Sightings – Page 54 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Pigskin Poison Puffball – 9/9/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/9/12 Observation Time: 2:50 p.m. Observation Location: Sandy Ridge Circle Common Name: Pigskin Poison Puffball Scientific Name: Scleroderma citrinum Comments: Also known as “common earthball,” this yellow-white spherical fungus has no stem. It eventually bursts open to release spores. More Information: Common Earthball

Fishing Spider – 9/3/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/3/12 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: Borderland State Park Common Name: Fishing Spider Scientific Name: Dolomedes vittatus Comments: This huge spider (about 3″) was spotted in aquatic vegetation near the stone hut at the edge of Lower Leach Pond at Borderland State Park. A boy with a butterfly net scooped it up so I could get a photo of it. I got […]

Double-Crested Cormorant – 9/1/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/1/12 Observation Time: 4:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond outflow pool Common Name: Double-crested Cormorant Scientific Name: Phalacrocorax auritus Comments: Most commonly seen cormorant in the East and usually the only one seen inland. Feeds by diving and swimming underwater, eating mostly fish. After feeding, often stands with wings outstretched to dry. More Information: All About Birds

Wood Nymph Butterfly – 8/25/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/25/12 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road – soccer field parking lot Common Name: Wood Nymph butterfly Scientific Name: Cercyonis pegala Comments: This striking wood nymph butterfly was a challenge to photograph, but with persistence I was able to get close enough to get this shot. More Information: Massachusetts Butterfly Club

White-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly – 8/11/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/11/12 Observation Time: 11:30 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road bridge over Billings Brook Common Name: White-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly Scientific Name: Sympetrum obtrusum Comments: Adult males are identifiable by a distinctive pure white face and red body. Juveniles and younger females have a yellow abdomen. Older females have olive-brown or reddish-brown abdomen. More Information: Wikipedia

Cicada Killer Wasp – 8/6/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/6/12 Observation Time: 1:25 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Cicada Killer Wasp Scientific Name: Sphecius speciosus Comments: These large, fearsome-looking wasps burrow in the ground. They are actually not aggressive. I found a sandy area near the Gavins Pond Dam that was peppered with their holes. It took a while to figure out that these holes were made by […]

Rabbit, Hawk, and Turkeys – 7/17/12

Observer: Rebecca Hickman Observation Date: 7/17/12 Observation Time: n/a Observation Location: Back yard Common Name: Rabbit, Hawk, and Turkeys Scientific Name: n/a Comments: This past week, beginning last weekend, has been like watching an episode of National Geograhpic in my back yard. I’m exaggerating, but not by much.. I enjoy watching the little bunny that has taken up residency under our shed in our back yard.. I’m outside […]

Red Milkweed Beetle – 7/15/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/15/12 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road – soccer field parking lot Common Name: Red Milkweed Beetle Scientific Name: Tetraopes tetrophthalmus Comments: This striking red beetle was crawling on a milkweed leaf. Its scientific name means “four eyes” because of its black spots that look like eyes. More Information: BugGuide

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly – 7/13/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/12 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: Soccer parking area by Gavins Pond Common Name: Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Everes comyntas More Information: Northwest Ohio Nature

Slime Mold – 6/21/12

Observer: Richard Kramer Observation Date: 6/21/12 Observation Time: 4:45 p.m. Observation Location: Deborah Sampson Park Common Name: Slime Mold Scientific Name: Amoebozoa Comments: Slime molds are in the phylum Amoebozoa, and are related to amoeba. Slime molds are aggregates of single-celled organisms that can grow up to 9 feet long! Slime molds typically aggregate to form a plasmodium — a multinucleate mass of undifferentiated cells that may […]

Painted Skimmer dragonfly (female) – 6/9/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/12 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Painted Skimmer dragonfly (female) Scientific Name: Libellula semifasciata Comments: This dragonfly is said to be uncommon, although it is not listed as such in Massachusetts. A map showing Painted Skimmer sightings can be viewed at: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/104585-Libellula-semifasciata More Information: Walter Sanford’s Photoblog Painted Skimmer ovipositing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_XyMkvXtfI

Red-spotted Purple butterfly – 5/24/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/24/12 Observation Time: 8:20 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area 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 stable hybrid […]

Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly – 5/19/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/12 Observation Time: 5:30 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Cupido comyntas Comments: This individual lacks the orange spots usually seen at the base of the “tails” extending rearward from the hind wings. More Information: Butterflies and Moths

American Lady Butterfly – 5/12/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/12 Observation Time: 6:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near Well #5 Common Name: American Lady Butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa virginiensis Comments: American lady butterflies (V. virginiensis) have two large eyespots on the underside of the hind wing, whereas similar-looking painted lady butterflies (V. cardui) have four small eyespots. This individual was feeding on a flowering shrub. More Information: See […]

Brown Elfin Butterfly – 5/12/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/12 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond area Common Name: Brown Elfin Butterfly Scientific Name: Callophrys augustinus Comments: This brown elfin was found in the same meadow of wild indigo as a rare frosted elfin butterfly. More Information: Butterflies and Moths

Gray Fox – 5/12/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/12 Observation Time: 8:30 a.m. Observation Location: 5 Gavins Pond Rd. Common Name: Gray Fox Scientific Name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus Comments: This species and the closely related Channel Island fox (Urocyon littoralis) are the only living members of the genus Urocyon, which is considered to be among the most primitive of the living canids. The gray fox’s ability to climb trees is shared only with […]

Red Admiral butterfly – 5/11/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/11/12 Observation Time: 5:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road area Common Name: Red Admiral butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa atalanta Comments: Several of these Red Admirals were chasing after each other in a sunny clearing along a wooded dirt road near Gavins Pond. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

Painted Lady butterfly – 5/5/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/5/12 Observation Time: 6:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near Well #5 Common Name: Painted Lady butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa cardui Comments: This Painted Lady butterfly was feeding in the same flowering shrub with American Lady butterflies. Learn how to tell them apart at: https://bugguide.net/node/view/236368 More Information: massaudubon.org

Frosted Elfin Butterfly – 4/29/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/29/12 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: undisclosed location in Sharon Common Name: Frosted Elfin Butterfly Scientific Name: Callophrys irus Comments: This small butterfly is a species of special concern. More Information: See the Boston Globe article on this butterfly.

Spring Azure butterfly – 4/29/12

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/29/12 Observation Time: 1:30 p.m. Observation Location: Field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Spring Azure butterfly Scientific Name: Genus Celastrina Comments: This is either Celastrina ladon or Celastrina lucia. Spring azures are small butterflies that emerge in early spring. The wings are blue on top and pale white with black spots on the bottom. This specimen is worn, faded and probably nearing the […]

Gray Fox – 11/4/11

Observer: Art Newman Observation Date: 11/4/11 Observation Time: 9:12 a.m. Observation Location: Common Name: Gray Fox Scientific Name: Urocyon cinereoargenteus Comments: Spotted running across Billings St., headed for the Devil’s Rock trail. Coat in transition with yellowish flecks on her body. The gray fox has rounded ears, a pointed muzzle and long hooked claws. The gray fox can climb and will occasionally forage for food or rest in […]

Wood Duck – 9/30/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/30/11 Observation Time: 4:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Wood Duck Scientific Name: Aix sponsa Comments: Wood ducks have spectacular plumage, but they are very shy and difficult to approach, so it is a real challenge to get a good photo. This flock of wood ducks (there were at least a dozen, of which three are visible in the photo) showed […]

Yellow-spotted Salamander – 9/24/11

Observer: Scott Didham Observation Date: 9/24/11 Observation Location: Mansfield St. Common Name: Yellow-spotted salamander Scientific Name: Ambystoma maculatum More Information: Read about the salamander migration at Moose Hill in 2008.

Green Stink Bug nymph – 9/16/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/16/11 Observation Time: 2:30 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Green Stink Bug nymph Scientific Name: Acrosternum hilare Comments: This striking green stink bug nymph caught my eye as it sat on a rosa rugosa leaf by the pond. The adults are solid green. I spotted the green stink bug nymph because of its bold, contrasty coloration. Perhaps the reason for […]

Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly – 8/27/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 8/27/11 Observation Time: 3:20 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly Scientific Name: Everes comyntas Comments: Eastern tailed blues are very small butterflies. They have tails and an eye spot on each wing that vaguely resemble antennae and eyes to fool predators. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of North America

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