Sightings – Page 49 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Common Green Darner dragonfly – 8/13/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/13/13 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Common Green Darner dragonfly Scientific Name: Anax junius More Information: Idaho Museum of Natural History

Colorado Potato Beetle – 6/1/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/1/13 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Colorado Potato Beetle Scientific Name: Leptinotarsa decemlineata Comments: These striking beetles were eating eggplant leaves. Colorado potato beetles have developed resistance to all known classes of pesticides. More Information: Organic Garden Info

Cobbler Moth – 9/22/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/22/11 Observation Time: 3:05 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Cobbler moth Scientific Name: Condica sutor Comments: There are over 10,000 species of moths in North America. Identifying them can be a challenge, but there are some good online resources such as the Bug Guide. More Information: Bug Guide

Clover Looper Moth – 7/2/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/2/11 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: Soccer field parking lot off Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Clover Looper Moth Scientific Name: Caenurgina crassiuscula Comments: This moth stopped to rest on the soccer field parking lot, allowing me to get close enough for this shot. I got the ID from bugguide.net. More Information: A Prairie Haven

Clouded Sulphur butterfly – 8/30/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/30/11 Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road by soccer field parking lot Common Name: Clouded Sulphur butterfly Scientific Name: Colias philodice Comments: This butterfly was hard to photograph because it would not hold still! Note the big green eyes and the spots on the wing. More Information: Wisconsin Butterflies

Monarch butterfly 9/24/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/24/14 Observation Time: 1:15 p.m. Observation Place: TTOR’s Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate) Common Name: Monarch Butterfly Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus Comments: With winter approaching, this monarch was nearing the end of its life. Monarchs make an epic, multi-generational migration. Check it out at the link below. More Information: National Geographic

Rabid Wolf Spider – 9/24/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/24/14 Observation Time: 11:20 a.m. Observation Place: TTOR’s Moose Hill Farm (formerly the Kendall Estate) Common Name: Rabid Wolf Spider Scientific Name: Rabidosa rabida Comments: This species doesn’t build webs to catch prey. Instead, they ambush or chase their prey at night. They then wrap their prey in silk. Note the egg sac in the photo below, which was taken in […]

Belted Kingfisher – 9/18/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/18/14 Observation Time: 2:50 p.m. Observation Place: near Lake Massapoag boat launching ramp Common Name: Belted Kingfisher Scientific Name: Megaceryle alcyon Comments: Belted kingfishers nest in a burrow, usually in a dirt bank near water. Their call is a distinctive, scolding chatter. Check out the recordings at the link below. More Information: All About Birds

Semipalmated Plover – 9/18/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/18/14 Observation Time: 2:48 p.m. Observation Place: near Lake Massapoag boat ramp Common Name: Semipalmated Plover Scientific Name: Charadrius semipalmatus Comments: Semipalmated plovers look something like killdeers, but they are smaller and stubbier, and have a single dark band instead of two dark bands like killdeers. Also, killdeers have a red eye ring, whereas semipalmated plovers eyes are black. More […]

Praying Mantis – 9/14/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/14/14 Observation Time: 10:00 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Praying Mantis Scientific Name: Mantis religiosa Comments: This praying mantis was almost 4″ long. It could be a descendant of praying mantises that hatched from eggs we mail-ordered and released in our garden years previously. More Information: Praying mantis love-making

Wood Frog – 9/13/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/13/14 Observation Time: 12:10 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Wood Frog Scientific Name: Rana sylvatica Comments: This amphibian lives in the woods and reproduces in vernal pools. Listen to the recording of the quacking sound it makes at the Wikipedia link below so you can recognize it when they thaw out after the snow melts in early […]

Black-capped Chickadee – 6/4/10

Observer: Will Sweet Observation Date: 6/4/10 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Black-capped Chickadee Scientific Name: Poecile atricapillus Comments: This chickadee family was crowded into a nesting box. More Information: Whatbird.com

Celandine – 6/14/09

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/14/09 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm, Trustees of Reservations land Common Name: Celandine Scientific Name: Chelidonium majus More Information: Flora Health Herb Encyclopedia

Carpenter Ant “Frass” – 6/26/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/26/10 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook headwaters area Common Name: Carpenter Ant “Frass” Scientific Name: genus Camponotus Comments: Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t eat wood. They cannot digest cellulose, but they chew galleries in wood for their nests. They excavate wood, leaving telltale piles of sawdust called “frass.”

Carolina Locust – 9/12/09

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/12/09 Observation Time: 11:15 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Carolina Locust Scientific Name: Dissosteira carolina Comments: Diagnostic pronotum ridge is clearly visible in the photo. More Information: e-Nature.com

Canada Geese and Goslings – 5/4/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/4/11 Observation Time: 12:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Canada Goose Scientific Name: Branta canadensis Comments: Canada geese are quite common in Sharon, and can even become a nuisance, but these goslings sure are cute. If you are in the mood for a heartwarming movie, see “Fly Away Home” about a girl who adopts some orphaned goslings. More Information: Mass Wildlife

Canada Darner dragonfly – 8/30/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/30/10 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road (bridge near soccer fields) Common Name: Canada Darner dragonfly Scientific Name: Aeshna canadensis Comments: Canada darner dragonflies are very common in Massachusetts in late summer near sluggish marsh-bordered streams. They typically hang vertically at rest. More Information: US Army Corps of Engineers: North Hartland Lake

Caddisfly Larva – 3/17/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/17/11 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: vernal pool near Bay Road Common Name: Caddisfly Larva Scientific Name: Order Trichoptera Comments: Caddisfly larva are aquatic. They build a protective case of silk around themselves, incorporating debris for camouflage and protection. Their presence is indicative of good water quality. Adult caddis flies emerge en masse for just a few weeks. After emergence, they do […]

Bull Thistle – 7/15/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/15/12 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Rd. soccer field parking lot Common Name: Bull Thistle Scientific Name: Cirsium vulgare Comments: The beautiful blossom of the bull thistle comes with sharp thorns. More Information: Wikipedia

Bull Thistle – 6/14/09

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/14/09 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm, Trustees of Reservations land Common Name: Bull Thistle Scientific Name: Cirsium vulgare More Information: UGA Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health

Buckeye Butterfly – 7/9/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/9/11 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Buckeye Butterfly Scientific Name: Junonia coenia Comments: This bedraggled specimen is showing a lot of wear and tear on its wings. More Information: Wikipedia

Brown Thrasher – 5/2/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/2/11 Observation Time: 4:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer field parking lot Common Name: Brown Thrasher Scientific Name: Toxostoma rufum Comments: Brown thrashers are one of the three mimics. The other two are catbirds and mockingbirds. Brown thrashers repeat each vocalization twice. Mockingbirds repeat three or four times. Catbirds only make each vocalization once. More Information: All About Birds.org

Brown Mantidfly – 6/20/14

Observer: Faith Berkland Observation Date: 6/20/14 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: On one of the reflectors I have around my driveway. Common Name: Brown Mantidfly Scientific Name: Clineriella Brunnea Comments: I first thought it was a praying mantis but none of the pictures showed one that small, or with the wasp-like abdomen. I decided to see if it was a type of wasp and voila! See this photo. […]

Brown-headed Cowbird – 4/7/14

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/7/14 Observation Time: 12:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area near soccer fields Common Name: Brown-headed Cowbird Scientific Name: Molothrus ater Comments: These Brown-headed Cowbirds were mating. Cowbirds parasitize other bird species. Female Cowbirds forgo building nests and instead lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, abandoning their young to foster parents, usually at the expense of at least some of […]

Bondarzewia mushroom – 7/14/13

Observer: Kurt Buermann Observation Date: 7/14/13 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: backyard Common Name: Bondarzewia Scientific Name: Bondarzewia berkeleyi Comments: This was growing on an old oak stump. Very large, 2 ft long clusters. It grew very quickly, over a day or so. This is not chicken-of-the-woods, but is edible if gathered when very young. More Information: MushroomExpert.com

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