Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/27/11 Observation Time: 6:10 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Bluebird (Immature) Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Comments: SFOC has installed 38 bluebird nesting boxes around Sharon. This young bluebird is among the first this year to roll off SFOC’s “bluebird factory” assembly line. The speckles on its breast and noticeable white eye-ring indicate that it is a juvenile. Other broods have not yet […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/25/11 Observation Time: 2:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Common Pondhawk dragonfly Scientific Name: Erythemis simplicicollis Comments: Female (males are blue) More Information: Insects of West Virginia
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Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 6/25/11 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: American Goldfinch Scientific Name: Carduelis tristis Comments: The first photo is of a female; the second a male. More Information: All About Birds
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Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 6/25/11 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Ruby-throated Hummingbird Scientific Name: Archilochus colubris Comments: Female (sticking out her long tongue, which is adapted to probing for nectar in flower blossoms) More Information: All About Birds
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/24/11 Observation Time: 2:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: American Lady Butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis Comments: American Lady butterflies have two distinctive eyespots on the brown underside of the lower wings. The upper sides of the wings are orange and black. More Information: See: http://bugguide.net/node/view/236368
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/24/11 Observation Time: 10:45 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Northern Flicker (fledgling) Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus Comments: This fledgling Northern Flicker was on the ground at first, but it hopped over to a tamarack tree and climbed up, pecking from time to time under the bark and calling repeatedly as if it wanted its mother. More Information: Cornell Lab of […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/20/11 Observation Time: 3:25 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Rough-fruited cinquefoil Scientific Name: Potentilla recta Comments: Native to Europe and Asia. Introduced and naturalized in North America. Found along roads and in disturbed sites. Thrives in full sun and tolerates dry conditions. Flowers from June to August. More Information: MinnesotaSeasons.com
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/11 Observation Time: 3:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Dusted Skipper Butterfly Scientific Name: Atrytonopsis hianna More Information: BugGuide
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/6/11 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Wild Indigo Scientific Name: Baptisia australis Comments: It is a perennial upright bushy plant with attractive foliage. Blossoms in mid-summer are bright yellow. Seed heads turn a deep indigo color providing winter interest. More Information: Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/5/11 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Kendall estate, Moose Hill Street Common Name: Red-spotted Purple butterfly Scientific Name: Limenitis arthemis astyanax Comments: The red-spotted purple butterfly is the same species as the white admiral butterfly. It is a North American species in the cosmopolitan genus Limenitis. It has been studied for its evolution of mimicry, and for the several […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/5/11 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Kendall Estate, Moose Hill Street Common Name: Wild geranium Scientific Name: Geranium maculatum Comments: Geranium maculatum, the wild geranium, spotted geranium, or wood geranium, is a perennial plant native to woodlands of eastern North America, from southern Manitoba and southwestern Quebec south to Alabama and Georgia and west to Oklahoma and South Dakota. More […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/11 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: conservation land near Billings Street Common Name: Maple-leaf Viburnum Scientific Name: Viburnum acerifolium Comments: Maple-leaf viburnum has long been cultivated for its attractive summer flowers and foliage; then the autumn leaves turn rose-purple and contrast with the mature dark fruits. The plants will thrive in moist soils and a range of light conditions but they are a […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/11 Observation Time: 2:40 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Billings Street Common Name: Canada Mayflower Scientific Name: Maianthemum canadense Comments: Carpets the ground in many wooded areas of Sharon. More Information: Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/11 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: conservation land near Billings Street Common Name: Golden Ragwort Scientific Name: Senecio aureus Comments: Golden Ragwort is a biannual plant with a yellow flower that grows upto a height of 2 feet and belongs to Asteraceae family (i.e. asters). More Information: HealthBenefitsTimes.com or Illinois Wildflowers
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/11 Observation Time: 2:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Slaty Skimmer dragonfly Scientific Name: Libellula incesta Comments: The first photo is a female. The second is a male. Watch this video of the slaty skimmer dragonfly as it oviposits at Gavins Pond. More Photos: Odonata.bogfoot.net
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/11 Observation Time: 2:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Common Baskettail dragonfly Scientific Name: Epitheca cynosura Comments: This is the most common baskettail within its range (eastern North America), hence the name. More Information: Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/11 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer field parking lot Common Name: Common Ringlet butterfly Scientific Name: Coenonympha tullia Comments: Ringlets can be found in a variety of grassy habitats, including roadsides, woodland edges and clearings, prairies, bogs, and arctic and alpine taiga and tundra. It is a poor flyer, but can sometimes be found along […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/2/11 Observation Time: 1:05 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer field parking lot Common Name: Star of Bethlehem Scientific Name: Ornithogalum umbellatum Comments: The Star of Bethlehem is a genus (Ornithogalum) of perennial plants native to southern Europe belonging to the family Hyacinthaceae. Growing from a bulb, it has grass-like basal leaves and a slender stalk, up to 30 cm tall, bearing […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/11 Observation Time: 4:05 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Blue Toadflax Scientific Name: Nuttallanthus canadensis More Information: Conn. Botanical Society
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/11 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Blue Flag Iris Scientific Name: Iris versicolor More Information: Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/11 Observation Time: 2:35 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Northern Flicker Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus Comments: This northern flicker was injured, perhaps as a result of a hawk attack. The Northern Flicker is part of the genus Colaptes which encompasses 12 New-World woodpeckers. There are two living and one extinct subspecies of C. auratus species. The existing sub-species were at one […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/14/11 Observation Time: 2:05 p.m. Observation Location: Town conservation land near Beaver Brook Common Name: Starflower Scientific Name: Trientalis borealis Comments: This member of the primrose family likes moist woods. It blooms in May. Please do not dig up native wildflowers. They typically do not survive transplantation. More Information: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/11 Observation Time: 8:35 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer field parking lot Common Name: Wild mustard Scientific Name: Barbarea vulgaris Aiton Comments: Also called yellow rocket, or early winter cress, introduced from Eurasia. More Information: Wikipedia
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/11 Observation Time: 8:15 a.m. Observation Location: meadow near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Bird’s Foot Violet Scientific Name: Viola pedata Comments: The leaves of this pretty wildflower are reminiscent of bird’s feet. Not a common violet locally, only one site in Blue Hills. Likes dry sandy soils; has also been spotted in woods north of Knollwood Cemetery in Sharon. More Information: US Wildflowers […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/11 Observation Time: 6:55 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Hay-scented Fern Scientific Name: Dennstaedtia punctilobula Comments: Hay-scented fern is very common in Sharon. It is often found growing in large colonies, forming a green carpet on the forest floor. It can be identified by its lacy, light-green fronds. It can be confused with New York fern, […]
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