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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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/12/11 Observation Time: 6:50 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon boardwalk Common Name: Tussock Sedge Scientific Name: Carex stricta Comments: A clumping, upright sedge with narrow, yellowish green leaves. Reddish brown flowers bloom early summer. Prefers moist fertile soil but will tolerate dry or wet sites. More Information: North Creek Nurseries
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/7/11 Observation Time: 11:40 a.m. Observation Location: 4 Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Red Admiral butterfly Scientific Name: Vanessa atalanta Comments: Red Admirals prefer sap flows on trees, fermenting fruit, and bird droppings; visiting flowers only when these are not available. Then they will nectar at common milkweed, red clover, aster, and alfalfa, among others. More Information: Butterflies and Moths of […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/4/11 Observation Time: 1:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Eastern towhee Scientific Name: Pipilo erythrophthalmus Comments: Towhees are the largest of the sparrows. They are quite common in Sharon. They have a distinctive call that sounds like “Drink your tea.” More Information: All About Birds.org
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/4/11 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Tree swallow Scientific Name: Tachycineta bicolor Comments: Tree swallows compete for bluebird nesting boxes. Bluebird house are often set out in pairs. One box gets taken by a pair of tree swallows. They drive other tree swallows away from the other box, but allow bluebirds to move in. More Information: […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/16/11 Observation Time: 7:35 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road behind Shaw’s Plaza Common Name: Short-tailed weasel Scientific Name: Mustela erminea Comments: White undersides (as opposed to cream-colored), white feet, and small size differentiate this road-kill specimen from a long-tailed weasel. Mink are all brown. Short-tailed weasel is also known as a stoat. In winter, they turn all white with a black-tipped tail, […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/7/11 Observation Time: 5:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer fields Common Name: Song Sparrow Scientific Name: Melospiza melodia Comments: This song sparrow was gleaning seeds. Their distinctive, melodious song is a good one to memorize because it is so common. More Information: Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All About Birds”
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/2/11 Observation Time: 4:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond soccer field parking lot Common Name: Bald Eagle Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus Comments: Adult with white head and tail. Very distinctive! More Information: Boidnoise: Adult Bald Eagle Call
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/25/11 Observation Time: 5:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavin’s Pond Common Name: Ring-necked Duck Scientific Name: Aythya collaris Comments: Ring-necked ducks migrate through Sharon, and can be seen in spring and fall. More Information: All About Birds: Ring-necked Duck
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Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 3/18/11 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Wild Turkey Scientific Name: Meleagris gallopavo Comments: One of our largest and heaviest birds; smaller than a Trumpeter Swan; about twice the size (and four times as heavy) as a Ring-necked Pheasant. However, they can still fly. At night, groups of turkeys roost in trees. More Information: Cornell […]
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/17/11 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Coach Lane Common Name: Lead-backed salamander Scientific Name: Plethodon cinereus Comments: The lead-backed salamander is a color variant of the red-backed salamander. They live under rotting logs. More Information: Fairfax County Public Schools
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Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/17/11 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: Coach Lane Common Name: Garter Snake Scientific Name: Thamnophis sirtalis Comments: This is a common snake. It is harmless. More Information: Wikipedia Back to the Sightings List
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