Sightings – Page 58 – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Eastern Bluebird (juvenile) – 7/15/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/15/10 Observation Time: 10:50 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road soccer field parking lot Common Name: Bluebird (juvenile) Scientific Name: Sialia sialis Comments: Young bluebirds that recently left the nest have distinctive white spots on their wings. The presence of this juvenile at the Gavins Pond Road soccer field parking lot indicates the success of SFOC efforts to provide nesting […]

White-Tailed Deer – 7/12/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/12/10 Observation Time: 7:40 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road soccer field Common Name: White-Tailed Deer Scientific Name: Odocoileus virginianus Comments: This doe was grazing on the green grass at the soccer field. More Information: University of Michigan Museum of Zoology “Animal Diversity Web”

Common Mullein – 7/11/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/11/10 Observation Time: 9:45 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Common Mullein Scientific Name: Verbascum thapsus Comments: Mullein is widely used for herbal remedies, with well-established emollient and astringent properties. Mullein remedies are especially recommended for coughs and related problems, but also used in topical applications against a variety of skin problems. The plant has also been used to […]

Common Pondhawk dragonfly (young male) – 7/9/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/9/10 Observation Time: 4:50 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Common Pondhawk dragonfly (young male) Scientific Name: Erythemis simplicicollis Comments: Males are blue. Females are bright green. Voracious hunter near vegetated ponds and slow streams, but they are completely harmless to humans. More Information: North American Insects and Spiders

Chicory – 7/7/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/7/10 Observation Time: 7:05 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road near soccer fields Common Name: Chicory Scientific Name: Cichorium intybus Comments: A perennial herb with blue, lavender, or occasionally white flowers, chicory grows as a wild plant on roadsides in its native Europe, and in North America and Australia, where it has become naturalized. Common chicory is also known as […]

Hairy Woodpecker – 7/6/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/6/10 Observation Time: 8:50 a.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Hairy Woodpecker Scientific Name: Picoides villosus Comments: Hairy woodpeckers look like downy woodpeckers, but they are larger. More Information: All About Birds

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.

« 1 … 56 57 58 59 60 »