yard on Moosehill Pkwy Common Name: Maitake mushroom Scientific Name: Grifola frondosa Comments: Also called “hen of the woods,” G. frondosa should not be confused with Laetiporus sulphureus, another edible bracket fungus that is commonly called “chicken of the woods.” Like all polypores, the fungus becomes inedible when older, because […]

Little Wood Satyr Butterfly – 5/31/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/11 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: in the woods near Gavins Pond Common Name: Little Wood Satyr butterfly Scientific Name: Megisto cymela Comments: A common woodland butterfly in Massachusetts. More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club

Little Wood Satyr Butterfly – 6/20/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/20/10 Observation Time: 9:10 a.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Little Wood Satyr butterfly Scientific Name: Megisto cymela Comments: A common woodland butterfly in Massachusetts. More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club

Little Floatingheart – 8/3/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/3/10 Observation Time: 9:45 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Little Floatingheart Scientific Name: Nymphoides cordata Comments: The little floatinghearts are the smaller, darker, heart-shaped floating pads visible in the photo among the bigger, greener rounder water lilies. The small, five-petalled white flowers are those of little floatingheart. Water lilies have much bigger floating blossoms (see photo taken September […]

Lingzhi Mushroom – 10/17/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/17/10 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Lingzhi mushroom Scientific Name: Ganoderma tsugae Comments: This mushroom specimen was growing in the tamarack (larch) grove in my back yard. It is probably growing on a root, as it was growing on the ground right next to a big tamarack tree. Since tamaracks are coniferous, this specimen is presumably Ganoderma […]

Lincoln’s Sparrow – 5/13/14

Observer: Liam Waters Observation Date: 5/13/14 Observation Time: 6:50 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Lincoln’s sparrow Scientific Name: Melospiza lincolnii Comments: This unusual sparrow was spotted on a morning walk at Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary. These walks take place at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in May. Dawn walks at Moose Hill are memorable experiences due to the diversity of […]

Lilypad Forktail Damselfly – 7/2/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/2/11 Observation Time: 5:15 p.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Lilypad forktail damselfly Scientific Name: Ischnura kellicotti Comments: A southern species that appears to have increased in Massachusetts lately. This specimen is the red form of the female. There is also a blue form. Males are bright blue. More Information: Odonata Central

Leaf-Footed Bug – 4/28/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/28/12 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Leaf-footed bug Scientific Name: Acanthocephala terminalis Comments: The leaf-shaped hind legs give this bug its name. More Information: See: http://www.cirrusimage.com/bugs_leaf_footed_Acanthocephala.htm

Large Yellow Underwing Moth – 6/22/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/22/10 Observation Time: 6:05 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Large Yellow Underwing moth Scientific Name: Noctua pronuba Comments: The name “Noctua” presumably comes from the same root as “nocturnal” meaning active at night. More Information: Wikipedia

Lancet Clubtail dragonfly (male) – 6/19/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/19/13 Observation Time: 2:05 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Lancet Clubtail dragonfly (male) Scientific Name: Gomphus exilis Comments: Once you’ve learned all the birds, you can take up the challenge of learning the dragonflies. Start by getting a book like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Dragonflies-Damselflies-Princeton-Field-Guides/dp/0691122830 More Information: Wikipedia

Lancet Clubtail dragonfly (male) – 5/24/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/24/11 Observation Time: 4:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Lancet Clubtail dragonfly (male) Scientific Name: Gomphus exilis Comments: Male lancet clubtails have claspers at the end of the abdomen, which females lack. Lancet clubtails are common in Massachusetts near slow streams and ponds. The name lancet comes from the dagger-shaped marking on the abdomen. The clubtail moniker comes from the […]

Lanceleaf Tickseed – 6/15/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/15/13 Observation Time: 6:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Lanceleaf Tickseed Scientific Name: Coreopsis lanceolata More Information: Go Botany

Lady Beetle larva – 6/5/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/5/13 Observation Time: 12:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Lady Beetle larva Scientific Name: Harmonia axyridis Comments: Lady beetle larvae don’t look much like the adults. Lady beetles eat aphids, so they can be beneficial for agriculture. More Information: University of Minnesota

Lady Beetle – 6/19/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/19/13 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Lady Beetle Scientific Name: Harmonia axyridis Comments: Multicolored Asian lady beetles come in different color patterns. Some, like this one, don’t have black spots. More Information: Wikipedia

Lady Beetle – 6/4/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/11 Observation Time: 5:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Lady Beetle Scientific Name: Harmonia axyridis Comments: Lady beetles have variable coloration. More Information: Wikipedia

Kestrel – 4/13/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/13/13 Observation Time: 6:15 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: American Kestrel Scientific Name: Falco sparverius Comments: I was puzzled that five of the six bluebird houses that I checked were empty in mid-April when nesting should have been in full-swing. Then I saw a kestrel (a.k.a sparrow hawk) in a tree by the field. You can tell it’s […]

Juvenal’s Duskywing – 5/23/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/10 Observation Time: 2:30 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Juvenal’s Duskywing Scientific Name: Erynnis juvenalis Comments: This butterfly is found throughout Massachusetts. Its flight period extends from late April through early June. See the Massachusetts Butterfly Club for more photos. More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Atlas

Dark-Eyed Junco – 4/18/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/18/11 Observation Time: 11:25 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Dark-eyed Junco Scientific Name: Junco hyemalis Comments: Juncos are a type of sparrow commonly seen around Sharon in winter. This individual will soon be heading north for summer. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”

Dark-Eyed Junco – 1/1/09

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 1/1/09 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Parkway Common Name: Dark-eyed Junco Scientific Name: Junco hyemalis Comments: This and the titmouse and wren photos were all taken with a Canon 50D and a Canon 500mm f4 lens from the comfort of my kitchen on Moose Hill Parkway. We have feeders that attract lots of birds who land on a nearby […]

Jewelweed – 7/24/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/24/10 Observation Time: 7:50 a.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond outflow pool Common Name: Jewelweed Scientific Name: Impatiens capensis Comments: Jewelweed, which often grows in disturbed areas near poison ivy, is also an antidote for poison ivy. More Information: Altnature.com

Japanese Barberry – 10/7/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 10/7/10 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: end of Lee Road Common Name: Japanese Barberry Scientific Name: Berberis thunbergii Comments: This specimen was a few yards beyond the end of Lee Road near the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp drainage ditch. Japanese barberry is often planted for hedges, and easily spreads to natural areas, as this specimen evidently did. “In recent […]

Jagged Ambush Bug – 8/11/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/11/13 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Jagged Ambush Bug Scientific Name: Phymata americana Comments: This small insect (1/2″ in length) turns out to be predatory. It waits in flowers to ambush prey that are sometimes larger than itself. This one was found among goldenrod blossoms. More Information: aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu or NatureSearch

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