Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/14 Observation Time: 2:35 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Common yellowthroat Scientific Name: Geothlypis trichas Comments: This masked warbler is typically found near wetlands or ponds. More Information: All About Birds
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/14 Observation Time: 2:25 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Eastern Bluebird Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Comments: Sharon Fiends of Conservation maintain about 30 bluebird houses in town. Volunteers check the bluebird houses weekly, and the data is used to help determine the optimum locations for bluebird houses. More Information: All About Birds
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/14 Observation Time: 12:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Wood thrush Scientific Name: Hylocichla mustelina Comments: The “Ee-oh-lay” song of the wood thrush has a melodic quality. More Information: All About Birds
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/14 Observation Time: 10:50 a.m. Observation Location: Sharon Common Name: Narrow-leaved spring beauty Scientific Name: Claytonia virginica L. Comments: This rare wildflower is only found in nine towns in Massachusetts. Please do not dig up wildflowers! More Information: Mass. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/14 Observation Time: 10:50 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: White-throated sparrow Scientific Name: Zonotrichia albicollis Comments: The song of the white-throated sparrow sounds like, “Oh, say, Canada-Canada-Canada.” It is a reminder that they are only passing through Sharon on their annual migrations. More Information: All About Birds
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/14 Observation Time: 1:45 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Magnolia warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga magnolia Comments: Magnolia warblers are striking birds, but they are hard to photograph because these nervous little birds move constantly. More Information: All About Birds
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/14 Observation Time: 1:40 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Yellow-rumped Warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga coronata Comments: Colorful woodland warblers such as this yellow-rumped warbler are often observed at Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary in the early morning in May as they migrate through Sharon to breeding grounds farther north. More Information: All About Birds
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/16 Observation Time: 9:35 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Red-bellied Woodpecker Scientific Name: Melanerpes carolinus Comments: Primarily a bird of the southeast, where its rolling calls are familiar sounds in swamps and riverside woods. Omnivorous and adaptable, this woodpecker has also adjusted to life in suburbs and city parks, and in recent years it has been […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/13/14 Observation Time: 7:35 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Black and White Warbler Scientific Name: Mniotilta varia Comments: Black and white warblers are usually seen moving up and down tree trunks looking for bugs under the bark. More Information: All About Birds
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/14 Observation Time: 6:15 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Cupido comyntas Comments: Like many small butterflies, the Eastern tailed blue is a stunning sight when viewed up close. The upper sides of the wings are blue. They appear in spring. More Information: Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/8/14 Observation Time: 7:10 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Tree swallow Scientific Name: Tachycineta bicolor Comments: Tree swallows compete with bluebirds for nesting boxes. However, if nesting boxes are sited in pairs, a tree swallow will occupy one box and drive away other tree swallows from the other box. That will allow bluebirds to nest there. More Information: […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/8/14 Observation Time: 7:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Northern Cardinal Scientific Name: Cardinalis cardinalis Comments: One of the most common birds in Sharon, cardinals have a whistle-like voice, and sing strongly. Learn to recognize their various vocalizations at: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_cardinal/sound Cardinals typically travel in pairs. The female is mostly tan. More Information: All About Birds
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/7/14 Observation Time: 4:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area (along the dirt road from the soccer fields to the dam) Common Name: Eastern Pine Elfin Scientific Name: Callophrys niphon Comments: Males perch on tops of pine trees in the sun to find receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on new needles of young trees; caterpillars feed on the needles. Chrysalids hibernate […]
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Observer: Brittaney Dunham Observation Date: 5/1/14 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: 16 High Plain St., Sharon Common Name: Coyote Scientific Name: Canis latrans Comments: This bold coyote comes into our back yard pretty regularly. As a result, our dog yard has an 8-foot fence. More Information: Nature Works and Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/20/14 Observation Time: 7:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Beaver Scientific Name: Castor canadensis Comments: Beavers are the second-largest living rodents, after capybaras, weighing up to 50 kg (110 lb). They build dams to form ponds in which they then build a lodge to protect themselves from predators. More Information: Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/3/14 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Blister Beetle Scientific Name: Tricrania sanguinipennis Comments: Blister beetles receive their common name from the ability of their hemolymph to produce blistering on contact with human skin. Hemolymph is often exuded copiously by reflexive bleeding when an adult beetle is pressed or rubbed. Blisters commonly occur on the neck […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/9/14 Observation Time: 2:40 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Red-shouldered hawk Scientific Name: Buteo lineatus Comments: As I sat at my desk talking on the phone, this hawk swooped in and landed on a branch outside my window. I grabbed my camera with my free hand and snapped this shot. I got help with the identification from my […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/8/14 Observation Time: 11:10 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Red-bellied Woodpecker Scientific Name: Melanerpes carolinus Comments: Red-bellied woodpeckers are often victims of European starlings. As many as half of all red-bellied woodpecker nests in some areas get invaded by starlings. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/8/14 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: White-breasted nuthatch Scientific Name: Sitta carolinensis Comments: This white-breasted nuthatch was attracted to the suet feeder at Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary headquarters. More Information: All About Birds: White-breasted Nuthatch
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/8/14 Observation Time: 10:55 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Dark-eyed Junco Scientific Name: Junco hyemalis Comments: Juncos are winter birds in Sharon. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds” Previous, Subsequent, or Similar Sightings: Dark-eyed Junco, 1/1/09 Dark-eyed Junco, 5/4/11
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Observer: John Wraga Observation Date: 3/2/14 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: Traphole Brook at High Plain St. Common Name: Mink Scientific Name: Neovison vison Comments: Mink are semi-aquatic. They eat crayfish, small frogs and fish, along with small mammals such as shrews, rabbits, mice, and muskrats. They also prey on ducks and other water fowl. This mink was hit and killed by a vehicle as […]
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Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 2/16/14 Observation Time: 9:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Downy Woodpecker Scientific Name: Dendrocopos pubescens Comments: Dendrocopos means “tree dagger” and “pubescens” refers to its downy hairs of puberty compared to those of the Hairy woodpecker, D. villosus.[The Dictionary of American Bird Names by Ernest A. Choate] More Information: All About Birds
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Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 2/10/14 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Song Sparrow Scientific Name: Melospiza melodia Comments: Melos meaning “song”, “spiza” meaning “a finch” and “melodia” meaning “a pleasant sound”. “Sparrow” comes from the Anglo-Saxon “spearwa” or “sparrow”, literally “flutterer”. [The Dictionary of American Bird Names by Ernest A. Choate] More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”
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Observer: Bonnie Tate Observation Date: 12/30/13 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Massapoag Common Name: Bald Eagle Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus Comments: Eating carrion on the lake just beyond Pond St. on Massapoag Ave. More Information: Boidnoise: Adult Bald Eagle Call
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 11/19/13 Observation Time: 2:35 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Bufflehead Scientific Name: Bucephala albeola Comments: Buffleheads are small, diving ducks. They nest in old woodpecker holes, particularly those made by Northern Flickers, in the forests of northern North America. More Information: All About Birds
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