Category: Sightings

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/14 Observation Time: 11:50 a.m. Observation Location: in the woods near Gavins Pond Common Name: Rose-breasted Grosbeak Scientific Name: Pheucticus ludovicianus Comments: I found this specimen by listening to its call. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/14 Observation Time: 5:30 p.m. Observation Location: Trail through woods beside Gavins Pond Common Name: Pine warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga pinus Comments: The song of the pine warbler is hard to distinguish from the reedy trill of a chipping sparrow. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/14 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Under the powerlines near Walpole St. Common Name: Indigo Bunting Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea Comments: Only the male indigo bunting is blue. The female is brown. Indigo buntings are members of the family Cardinalidae, which includes cardinals. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/29/14 Observation Time: 11:25 a.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park 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

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/29/14 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: King Phillip’s Rock trail Common Name: Red-eyed vireo Scientific Name: Vireo olivaceus Comments: Red-eyed vireos sing all day long. Their song sounds like “Here I am. Where are you?” That is fitting, as they are very hard to see in the foliage. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/14 Observation Time: 6:40 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Wood thrush Scientific Name: Hylocichla mustelina Comments: This wood thrush was spotted on its nest. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/26/14 Observation Time: 5:55 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Field sparrow Scientific Name: Spizella pusilla Comments: The song of a field sparrow starts out slowly and then gets faster, like a bouncing ping-pong ball. There are at least 18 species of sparrows in Massachusetts. Learning their respective calls is a good way to find and identify them. More […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/26/14 Observation Time: 11:45 a.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Great crested flycatcher Scientific Name: Myiarchus crinitus Comments: The great-crested flycatcher has a pale yellow breast. The memory hook I use to remember its call is “weep, weep, weep.” More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/14 Observation Time: 5:15 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Prairie warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: Prairie warblers are typically found in open fields and under power lines. Listen for their ascending trill. More Information: All About Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/21/14 Observation Time: 4:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Warbling vireo Scientific Name: Vireo gilvus Comments: Warbling vireos are usually found near water. More Information: All About Birds  

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/14 Observation Time: 12:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road 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  

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/16/14 Observation Time: 12:35 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Scarlet Tanager Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea Comments: Scarlet tanagers are common in Sharon, but few people see these brilliantly colored birds because they live in the woods where they are concealed by foliage. If you learn their song, which sounds like a robin with a sore throat, you can […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/16/14 Observation Time: 6:20 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Ovenbird Scientific Name: Seiurus aurocapilla Comments: The ovenbird’s rapid-fire “teacher-teacher-teacher” song rings out in summer hardwood forests from the Mid-Atlantic states to northeastern British Columbia. It’s so loud that it may come as a surprise to find this inconspicuous warbler strutting like a tiny rooster across the dim […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/15/14 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Redwing blackbird Scientific Name: Agelaius phoeniceus Comments: Redwing blackbirds are typically found near water. More Information: All about Birds

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/15/14 Observation Time: 3:40 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Eastern Towhee Scientific Name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus Comments: The Eastern towhees is the largest member of the sparrow family. Its call, “Drink your tea.” can be heard much more often than it is seen, but once you become aware of them, you will realize that they are very common in […]