Sightings – Page 52 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Red-tailed Hawk (juvenile) – 8/14/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/14/13 Observation Time: 7:00 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Red-tailed Hawk (juvenile) Scientific Name: Buteo jamaicensis Comments: Red-tails are big, but they only weigh a maximum of about 3 lbs. They can live up to 30 years. They feed predominantly on small mammals. I took these photos out the kitchen window. More Information: PBase

Praying Mantis – 7/30/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/30/13 Observation Time: 5:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road backyard Common Name: Praying Mantis Scientific Name: Mantis religiosa Comments: This insect looks like it is praying, hence the name. It can swivel its head 180° to look for prey. More Information: Wikipedia

Twelve-spotted Skimmer dragonfly (female) – 7/30/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/30/13 Observation Time: 3:35 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer fields Common Name: Twelve-spotted Skimmer dragonfly (female) Scientific Name: Libellula pulchella Comments: This species of dragonfly is relatively large. Lots of different species of dragonflies live in Sharon. Can you find and phoyograph one that’s not already recorded on this web site? More Information: Ecobirder

Wood Nymph butterfly – 7/27/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/27/13 Observation Time: 2:43 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Wood Nymph butterfly Scientific Name: Cercyonis pegala Comments: It’s a thrill to get so close to something wild and beautiful. More information: Mass Audubon Butterfly Atlas

Eastern Cottontail rabbit – 7/27/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/27/13 Observation Time: 1:50 p.m. Observation Location: Sharon train station Common Name: Eastern Cottontail rabbit Scientific Name: Sylvilagus floridanus Comments: The Eastern Cottontail is an introduced species that is now common in Sharon. Much rarer is the native New England Cottontail, which is smaller and has shorter ears and a black spot on its forehead. If is very hard to tell these two […]

Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly – 7/24/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/24/13 Observation Time: 11:45 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Juvenal’s Duskywing butterfly Scientific Name: Erynnis juvenalis Comments: Even relatively drab butterflies are beautiful. More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Species List

Great Black Wasp & prey – 7/18/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/18/13 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Great Black Wasp Scientific Name: Sphex pensylvanicus Comments: This photo shows a great black wasp carrying a paralyzed katydid to its burrow. Sphex pensylvanicus is a species of digger wasp. It lives across most of North America and grows to a size of 20–35 mm (0.8–1.4 in). The larvae feed on […]

Viceroy butterfly – 7/17/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/17/13 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area near soccer parking area Common Name: Viceroy butterfly Scientific Name: Limenitis archippus Comments: This butterfly is smaller than the famous migrating monarchs, and the black markings are different. Note the black line on the hind wings. Monarchs do not have this line. More Information: NatureWorks

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly – 7/17/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/17/13 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road (back yard) Common Name: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: As I was picking raspberries in the garden, I saw this gorgeous butterfly, so I ran inside and grabbed my camera. More Information: Wikipedia

Eastern Amberwing dragonfly (male) – 7/15/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/15/13 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Eastern Amberwing dragonfly (male) Scientific Name: Perithemis tenera Comments: This red-winged dragonfly is smaller than most other dragonflies. More Information: Odonata Central

House Finch (female) – 7/13/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/13 Observation Time: noon Observation Location: Gavins Pond soccer fields Common Name: House Finch (female) Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: Male house finches have reddish coloration on their head and breast. Females are brown. Both have a heavy, conical beak for cracking seeds open. More Information: All About Birds

Wood Nymph butterfly – 7/13/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/13 Observation Time: 11:05 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Wood Nymph butterfly Scientific Name: Cercyonis pegala Comments: Note the “pink earth” lichen in the background of the upper photo. More information: Mass Audubon Butterfly Atlas

Indigo Bunting – 7/11/13

Observer: Molly DellaRoman Observation Date: 7/11/13 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Indigo Bunting Scientific Name: Passerina cyanea More Information: All About Birds

Snowberry Clearwing Moth – 7/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/9/13 Observation Time: 4:35 p.m. Observation Location: soccer parking area near Gavins Pond Common Name: Snowberry Clearwing Moth Scientific Name: Hemaris diffinis Comments: This diurnal moth is about the size of a bumblebee. More information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

White-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly – 7/8/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/8/13 Observation Time: 5:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: White-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly Scientific Name: Sympetrum obtrusum Comments: Males are red. Very similar to Ruby Meadowhawk and Cherry-faced Meadowhawk. This species seems to be in decline. More Information: Nature Search Two more photos taken 7/19/13 at about 5:30 where Turning Mill Brook flows under Wolomolopoag Street:

Band-winged Meadowhawk dragonfly – 7/4/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/4/13 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Band-winged Meadowhawk dragonfly Scientific Name: Sympetrum semicinctum More Information: Wikipedia

Scarlet Tanager – 7/1/13

Observer: Molly DellaRoman Observation Date: 7/1/13 Observation Time: morning Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Scarlet Tanager Scientific Name: Piranga olivacea More Information: All About Bird

Northern Pearly-Eye butterfly – 6/26/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/26/13 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: near Beaver Brook (near train station tennis courts) Common Name: Northern Pearly-Eye butterfly Scientific Name: Enodia anthedon Comments: These three butterfly species are very similar: Eyed Brown, Appalachian Brown, and Northern Pearly-Eye. All can be found in Sharon. These two Northern Pearly-eye butterflies were courting. More Information: Butterflies of Massachusetts

Prairie Warbler – 6/17/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/17/13 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Prairie warbler Scientific Name: Setophaga discolor Comments: Prairie warblers are not hard to find in fields and cleared areas under high tension lines in Sharon from May to August. Listen for their ascending trill. More Information: All About Birds

White Corporal dragonfly – 6/15/13

Observer: Vin Zollo Observation Date: 6/15/13 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: White Corporal dragonfly Scientific Name: Ladona exusta Comments: Small, most commonly perches on the ground. Adult males have a white abdomen. More Information: New Jersey Odes

Panic Grass – 6/15/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/15/13 Observation Time: 2:30 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land beyond Sandy Ridge Circle Common Name: Panic Grass Scientific Name: Dichanthelium sp. Comments: There are numerous kinds of panic grasses. This one was growing in a wooded area along the trail that parallels Beaver Brook, beginning at the Sandy Ridge Circle cul-de-sac. More Information: Cape May Plants

Great Blue Heron Rookery – 6/15/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/15/13 Observation Time: 1:40 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Great Blue Heron Rookery Scientific Name: Ardea herodias Comments: These three juvenile herons were occupying a huge nest in a big tree, waiting for their parents to bring food. They will fly away soon to fend for themselves. Note the eyes of the right-most bird in the photo. […]

Northern Flicker – 6/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/13 Observation Time: 3:55 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Northern Flicker Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus Comments: Flickers are woodpeckers, but they are unusual in that they eat ants and beetles on the ground. More Information: All About Birds

Painted Skimmer dragonfly – 6/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/13 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Painted Skimmer dragonfly Scientific Name: Libellula semifasciata Comments: This dragonfly is said to be uncommon, although it is not listed as such in Massachusetts. More Information: iNaturalist

Wild Iris – 6/9/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/13 Observation Time: 2:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Wild Iris Scientific Name: Iris virginica shrevei Comments: These gorgeous flowers bloom in spring around Sharon. These are also known as Harlequin Blueflag and Northern Blue Flag. Look for them in swamps, marshes, and wet shorelines from Virginia to Canada. Watch honeybees and native bees land on the large petal, […]

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