Sightings – Page 57 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Killdeer – 7/5/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/5/10 Observation Time: 5:35 p.m. Observation Location: Ward’s Berry Farm Common Name: Killdeer Scientific Name: Charadrius vociferus Comments: This “freshwater sandpiper” was attracted to a puddle in Ward’s field during hot dry weather. A member of the plover family, killdeers lay their camouflaged eggs on the ground without bothering to make a nest. More Information: Wikipedia

Bumblebee – 6/29/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/29/10 Observation Time: 7:50 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road area Common Name: Bumble Bee Scientific Name: Bombus sp. Comments: Bumblebees are important pollinators. There are many species of bumblebees. More information: Bumblebees of the Eastern United States

Spotted Turtle – 6/28/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/28/10 Observation Time: 8:00 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road behind Shaw’s Plaza Common Name: Spotted Turtle (female) Scientific Name: Clemmys guttata Comments: This female spotted turtle may have been searching for a sandy spot to lay eggs. It may take up to 7 years for a spotted turtle to reach sexual maturity. Or perhaps it was returning to deeper […]

Spotted Knapweed – 6/27/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/27/10 Observation Time: 8:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road-soccer parking area Common Name: Spotted knapweed Scientific Name: Centaurea maculosa Comments: Knapweed is a pioneer species found in recently disturbed sites or openings. Once it has been established at a disturbed site, it continues to spread into the surrounding habitat. This species outcompetes natives through at least three methods: A tap […]

American Chestnut tree – 6/24/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/24/10 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook near tennis courts Common Name: American Chestnut Tree Scientific Name: Castanea dentata Comments: The term “dentata” in the scientific name refers to the “teeth” around the edges of the leaves. American chestnut trees were decimated by chestnut blight. Remnant root systems continue to send up shoots such as those shown in […]

Princess Pine – 6/24/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/24/10 Observation Time: 3:40 p.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook near tennis courts Common Name: Princess pine Scientific Name: Dendrolycopodium obscurum Comments: Despite its name and pine-like appearance, princess pine is not related to pine trees. It’s actually a type of clubmoss, an ancient group of plants that had its heyday long before there were pines, dinosaurs, or flowering plants. Also known […]

Skunk Cabbage – 6/24/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/24/10 Observation Time: 3:40 p.m. Observation Location: Beaver Brook near tennis courts Common Name: Skunk cabbage Scientific Name: Symplocarpus foetidus Comments: Tearing a leaf produces a pungent but not harmful odor, the source of the plant’s common name; it is also foul smelling when it blooms. The plant is not poisonous to the touch. The foul odor attracts pollinators, such as scavenging […]

Red Clover – 6/4/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/4/10 Observation Time: 12:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road soccer field parking lot Common Name: Red clover Scientific Name: Trifolium pratense Comments: It is widely grown as a fodder crop, valued for its nitrogen fixation, which increases soil fertility. For these reasons, it is used as a green manure crop. More Information: Wikipedia

Milk Snake – 6/3/10

Observer: Kate Kavanagh Observation Date: 6/3/10 Observation Time: 4:15 p.m. Observation Location: South Pleasant Street Common Name: Milk Snake Scientific Name: Lampropeltis triangulum Comments: This beautiful snake was slowly moving along the foundation of the house in the front garden bed. Disappeared into the gap behind the front step. Sadly, I was not fast enough with my camera. More Information: UMass Amherst Natural Resources and […]

Tree Swallow – 5/30/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/10 Observation Time: 4:35 p.m. Observation Location: field near Gavins Pond Common Name: Tree swallow Scientific Name: Tachycineta bicolor Comments: Tree swallows nest in bluebird nesting boxes. One strategy is to locate two bluebird houses within 10 yards of each other. Tree swallows nesting in one box will drive other tree swallows away from the other box, but allow bluebirds to […]

Iris (Harlequin Blueflag) – 5/30/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/10 Observation Time: 4:10 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Iris (harlequin blueflag) Scientific Name: Iris versicolor Comments: The species has been implicated in several poisoning cases of humans and animals who consumed the rhizomes, which have been found to contain a glycoside, iridin. The sap can cause dermatitis in susceptible individuals. More Information: The Flower […]

Pearl Crescent butterfly – 5/30/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/10 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Pearl Crescent butterfly Scientific Name: Phyciodes tharos Comments: The pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos) is a butterfly of North America. It is found in all parts of the United States except the west coast, and throughout Mexico and parts of southern Canada, in particular Ontario. Its habitat […]

Violet toothed polypore – 5/30/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/10 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Violet toothed polypore Scientific Name: Trichaptum biforme Comments: Tree fungus growing on a dead tree. The specimens in this photo are past their prime. Younger specimens exhibit a violet fringe that gives this fungus its name. See http://www.flickr.com/photos/ophis/3067412819/ More Information: InsectImages

Tiger Swallowtail butterfly – 5/30/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/30/10 Observation Time: 3:50 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Tiger Swallowtail butterfly Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus Comments: Females are dimorphic. The yellow morph differs from the male in having a blue postmedian area on the dorsal hindwing. In the dark morph, the areas that are normally yellow are replaced with dark gray or black. More […]

White Corporal dragonfly – 5/29/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/29/10 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: White Corporal dragonfly Scientific Name: Libellula (Ladona) exusta Comments: Small, most commonly perches on the ground. Adult males have a white abdomen. More Information: New Jersey Odes

Monarch Butterfly – 5/26/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/26/10 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Monarch Butterfly Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus Comments: In fall, eastern monarchs migrate thousands of miles from Canada to Mexico and parts of Arizona and Florida. In spring, the overwintered population migrates part of the way back. Then a second, third and fourth generation continues the migration to back to Canada. The number […]

Eastern Chipmunk – 5/26/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/26/10 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Eastern Chipmunk Scientific Name: Tamias striatus More Information: Animal Diversity Web: Eastern Chipmunk

Viceroy Butterfly – 5/21/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/21/10 Observation Time: 8:20 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Viceroy Butterfly Scientific Name: Limenitis archippus Comments: Smaller than a monarch, with a characteristic black line across the hind wings. More Information: NatureWorks

Red-Backed Salamander – 4/10/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/10/10 Observation Time: 7:10 p.m. Observation Location: Hockomock Swamp, Easton Common Name: Red-backed salamander Scientific Name: Plethodon cinereus Comments: Red-backed salamanders can be found by turning over rotting logs in the woods. More Information: Wikipedia PS – Read about the salamander migration at Moose Hill in 2008.

Yellow Spotted Salamander – 3/29/10

Observer: Rita Corey Observation Date: 3/29/10 Observation Time: 9:30 p.m. Observation Location: Between 268 & 281 Mountain St, going west to east Common Name: Yellow Spotted Salamander Scientific Name: Ambystoma maculatum Comments: Again, a rainy night in late March… More Information: Read about the salamander migration at Moose Hill in 2008.

Yellow Spotted Salamander – 3/23/10

Observer: Rita Corey Observation Date: 3/23/10 Observation Time: 10:00 p.m. Observation Location: Between 268 & 281 Mountain St, going west to east Common Name: Yellow Spotted Salamander Scientific Name: Ambystoma maculatum Comments: Was it the same one I had seen the night before crossing the road? I suspect there are lots of them! Gave a note to all neighbors on Mountain St from Hampton Rd […]

Yellow Spotted Salamander – 3/22/10

Observer: Rita Corey Observation Date: 3/22/10 Observation Time: 10:00 p.m. Observation Location: Between 268 & 281 Mountain St, going east to west Common Name: Yellow Spotted Salamander Scientific Name: Ambystoma maculatum Comments: Rainy night; stopped car to watch it cross the road; told the neighbor driving behind me and he came out to watch: he had never seen one before. More Information: Read about the […]

American Woodcock – 3/11/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/11/10 Observation Time: 5:45 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road across the street from the soccer fields Common Name: American Woodcock Scientific Name: Scolopax minor Comments: The “peents” began at 5:45. The spectacular mating flights began about 6:00 p.m. They will continue every evening at dusk (getting later as the days grow longer) for another month or so. Call me […]

Hooded Merganser – 3/10/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/10/10 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Hooded merganser Scientific Name: Lophodytes cucullatus Comments: I observed two males and a female hooded merganser diving frequently. Also saw one common merganser, several ring-necked ducks, and a pair of wood ducks among a large number of Canada geese. More Information: All About Birds

Bald Eagle – 2/19/10

Observer: Ken Weiner Observation Date: 2/19/10 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Chessman Drive, Sharon Common Name: Bald Eagle Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus Comments: Definite ID from about 200 ft away. Eagle was flying. Possibly a second eagle further away. Did not get picture. More Information: All About Birds: Bald Eagle

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